Expert Calls Out Meghan Markle for Trying to Be 'American Royalty' With Her Netflix Special
The Sussexes’ festive special has reportedly ruffled feathers for what critics see as Markle commercializing royal Christmas traditions.
Meghan Markle is kicking off the Christmas season with her Netflix lifestyle special, With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration, but the royals are anything but impressed. The Suits alum joined the British royal family in 2018 after marrying Prince Harry, yet the reality of a royal life soon sank in for Meg; it wasn't “something sparkly and fun,” leading them to step back from royal duties in 2020. The couple relocated to Montecito, California, that same year and has been crafting a new life ever since.
Now, as Meghan attempts to balance her professional ambitions with a polished on-screen persona, positioning herself as a lifestyle and cooking guru, royal insiders say the act just isn’t landing well in palace circles. “I believe Meghan aspires to be the new American royalty,” British broadcaster and photographer Helena Chard told Fox News Digital. The Sussexes’ festive special, which premiered on December 3, has reportedly ruffled feathers for what critics see as Markle commercializing royal Christmas traditions.
The series features an impressive lineup of guests, including Naomi Osaka, Tom Colicchio, and Lindsay Roth. The newly released episode also spotlights author and restaurateur Will Guidara. "However, although amusing, I can’t believe the American people take this seriously," added Chard about Markle's attempt at representing the royal tradition to the American viewers. "This looks like a deliberate attempt to forge an American lifestyle ‘princess’ brand," added royals expert Hilary Fordwich. The experts also opined that Markle, in the show, is trying to portray herself as someone she is not.
"Meghan seems to be living her best life as a fictional, boho-style princess and wannabe lifestyle guru," explained Chard. She further detailed that the show is specially curated to have Markle in the spotlight and establish her as a person of importance, but the people back in the U.K. can see right through her act. "Her new holiday show no doubt spotlights Meghan and how special she is — welcoming her loved ones and making them feel comfortable. However, it makes many here in the U.K. uneasy that, at a time when friends, family, and giving are most important, she’s highlighting her own estrangement [from the royal family]," she explained.
Talking about the royal family's reaction, Fordwich detailed that while they will never comment on Markle's action, choosing to rather ignore it, Prince William is looking at it with disdain. Any further commercialization will irritate him even more. "It comes across much more like an ad than the duty-focused royal message found in Princess Catherine’s faith-based carol service or the king’s holiday address," compared Fordwich. She addressed how the royal events were similar to those of Princess Kate's, "focus on national unity and public service."
The comparisons are bound to surface as Kate's fifth annual "Together at Christmas" carol service and Markle's holiday special show are to be released just in a few days' gap. "Meghan does not live a life of service. Her holiday show can’t be compared to the British royal family’s work. Princess Catherine’s concert brings together 1,600 guests who have shown love and kindness within their communities," concluded Chard. She also declared that Markle's holiday show will never be on the Brits' radar, and they would never root for her.
