Prince Harry Still Living in the ‘Spare’ Shadow — This Time With Meghan Markle
When Prince Harry stepped away from royal life, the exit was assumed to be a chance to start over on equal footing. Free from palace hierarchy and strict rules and regulations, he was expected to build a new identity on his own terms. Yet, half a decade later, the question remains — whether Harry has truly escaped the role of ‘the spare,' or simply carried it into a different setting, this time within his own marriage.
Harry and Meghan Markle left the royal family in 2020 and settled in Montecito, California, seeking privacy, independence, and new opportunities. Three years later, Harry laid bare his lifelong frustrations in his memoir Spare, describing what it felt like to grow up in the shadow of his older brother, Prince William, the heir to the throne. That shadow didn’t quite escape him. And now, critics are suggesting the imbalance he once resented may have reappeared in another form.
Royal commentator Kinsey Schofield recently offered her two cents on Harry’s current position, saying, “Prince Harry has essentially traded one hierarchy for another,” she told Fox News. “In the royal family, he was the spare to Prince William.” In Hollywood, she argued, the risk is different but familiar. “He risks becoming the supporting character to Meghan Markle’s ambitions. The entertainment industry rewards relevance, star power, and personal branding.”
Markle’s professional path in the United States has been notably clearer. Over the past few years, the former Suits actor has focused on building a public-facing brand, from Netflix projects to her lifestyle venture, As Ever. She released her series With Love, Meghan on the streaming platform last year and has continued to develop products. Alongside that, she remains deeply involved in the couple’s Archewell Philanthropies.
“Meghan has consistently demonstrated a clearer strategy and stronger command of that ecosystem,” Schofield explained on her Kinsey Schofield Unfiltered podcast. “By contrast, Harry has struggled to define a role beyond being ‘Prince Harry,’ which leaves him vulnerable to fading into the background.” There is also the question of place. According to Schofield, Harry appears less settled in California than his wife. In the UK, his life had a clear structure — military service, long-standing patronages, and a defined public role. In the US, that framework is largely gone. While Markle has adapted quickly to the Hollywood ecosystem, Harry is still searching for direction.
That sense of drift has been echoed elsewhere. Sources told Page Six in January that Harry is increasingly 'sidelined' in the relationship, once again cast as the 'spare.' The insider claimed he does not have a steady income and spends much of his time at home with the couple’s children, Prince Archie, six, and Princess Lilibet, four. “Harry’s not really doing anything in America,” the source said. “It seems he is still very wrapped up in the past.”
Even critics acknowledge where Harry’s strengths lie. “He’s really great at service — look at the success of his Invictus charity,” the source said. “He really should just stick with that.” The Invictus Games remain Harry’s most independent and widely respected achievement, rooted in his military background and personal passion.