Prince William has been urged to recapture the fairytale glamor his branch of the Royal Family appears to be letting slip, while the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are set to capitalize on the void. This stark warning comes from historian and royal expert Dr Tessa Dunlop, who shared her insights with The mirror. He painted a vivid picture of what is at stake, warning that ignoring the power of glamor could prove costly for the Firm.
Dr Dunlop began by acknowledging the Royal Family’s traditional stance: “The Royal Family might think they are above such ostentatious tricks. “It would be a mistake.” His concern centers on the idea that public appeal is not just about duty and service, but about spectacle and charm.
She further explained“After all, waiting in the wings are former royals, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Instinctively glamorous and full of rowdiness, the Californian couple has a natural ability to combine the glitz of show business and the public good.” According Dr DunlopHarry and Meghan’s unique ability to merge entertainment and philanthropy makes them formidable competition.
In her analysis, Dr Dunlop described what she perceives as a worrying “gap at the top”. He warned: “The problem with vacuum cleaners is that they invite all sorts of unwanted intruders. “The royal machinery has clearly decided that they can compensate for a depleted public presence with relentless philanthropy at ITV.” However, Dr. Dunlop cautioned that that approach may not be enough.
“The public will tolerate a little charity bullying, but only if it is accompanied by a heavy dose of fairy tale glamour.” He even recalled a time when Royalty achieved this balance perfectly, citing the release of Bond in 2021 to There is no time to die. “That fabulous Bond premiere of ‘No Time to Die’ when Camilla and Kate waltzed amid a cloud of designer sequins felt like a world away,” he said, hinting at a nostalgic longing for the dazzling moments that once captivated audiences around the world.
Their message is clear: if the Royal Family does not regain the spotlight with the same fairy-tale charm, they may find themselves overshadowed by Harry and Meghan, who have already mastered the art of combining glamor with purpose.