Despite Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's departure from royal duties in January 2020 in pursuit of a more private life, the couple has attracted increased media attention through their criticism of the monarchy and various interviews.
Royal author Sally Bedell Smith claims that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are "obsessed with privacy" while simultaneously "violating their own." Comparing the couple to Prince William and Kate Middleton, Smith believes that the latter has successfully maintained a private zone. In contrast, Harry and Meghan have continually exposed their personal lives through interviews and Harry's book.
Smith, the author of "Diana: In Search for Herself" and the upcoming "George VI and Elizabeth: The Marriage That Shaped the Monarchy," stated that she would be "stunned if William were to write any kind of a book that would, for example, try to counter what Harry has written and said." She also praised the way Prince William and Kate have handled the situation.
Contrary to public expectations of a low-profile life after their departure, famously dubbed "Megxit," Harry and Meghan have continued to make headlines. Starting with their explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey in March 2021, the couple shared numerous allegations against the royal family and The Firm.
Moreover, Harry has continued to criticize the royals in interviews and the Apple TV+ docuseries "The Me You Can't See." More recently, the couple made headlines with their "Harry & Meghan" Netflix docuseries, which aired on December 8, 2022, and Harry's memoir "Spare," released on January 10, 2023.
During promotional interviews for his book, Harry accused Queen Consort Camilla of leaking stories to British tabloids for her own PR campaign. In "Spare," he also discussed an alleged physical altercation with Prince William. Despite these claims, the royal family has maintained their "never complain, never explain" stance.
However, instead of garnering support, Harry and Meghan have faced criticism for their continuous airing of grievances against the royal family. As a result, their popularity has declined not only in the UK but also in the US, with many people growing weary of their complaints.
Their concerns regarding privacy have even become a subject of satire in comedy shows, including an episode of "South Park" titled "Worldwide Privacy Tour."
In response to these criticisms, a spokesperson for the couple emphasized that they "never cited privacy as the reason for stepping back." They added that the couple's statement announcing their decision did not mention privacy but reiterated their desire to continue their roles and public duties. The representative accused the tabloid media of creating a false narrative that influences public opinion, stressing that Harry and Meghan are sharing their story on their own terms.
