Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are treating life like a ‘prom event’ as the couple attempt to break into the world of showbusiness with their new and glamorous California life, a royal expert told Palace Confidential.
Charlotte Griffiths, editor-at-large for the Mail on Sunday, told the Mail+’s weekly talk show that the Montecito-based Duke and Duchess of Sussex are treating life ‘like a red carpet event’.
The panel discussed the growing backlash over the decision to give Prince Harry the memorial award set up in the name of Pat Tillman, an American football star who gave up a £3million contract to enlist in the US Army after 9/11.
He served in Iraq and then Afghanistan, where he was killed by friendly fire in 2004.
Pat’s mother Mary said she was ‘shocked’ and was not consulted about the decision to award the Duke of Sussex with the prestigious gong.
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Meghan Markle and Prince Harry attend Intrepid Museum Annual Salute To Freedom Gala in 2021
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Charlotte Griffiths, the Editor at Large for the Mail on Sunday, told the Mail+’s weekly talk show that the Montecito-based Duke and Duchess of Sussex are treating life ‘like a red carpet event’
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She said there were ‘recipients that are far more fitting’ who ‘do not have the money, resources, connections or privilege that Prince Harry has’.
Host Jo Elvin asked Charlotte whether the Sussexes were being ‘tin-eared’ to the criticism they’ve faced over the past week.
Charlotte responded: ‘I get the impression that life for Meghan Markle at the moment is a sort of prom event and [Harry] is the prom king and she’s the prom king and she’s setting up all these events over the years that they can attend together.
‘Although at the Living Legends of Aviation one, she actually didn’t turn up with him because a similar controversy had happened before the event and then she didn’t go with him.
‘I’ll be very interested to see if this time next week she goes with him. Serena Williams, her great friend, is presenting the award so she may well attend.
‘Life isn’t a red carpet event for them to show off their brand, there are some very serious events out there and they are being tin-eared.’
Ever since they left the Royal Family for America, the Sussexes have been living the California lifestyle, walking on red carpets, going to film premieres, accepting awards and making more content for Netflix.
Meghan told Variety was ‘thrilled’ to have returned to the entertainment industry last November during a red carpet of the Variety Power of Women event in LA.
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Ever since they left the Royal Family for America, the Sussexes have been living the California lifestyle, walking on red carpets, accepting awards and making more content for Netflix. Above: Harry and Meghan are pictured with Brian Robbins and Tracy James
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Meghan told Variety was ‘thrilled’ to have returned to the entertainment industry last November during a red carpet of the Variety Power of Women event in LA (pictured at the event)
The former Suits actress has spent the past couple of months soft-launching her new brand, American Riviera Orchard, and sent jars of her strawberry jam to A-listers such as Chrissy Teigen and Mindy Kaling.
Her mother Doria Ragland is also getting involved in the star-studded action, as she was pictured getting friendly with Beyonce’s mother Tina Knowles and Kris Jenner.
And it appears Meghan has always wanted to be in the inner circle, as it was claimed that the Duchess of Sussex told a PR firm in 2019 that she wanted to ‘break the internet’.
Speaking to The Sun a source said: ‘She was incredibly hands-on with the strategy and in one meeting told the staff: ‘I want to break the internet.’
Rebecca English, Royal Editor at the Daily Mail spoke on Palace Confidential about how different their lifestyle is to that of The Firm.
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Doria has previously been spotted at events with other high-profile guests, including Kris Jenner and Kim Kardashian (pictured at This Is About Humanity charity gala last August)
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Rebecca English, Royal Editor at the Daily Mail spoke on Palace Confidential about how different their lifestyle is to that of The Firm
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Charlotte Griffiths, Rebecca English, Richard Eden and Jo Elvin discuss Harry and Meghan on Palace Confidential
She said: ‘You very rarely see a member of the Royal Family getting an award for something they have done. There have been joking ones over the years, maybe the King or the Prince of Wales have accepted one environmental award.
‘But you don’t [often see it] because they consider public service to be an award in itself.
‘Obviously Harry and Meghan now, I think maybe as you said Jo, are a part of that showbiz celebrity lifestyle, where part of their lifeblood is to get another award and it just shows you how different their lives are to what they would’ve had in the UK.’
Charlotte added that Harry has been put forward for the Pat Tillman award based on work he did when he was in the army between 2005 and 2015.
‘I think that’s why it’s so jarring, because it’s not new work, this is old work. I mean this is also a celebration of his time in the army but that was a long time ago now and it feels like he needs something new,’ she said.
Meghan Markle BLASTED by Megyn Kelly
Meghan Markle BLASTED by Megyn Kelly
Megyn Kelly doesn’t like that Meghan Markle calls Harry ‘her husband’ (Picture: Karwai Tang/WireImage and Chris Carlson/ AP)
Megyn Kelly has another bone to pick with Meghan Markle and this time it’s because she has an issue with the fact she refers to Prince Harry as ‘her husband’.
On the latest episode of her podcast, The Megyn Kelly Show, the American media commentator slammed Markle and said she’d had enough.
‘We get it, you bagged the gorilla,’ she said on Tuesday’s episode.
‘Congratulations, you got the big bear, [and] you want us all to know.’
The comments were in response to the latest episode of Markle’s own podcast, Archetypes, when she said that her husband was ‘great’ with contributing equally to parenting.
‘Oh, my husband? Oh, he’s great,’ she said.
‘[He] gets [Archie] downstairs’, while she added she would make breakfast for the family.
‘It’s very important to me. I love doing it.’
With Christopher Anderson, author of The King: The Life of Charles III, Kelly’s guest on the program, the pair also discussed claims made in the Oprah interview, including a part where Markle said she never looked up the Royal family prior to her relationship.
Anderson claimed that, like ‘every other young woman’, she knew exactly who they were.
‘Let’s get real, there’s always that eligible bachelor,’ Kelly agreed.
‘For my age, it was JFK Jr., for her age it was Prince Harry.’
Kelly says the couple ‘owe’ the Royals (Picture: Samir Hussein/WireImage)
Kelly also criticised the Duke and Duchess of Sussex for ‘ripping on the Royals to whom they owe, literally, all of their fame and most of their fortune.’
The comments come as the world waits to see the contents of Harry’s memoir, Spare, which will now be released on January 10 after being delayed due to the Queen’s passing.
The 416-page book has been billed by publisher Penguin Random House as a work of ‘raw, unflinching honesty’.
Relatives were not given a heads-up on the title – a reference to the phrase the ‘the heir and the spare’ – in advance of last week’s announcement, with a source telling the Daily Mail it will be seen as both ‘controversial’ and ‘provocative’.
Harry has previously called the book a ‘truthful and wholly accurate’ portrait of his life – the prospect of which has sent shockwaves through the royal establishment.
Princess Diana’s brutal prediction about Camilla comes true as popularity surges
As Queen Camilla prepares to mark her 77th birthday, a Royal commentator has shared a surprising prediction made by the late Princess Diana over 30 years ago.
Princess Diana once predicted Camilla’s crucial role in King Charles life after noting how ‘loyal’ she was (Image: Getty)
The bond between King Charles and Queen Camilla, spanning over five decades, has been highlighted in recent months as the Queen Consort’s presence becomes increasingly vital to the monarch. Amid a year fraught with Royal health scares, including the King’s own cancer diagnosis, Queen Camilla’s role has become crucial as she steps up to maintain the stability of the monarchy.
As her 77th birthday approaches, more individuals are recognising Camilla’s contributions. One Royal commentator even suggested that this was something predicted by Charles’ first wife, the late Princess Diana, over three decades ago.
Reflecting on the Queen’s transformation in recent months, former BBC Royal correspondent Jennie Bond commended Camilla for excelling in her new role.
Speaking to OK! she said: “I think she might have surprised herself by enjoying hard work as much as she seems to be doing! “
“She is, after all, a woman who has never had to commit to a solid career or the grind of a 9 to 5 job. She has taken on a significantly increased workload and a massive amount of responsibility in the past few months – and is looking and sounding great on it! “, reports the Mirror.
The Queen has expertly fit in her demanding role (Image: 2023 Getty Images)
While stepping into the limelight to assume so many duties as many senior royals, including Catherine, Princess of Wales and Princess Anne currently remain out of action, may seem like a daunting task – it’s a challenge that Camilla has risen to, partly Jennie believes, out of devotion to her husband.
Linking the Queen’s dedication to her profound bond with King Charles, Jennie mentioned: “I think part of it is because she so much wants the man she loves to be proud of her, and to pull her weight in their partnership.”
Notably, she also underscored the significance of Duchess Camilla gaining acceptance from a public that once detested her.
“It must be so gratifying to have earned widespread approval – even affection – from a public who once ganged up against her as the ‘marriage breaker’ and the ‘other woman’ who made Diana so unhappy,” Jennie added.
In a rather unexpected revelation, the former BBC star confessed that Princess Diana had once predicted this level of devotion and commitment.
Princess Diana previously predicted the strength of Camilla’s loyalty, according to one expert (Image: Getty)
She said: “I think Diana was absolutely right to tell me that Camilla was ‘loyal’ and that Charles’ love for Camilla was stronger than any marriage he might ever have made.”
Reflecting on the Queen’s journey since she stepped into the Royal limelight, Jennie complimented her growth in confidence, shrewdly remarking: “What a contrast to those early days when she looked and sounded so very nervous if she had to speak in public. Now she is assured, confident and comfortable in her new and very demanding role.”
