Meghan Markle has been criticized for "not being an asset" to Montecito in a recent explosive documentary.
A new film, "Harry—The Lost Prince," featuring the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, is set to premiere tonight on Germany's ZDF network. Award-winning filmmaker Ulrike Grunewald interviewed the couple's Montecito neighbors, royal specialists, and past associates to investigate Prince Harry's challenges inside the Royal Family and his current life in California.
The video explores Prince Harry's ongoing battle with his job as a "reserve" and examines the reasons for his continued prominence despite relinquishing his royal duties in 2020. Before the prime-time special, The Mirror reviewed the most significant revelations, including Harry positioning himself as a "target" and Meghan's estrangement from the local community.
In the film, Prince Harry is criticized by a former soldier for "whining" about his familial conflict in his memoir Spare and his Netflix series, according to the Mail Online. Veteran soldier Ben McBean, who flew home from Afghanistan with Harry in 2008, criticized the Duke for publicly disclosing his conflicts with William and Charles.
McBean suffered the loss of his left arm due to a landmine explosion and underwent an above-the-knee amputation of his right leg. "I just thought, with him kind of whinging about his family and he was saying something about his brother pushing him over or something like that, I was just like, 'Mate, just leave it out'. You and your brother had a little fisticuffs…but family's family, you know," he stated.
He asserted that if one of his friends had a dispute with his spouse and began posting disparaging remarks about his ex on social media, he would have advised him to cease such behavior.
Richard Mineards, a neighbor of the couple in Montecito, is also featured in the video discussing the Sussexes' affluent lifestyle. "It doesn't come cheap. I mean… most houses are about eight or nine million dollars," he said.
Mineards criticized Meghan for failing to contribute positively to the local community. "I personally don't think that Meghan is an asset to our community… She doesn't really go out or get involved with the community. Harry has to a certain extent, because he's quite jolly… but Meghan doesn't seem to get seen anywhere… And you don't see him either," he furthered.
Dai Davies, a former Head of Royal Protection and Divisional Commander in the Metropolitan Police, criticizes Prince Harry for exclusively associating with affluent individuals during the couple's 'meticulously planned' overseas excursions.
"In Colombia, although there are very rich people there, the vast majority, 85 percent or 90 percent, are very poor. And what I've noticed of these tours, he mixes with the upper classes. He doesn't really, apart from carefree orchestrated areas where he mixes with so-called the 'normal people' – well they're not. These are carefully orchestrated campaigns as far as I can see… I look quite dispassionately at the evidence and the evidence I've seen is, it's all about Harry and Meghan," he stated.
Davies additionally charges Harry with rendering himself and others vulnerable by revealing the number of Taliban combatants he has eliminated.
Royal expert Jack Royston, from the podcast The Royal Report, alleges that the pair is "bordering on corruption" in their interactions with Hollywood. He admonishes Prince Harry and Meghan for desiring to be partially engaged and partially disengaged from the Royal Family.
Reactions on social media have been rapid and polarized. “Meghan Markle’s lack of community involvement is a letdown. Montecito deserves better," an X user said. “Harry airing family drama publicly? Even neighbors are unimpressed!” another netizen wrote.
Supporters of Prince Harry and Meghan, nonetheless, convened in their defense. “Let them live their lives! Why should Meghan owe anything to her neighbors?” one royal fan stated. “So Harry and Meghan want to be royals AND Hollywood stars? Pick a lane, please," a fourth source sarcastically penned.
Business Times has reached out to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle for comments.
