As the Duke and Duchess of Sussex navigate life post-royalty, observers voice concerns about their prospects for sustained popularity. The couple's increasing detachment from the British royal family is sparking debate about their relevance and public appeal.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's future has been the subject of intense speculation, following the release of their Netflix docuseries and Harry's memoir, "Spare." An anonymous insider recently hinted to The Sun that the Sussexes may be putting a stop to tell-all books, in-depth interviews, and documentary features, implying they've exhausted this chapter of their life.
Many have encouraged the Sussexes to pivot away from criticizing the royal family, suggesting a rebrand might be beneficial. However, Kinsey Schofield, a royal expert and host of the "To Di For Daily" podcast, argues that their royal connections largely define their allure.
"Netflix swiftly axed Meghan Markle's 'Pearl' project. It's evident the industry is primarily captivated by Harry and Meghan due to their royal associations," Schofield commented to Fox News Digital. "Distancing themselves from the royals could steer them towards irrelevance. It's increasingly challenging to highlight those ties organically, especially with Meghan's time in the royal family being increasingly eclipsed by her time away from it."
Noting that the couple might prefer a lower profile, she added, "But the reality is that fans expect more than that."
Celebrity blogger Perez Hilton concurs with Schofield's sentiment, emphasizing the importance of their royal lineage to their public interest. "I'm of the opinion that they should return to the U.K. It seems inevitable," Hilton expressed to Page Six. "Without intending to offend, they're fundamentally dull. The intrigue is the U.K. family and the associated turmoil."
Hilton argued that the couple, now considered celebrities in Hollywood, must adhere to the rules of that sphere. "They're simply celebrities to us here in America; we're not their subjects. Therefore, they must abide by the celebrity playbook. One has to strive to remain in the public eye, since the essence of monetizing celebrity is to amplify and sustain it," he elaborated.
Meanwhile, rumors about strains in the couple's marriage and questions about Harry's visa status (following his admission of past drug use in his memoir) swirl. Biographer Angela Levin suggested on "GB News" that the prince's aspirations are collapsing. "They seem more like nightmares at this point. He seems to be struggling with defining his identity, and it appears that Meghan isn't providing the type of support one might expect from a deeply loving partner," she concluded.
