Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are treating life like a “prom” as the couple try to break into showbiz with their glamorous new life in California, a royal expert has told Palace Confidential.
Charlotte Griffiths, editor-at-large of the Mail on Sunday, told the weekly Mail+ talk show that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who live in Montecito, are treating life “like a red carpet event”.
The panel discussed the growing backlash over the decision to give Prince Harry the memorial award created in the name of Pat Tillman, an American football star who gave up a £3m contract to join the US Army after 9/11.
He served in Iraq and then Afghanistan, where he was killed by friendly fire in 2004.
Pat’s mother Mary said she was “shocked” and was not consulted about the decision to give the Duke of Sussex the prestigious award.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry attend the Intrepid Museum’s Annual Tribute to Freedom Gala in 2021
Charlotte Griffiths, editor-at-large of the Mail on Sunday, told the Mail+ weekly talk show that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who reside in Montecito, are treating life “like a red carpet event”.
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He said there were “far more suitable recipients” who “don’t have the money, resources, connections or privileges that Prince Harry has”.
Host Jo Elvin asked Charlotte if the Sussexes were being “ignored” for the criticism they have faced over the past week.
Charlotte replied: ‘I get the impression that life for Meghan Markle at the moment is kind of a prom event and (Harry) is prom king and she’s prom queen and she’s organising all these events over the years that they can attend together.
‘Although at the Living Legends of Aviation event, she didn’t actually appear with him because a similar controversy had occurred before the event and so she didn’t go with him.
“I’ll be very interested to see if she goes with him next week. Her great friend Serena Williams will be presenting her with the award, so it’s quite possible she’ll attend.
‘Life is not a red carpet event for them to show off their brand. There are some very serious events out there and they are being ignored.’
Since leaving the Royal Family for the United States, the Sussexes have been living the California lifestyle, walking red carpets, attending movie premieres, accepting awards and creating more content for Netflix.
Meghan told Variety she was “thrilled” to be back in the entertainment industry last November on the red carpet at the Variety Power of Women event in Los Angeles.
Since leaving the Royal Family for the US, the Sussexes have been living the California lifestyle, walking red carpets, accepting awards and creating more content for Netflix. Above: Harry and Meghan are pictured with Brian Robbins and Tracy James
Meghan told Variety she was “thrilled” to be back in the entertainment industry last November on the red carpet at the Variety Power of Women event in Los Angeles (pictured at the event).
The former Suits actress has spent the past few months promoting her new brand, American Riviera Orchard, and has sent jars of her strawberry jam to celebrities including Chrissy Teigen and Mindy Kaling.
Her mother, Doria Ragland, is also getting in on the star-studded action, as she was photographed getting friendly with Beyoncé’s mother, Tina Knowles, and Kris Jenner.
And it seems Meghan has always wanted to be in the inner circle, as the Duchess of Sussex was claimed to have told a PR firm in 2019 that she wanted to “break the internet”.
Speaking to Sun A source said: ‘She was incredibly involved with the strategy and in one meeting told staff: ‘I want to break the internet.’
Rebecca English, royal editor at the Daily Mail, spoke to Palace Confidential about how different her lifestyle is to that of The Firm.
Doria has previously been spotted at events with other high-profile guests, including Kris Jenner and Kim Kardashian (pictured at the This Is About Humanity charity gala last August).
Rebecca English, royal editor at the Daily Mail, spoke to Palace Confidential about how different her lifestyle is to that of The Firm.
Charlotte Griffiths, Rebecca English, Richard Eden and Jo Elvin discuss Harry and Meghan in Palace Confidential
She said: ‘It’s very rare to see a member of the Royal Family receiving an award for something they’ve done. There have been a few in jest over the years – perhaps the King or the Prince of Wales accepting an environmental award.
‘But we don’t see it (often) because they consider public service to be a reward in itself.
“Obviously Harry and Meghan now, I think maybe as you said Jo, they’re part of that showbiz celebrity lifestyle where part of their lifeblood is to get another award and that just shows how different their lives are to what they would have had in the UK.”
Charlotte added that Harry was nominated for the Pat Tillman Award for the work he did while in the army between 2005 and 2015.
“I think that’s why it’s so shocking, because it’s not a new work, it’s an old work. I mean it’s also a celebration of his time in the military, but that was a long time ago and it feels like he needs something new,” he said.