Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, may be facing new challenges within the royal family as Queen Camilla's recent foray into podcasting with "The Reading Room" has been perceived as upstaging Meghan's own podcast project, "Archetypes." In 2022, Meghan released "Archetypes" on Spotify, but the project was discontinued the following year due to a lack of sustained interest and high production costs. This setback has been contrasted with Queen Camilla's successful podcast debut, leading to speculations of heightened tensions within the royal family.
Royal commentator Denise Palmer Davies suggested that Queen Camilla's podcast success might feel like a personal defeat for Meghan, especially given Prince Harry's past critical remarks about Camilla. Palmer Davies stated, "If her podcast does well, and I am sure it will, she will have achieved in an area they so desperately wanted to succeed in, then that is the perfect revenge." She added that Meghan would likely be "livid" and "embarrassed" by her podcast's failure compared to Camilla's achievement.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's partnership with Spotify has been a rocky one. In addition to the end of "Archetypes," the couple faced rumors of a deal with Audible, which the company later denied. "There is no truth to the reports and Audible is not in negotiations with Meghan Markle," a statement from Audible clarified.
In the wake of these developments, Spotify CEO Daniel Ek spoke about the company's decision to part ways with various celebrities, including the Sussexes. He emphasized the need for innovation in podcasting, saying, "We thought new innovation was needed to happen here."
Bill Simmons, a Spotify executive, further stirred controversy by referring to the Sussexes as "swindlers" in a candid conversation. He expressed frustration over Prince Harry's unfulfilled podcast commitments and criticized the Duke for his public comments about the royal family.
Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle are always compared and sometimes pitted against each other.
Meanwhile, tensions between Meghan Markle and Kate, Princess of Wales, have also been a topic of discussion. Royal commentator Charlotte Griffiths recounted an incident in 2018 when Meghan's public speaking skills appeared to overshadow Kate's. Griffiths noted, "There was a real risk here that Meghan might outshine Kate in the public speaking arena." However, she praised Kate for her patience and strategic approach, which allowed her to "emerge the victor" in the long run.
Prince Harry's memoir "Spare" revealed further details about the strained relationship between Meghan and Kate. He described an incident where Meghan borrowed Kate's lip gloss, an exchange that highlighted the underlying tension between the two.
These developments paint a complex picture of the dynamics within the British royal family, with the Sussexes facing challenges in their media ventures and ongoing tensions with other royal family members. As the Sussexes navigate their post-royal life and media projects, the contrast with Queen Camilla's podcast success and the ongoing rift with Kate Middleton remain key factors in the unfolding royal narrative.
