Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been accused of stealing the spotlight from Prince William just minutes before he was due to deliver a speech at the Diana Legacy Awards, an event set up in honor of the late Princess Diana. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex made two significant announcements that coincided with the awards ceremony, raising eyebrows among royal watchers.
Firstly, Meghan Markle launched her brand new lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard, moments before Prince William arrived at the Science Museum in London for the awards. The venture, which has been in the works for the past year, is believed to focus on home, garden, food, and general lifestyle wares. An insider told Page Six Style that the project may also tie in with a new cooking show on Netflix.
Following Meghan's announcement, the couple revealed the winner of their $100,000 NAACP - Archewell Foundation Digital Civil Rights Award. The timing of these announcements has been criticized by royal expert Richard Fitzwilliam, who told the Daily Mail that it wasn't an accident that they coincided with the Diana Legacy Awards.
"It's no accident. For years they've been unpredictable but they have been predictable in one sense, and that is the unerring timing when they believe it's beneficial to get information out," Fitzwilliam said. "The Sussexes in my opinion do nothing by accident and timing is often absolutely pivotal."
Prince Harry also made a virtual appearance at the Diana Legacy Awards, managing to avoid bumping into his estranged brother. In an emotional speech, the Duke of Sussex paid tribute to his late mother, saying she would be "incredibly proud" of the work the award recipients were doing. He praised them for "protecting" his mother's legacy and emphasized the importance of their social action work.
Meanwhile, Prince William delivered a moving tribute to Princess Diana during his speech at the awards ceremony. He said the 20 winners of the awards reflected "my mother's belief that young people can change the world." The Diana Legacy Awards, which take place every two years, recognize the most esteemed honors and offer awardees personal and professional development support to enhance their social action work and help mobilize others to do the same.
The timing of Harry and Meghan's announcements has further fueled speculation about the ongoing tensions within the royal family. The couple's actions have been seen as an attempt to overshadow Prince William's moment in the spotlight and draw attention to their own ventures and initiatives.
This latest development comes amidst the ongoing controversy surrounding Kate Middleton's disappearance from the public eye and the recent photo scandal involving a manipulated Mother's Day image. The Princess of Wales has been missing from public engagements for more than two months after undergoing surgery, leading to wild theories and speculation about her health and whereabouts.
Jim Bennett, the photographer who captured the recent image of Kate leaving Windsor Castle with Prince William, debunked the theories surrounding the photograph. Bennett, who was positioned on Datchet High Street to get an early photo of Prince William heading to Westminster Abbey for the Commonwealth Day Service, told Fox News, "We don't change our photos in Photoshop other than adjusting the light levels if necessary."
As the royal family continues to navigate the complexities of their relationships and public image, the timing of Harry and Meghan's announcements has once again brought their actions under scrutiny. The couple's ability to draw attention to their own ventures, even during events honoring Princess Diana, has raised questions about their intentions and the ongoing tensions within the royal family.
