Is Harry and Meghan's US schmooze offensive stalling? Americans are 'put off' by the Sussexes' 'endl

Publish date: 2024-07-11

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are putting off Americans with their ‘endless moans’ and ‘attacks’ on the Royal Family, a royal expert has claimed.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex dramatically moved across the pond after quitting as senior royals and leaving Britain in January 2020.

While attempting to start a new life in the US, the couple have starred in a Netflix docuseries, launched a controversial new website, released a book and held explosive interviews about the Royal Family.

In a bid to branch out to the celebrity world, the Sussexes are often seen making appearances at glitzy events, including the ‘Bob Marley: One Love’ premiere in Jamaica in January.

But they were branded ‘insensitive’ for posing on the red carpet with Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness, who wants to ditch the monarchy.

Last month, Harry said King Charles’s cancer diagnosis could have a ‘reunifying effect’ on the family. He made a transatlantic dash to see his father at Clarence House on February 6 but they only met for around 45 minutes.

There had been reports that Harry was willing to return to a temporary royal role to help out the slimmed down monarchy, with Princess Kate also recovering from abdominal surgery. But palace aides later said there was ‘no way back’ for Harry.

Speaking about Harry and Meghan’s time since leaving Britain, royal author Angela Levin said even Americans are getting fed up with the couple’s ‘hypocrisy’ and whinging.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are putting off Americans with their 'endless moans' and 'attacks' on the Royal Family , a royal expert has claimed

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are putting off Americans with their ‘endless moans’ and ‘attacks’ on the Royal Family , a royal expert has claimed

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex dramatically moved across the pond after quitting as senior royals and leaving Britain in January 2020. Harry and Meghan are pictured with Charles and Camilla in 2018

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex dramatically moved across the pond after quitting as senior royals and leaving Britain in January 2020. Harry and Meghan are pictured with Charles and Camilla in 2018

Prince Harry and Meghan are pictured on their trip to Vancouver last month ahead of next year's Invictus Games

Prince Harry and Meghan are pictured on their trip to Vancouver last month ahead of next year’s Invictus Games

She told The Sun: ‘I think endless moaning puts off Americans because they like people who are go-getters rather than those who blame everyone else. 

‘They also don’t like the attacks on the Royal Family especially as they so loved and admired the Queen.’

Their unpopularity was made clear when they were mocked and humiliated in an episode of South Park last year.

The satirical cartoon launched a series of attacks against the couple in an episode of the show, which was entitled The Worldwide Privacy Tour and depicted the couple embarking on a publicity blitz to promote the Prince’s new book, Waaagh.

At one point, they were seen stepping off the plane holding signs which said ‘we want our privacy’ and ‘stop looking at us’. 

After the show aired, reports surfaced suggesting that Meghan had been left ‘upset and overwhelmed’ by the couple’s less-than-flattering portrayal.

Ms Levin added: ‘Nor do [Americans] like their hypocrisy as seen in South Park – they say they want privacy but they keep appearing at Z-Level awards just to get their pictures.

‘By wanting revenge they have thrown their changes down the drain. With no coming back.’

Although the Sussexes stepped down as senior royals in January 2020, Harry is still a prince and is fifth in line to the throne. The couple kept their Duke and Duchess of Sussex titles but are no longer addressed as his or her royal highness (HRH).

Their unpopularity was made clear when they were mocked and humiliated in an episode of South Park last year

Their unpopularity was made clear when they were mocked and humiliated in an episode of South Park last year 

Harry and Meghan at an Invictus Games event in Whistler, Canada, on February 14, 2024

Harry and Meghan at an Invictus Games event in Whistler, Canada, on February 14, 2024

Harry and Meghan’s children became Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet of Sussex when Charles became King. 

The duke and duchess have made several public appearances in recent weeks, the latest of which saw Meghan appearing via video link in London to open a new wing of an animal charity.

That came after she made dumplings with Afghan female refugees earlier in February, before a clip of the visit was posted on the Archewell Foundation website on Monday.

Harry meanwhile gave a series of American media interviews following the launch of the 2025 Invictus Games in Whistler, Vancouver, before he and Meghan attended a lavish gala dinner. He also made a surprise appearance at the NFL awards in LA, less than 48 hours after visiting his father in London. 

Ms Levin’s comments come days after Prince Harry lost his High Court battle against the Home Office.

Harry took the Home Office to court over no longer being given the ‘same degree’ of protection after he and wife Meghan quit royal life and left Britain.

He compared the dangers to him and his family to the risks his mother Princess Diana faced before her death in 1997 while being chased by paparazzi.

It also emerged in the 52-page ruling this week that he had demanded to know who in government was responsible for the decision, saying: ‘I would like that person’s name.’

He complained his visits to Britain were unsafe – and Judge Sir Peter Lane said that when he and Meghan used a train to visit Manchester in September 2022, he ‘raised concerns because of his proximity to the public’. 

Harry had argued that, just because he was no longer a frontline royal, that did not diminish the threats he faced by virtue of being in the line of succession to the throne and ‘a Prince of the realm’.

It is the latest court blow to Harry after he admitted defeat last month in a libel case against The Mail on Sunday over articles it had published about his battle with the Home Office.

In Spare, Harry claimed the Prince of Wales grabbed him by the collar and thew him to the floor, while shattering a dog bowl with his back

In Spare, Harry claimed the Prince of Wales grabbed him by the collar and thew him to the floor, while shattering a dog bowl with his back

Harry called his mother-in-law, Queen Camilla, 'dangerous' and a 'villain' in his memoir and alleged she had 'sacrificed him' to improve her reputation

Harry called his mother-in-law, Queen Camilla, ‘dangerous’ and a ‘villain’ in his memoir and alleged she had ‘sacrificed him’ to improve her reputation

The Duke was left facing a £750,000 legal bill after abandoning his case just six hours before a deadline for handing over a list of documents.

This latest High Court challenge against the Home Office could land him with an estimated £1million bill on top of that.

It comes as a poll carried out by Newsweek revealed only 30 per cent of Americans like Meghan, while Harry was liked by at least 42 per cent.

Despite asking for privacy, the couple have released Netflix shows and books about their lives. 

The Sussexes’ six-part documentary ‘Harry and Meghan’ was their first Netflix release in December 2022 and featured a series of swipes at the Royal Family. 

Harry said he ‘had to quit’ royal duties to protect his wife and compared her to Princess Diana. Meghan, meanwhile, said she was shocked at the formality of the Royal Family and joked about bowing for the first time when she met the Queen.

Three weeks after the documentary, the Sussexes released their second Netflix production, ‘Live to Lead’, which was about global leaders who have fought for social justice.

In March 2021, the Sussexes appeared on Oprah following 'Megxit' and alleged that some members of the royal family questioned 'how dark [Archie's] skin might be when he's born'

In March 2021, the Sussexes appeared on Oprah following ‘Megxit’ and alleged that some members of the royal family questioned ‘how dark [Archie’s] skin might be when he’s born’

At the end of 2022, Harry and Meghan's docuseries came out, where Prince Harry claimed they had to quit royal duties to 'protect' his wife and said there was a 'huge level of unconscious bias' in the Royal Family

At the end of 2022, Harry and Meghan’s docuseries came out, where Prince Harry claimed they had to quit royal duties to ‘protect’ his wife and said there was a ‘huge level of unconscious bias’ in the Royal Family 

Then in August last year, Harry released his latest series, Heart of Invictus, which featured athletes preparing for the 2022 edition of the games and saw him open up about his mental health struggles after returning from military duty in Afghanistan.

Also last August, Netflix paid £3million for the film rights to Carley Fortune’s romantic novel Meet Me At The Lake which Harry and Meghan will produce.

But last May, Netflix dropped Meghan’s planned animated series Pearl as part of a wave of cutbacks prompted by the streaming service’s drop in subscribers.

Earlier this month, it emerged that Harry and Meghan were working on ‘a bunch’ of new Netflix projects including a film and two other ‘unscripted’ projects.

But there has been uncertainty over whether the deal will be renewed next year, especially after their £15million Spotify contract ended early in June last year.

Harry threw around many accusations of the royal family in Spare, along with alleging that he had a physical fight with his brother and heir to the throne, Prince William. Pictured: William, Charles and Harry in 2014

Harry threw around many accusations of the royal family in Spare, along with alleging that he had a physical fight with his brother and heir to the throne, Prince William. Pictured: William, Charles and Harry in 2014

In 2021, Meghan told Oprah that her and Kate that there was a disagreement before the Wedding, but alleged that the future Queen actually made her cry, rather than the other way round

In 2021, Meghan told Oprah that her and Kate that there was a disagreement before the Wedding, but alleged that the future Queen actually made her cry, rather than the other way round

 Spotify and the Sussexes’s audio production company Archewell Audio released a joint statement saying they have ‘mutually agreed to part ways and are proud of the series we made together’.

A top Spotify podcast executive then called Prince Harry and Meghan ‘f***ing grifters’ after they produced only one 13-episode series of a podcast for the company, and then split.

Elsewhere, the Duke also threw around many accusations of the Royal Family in his book Spare, along with alleging that he had a physical fight with his brother and heir to the throne, Prince William. 

He claimed the Prince of Wales grabbed him by the collar and threw him to the floor, while shattering a dog bowl with his back. William then allegedly declared: ‘I didn’t attack you, Harold’.

The furious row allegedly broke out in the kitchen of his London home, Nottingham Cottage, in the grounds of Kensington Palace in 2019 – shortly before Megxit.

He also called his mother-in-law, Queen Camilla, ‘dangerous’ and a ‘villain’ in his memoir and alleged she had ‘sacrificed him’ to improve her reputation.

At the end of 2022, Harry and Meghan’s docuseries came out, where Prince Harry claimed they had to quit royal duties to ‘protect’ his wife and said there was a ‘huge level of unconscious bias’ in the Royal Family.

He claimed that the pair made the docuseries to combat so-called ‘misinformation’ about them.

In March 2021, the Sussexes appeared on Oprah following ‘Megxit’ and alleged that some members of the royal family questioned ‘how dark [Archie’s] skin might be when he’s born’.

Meghan also told Oprah that her and Kate that there was a disagreement before the Wedding, but alleged that the future Queen actually made her cry, rather than the other way round.

Harry told the host that the pair left the Firm because of ‘lack of support and lack of understanding,’ and claimed that his father, Charles, had ‘stopped taking his calls’.

In his latest olive branch interview with Good Morning America, during his trip to Whistler, Canada, last month, Harry said that his father’s illness could have a ‘reunifying effect’ on the family.

Harry also said ‘I love my family’ and that he was ‘grateful’ to be able to spend time with his father when he flew back to the UK to be at the King’s side.

The couple also came under fire for the relaunch of their website, Sussex.com, last month.

Harry and Meghan were branded 'insensitive' for posing on the red carpet of the premiere of Bob Marley: One Love with Jamaica's Prime Minister Andrew Holness who wants to ditch the monarchy

Harry and Meghan were branded ‘insensitive’ for posing on the red carpet of the premiere of Bob Marley: One Love with Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness who wants to ditch the monarchy

It features Meghan’s coat of arms and glowing biographies for the couple, as well as the latest news about the pair.

Many close to the royal household believe it is a flagrant breach of the supposedly cast-iron assurances Harry and Meghan gave the late Queen when they acrimoniously quit as working royals in 2020, and comes perilously close to using their royal status for commercial gain.

 Following the so-called ‘Sandringham summit’ in 2020, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex agreed to step back from royal duties and not use their HRH titles for business purposes or trade off their royal connections.

They were also forced to put on ice their existing website, Sussexroyal.com, which had been launched weeks earlier without any warning and effectively contained their ‘manifesto’ for a new life half-in, half-out of the royal family. Since then they have traded under their new guise of Archewell.

The couple’s decision to launch Sussex.com this week was therefore seen as reopening old wounds.

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