Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Branded ‘Tacky’ for 'Selling Themselves at Free Events'
Critics say the Sussexes have traded unparalleled influence for small paydays, leaving some to call it 'lowbrow.'
Stepping away from royal life gave Prince Harry and Meghan Markle freedom, but it also came with trade-offs. Once positioned at the centre of global influence, the Sussexes now navigate a world of brand deals, media projects, and public appearances, a shift that hasn’t set well with the critics. While they’ve embraced opportunities outside the monarchy, experts argue that what they’ve gained in visibility comes at the cost of the authority and impact they once held.
Royal commentator Reilly Sullivan didn't mince words about the Sussexes’ post-royal pursuits. He dubbed their approach ‘lowbrow’ and claimed it's a far cry from the power and influence they once wielded as working royals. “We think about this state visit, we've got the President of the United States sitting down with the royals, I mean, the rooms they would've been in, the influence, the possibilities for effecting change they could have made, to now be basically influencers for selling themselves for free events and a bit of money, it's just so sad,” Sullivan said, as per The Mirror.
Singling out Markle in particular, Sullivan said, she gave up a platform that only a few could gain to attain. “For Meghan Markle, really, she threw it all away. If she had stayed in the royal family, she could have not only been so powerful and so effective, but she would have had so much influence," he stressed.
The comments come as the Sussexes are set to appear in a Disney documentary that is to air on ABC this Saturday, and as per Sullivan, it is the ‘tackiest’ thing to do. The couple's association with the project follows their trip to Disneyland earlier this year, pictures of which the Duchess had shared on her personal social media handle. In the snaps, Harry and Markle were seen enjoying rides and churros with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. This has, hence, sparked fresh speculation over whether the family outing was purely recreational or part of a paid partnership.
The Disney series also comes amidst reports that the Sussexes were exploring a partnership with Netflix. “We know they have a first-look deal with Netflix, so Disney, and all the other sort of streamers and entertainment companies can take a piece of the Sussexes, if they want. It may be more of a relationship between Harry and Meghan and Disney,” Sullivan said.
Given that the couple has signed a fresh deal with Netflix, Sullivan is skeptical of the Sussexes’ upcoming documentary project with Disney, questioning if the content truly aligns with their potential or is just another example of leveraging their celebrity status for small returns. “I don’t see the Disney documentary as a good fit, and I think the Sussexes are out there shilling for free events and a bit of money when they could be doing so much more,” he argued.
