The rift between the British royal family and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex seems to have reached new depths following Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's recent tour of Nigeria and the couple's suggestion that more such trips are in the pipeline. The visit, which bore all the hallmarks of an official royal tour, has raised concerns among senior royals and reignited the simmering feud between the two families.
According to a recent poll by "Ranker," a website that features polls on various topics, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have been included on the list of "most disliked celebrities of 2024." Meghan currently holds the top spot, followed by her husband, Sean 'Diddy' Combs, and Oprah Winfrey. However, Lynn Carratt, a spokesperson for Press Box PR, believes that Meghan will likely take the survey data "with a pinch of salt" and focus on building her brand and raising her popularity in her home country, the United States.
Prince Harry, on the other hand, remains concerned about his connection to Britain, particularly for his children. Their recent trip to Nigeria, which was hailed as a success, showcased their continued influence and support abroad. The couple described it as "the first of many trips," hinting at more planned tours despite the backlash.
The Sussexes' trip to Nigeria has reportedly caused upset among the royal family, with Prince William being described as "absolutely furious" and King Charles III as "angrier than anyone has ever seen him." Royal author Tom Quinn told The Mirror that the visit had "all the signs" of an official royal tour, with the couple being greeted with dances, receptions, and visits to schools and charities. Quinn argued that the trip could have been designed to give the impression that Harry and Meghan were still working royals, which has not sat well with the senior royals.
A former royal staffer told The Daily Beast that overseas visits are a matter of foreign policy and are about promoting the U.K. and building diplomatic and trade alliances on behalf of the government. The staffer expressed concern that if Harry and Meghan's "rival foreign tours" become a regular occurrence, it could "muddy the waters" and disrupt the careful overseas messaging by the royal family.
The tour of Nigeria came after Harry spent a week in London, during which he issued a statement accusing King Charles III of having "other priorities" than meeting him. Charles' failure to meet his son dominated news feeds, while the Palace wanted the focus to be on the king's recovery and ongoing return to work. A family friend of the royals told The Daily Beast that relations between the two families are "as bad as they have ever been" and that nothing has been resolved.
The friend also addressed reports suggesting that Prince William was "preventing" Charles and Harry from reconciling, stating that while William's willingness to reconcile would make things easier, it is not the whole story. The king is said to be particularly hurt by Harry's comments about his wife, Camilla, in his memoir "Spare," where he described her as "dangerous" and accused her of sacrificing him on her "personal PR altar."
As the tensions between the royal family and the Sussexes continue to simmer, it remains to be seen how the situation will unfold. However, one thing seems clear: the "rival royals" approach adopted by Harry and Meghan is proving to be a "nightmare" for the Palace, and the late Queen Elizabeth's desire to avoid such a scenario has not been realized.
