Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, once celebrated as modern royal trailblazers, have seen their popularity in the United States plummet over the past few years.
According to royal experts and Hollywood insiders, their actions and decisions since leaving their royal duties in 2020 have played a significant role in this shift.
Harry and Meghan’s US Popularity
Ingrid Seward, editor-in-chief of Majesty Magazine and author of the royal biography My Mother & I, shared her insights:
“I give a lot of talks to Americans, and they all dislike Harry and Meghan. They hate that they let the Queen down.”
This sentiment, she explained, stems largely from their public criticism of the royal family, particularly during Queen Elizabeth II’s final years.
Harry and Meghan moved to the United States in 2020, leaving behind their official roles in the UK.
However, their decision to voice grievances about Harry’s family—through interviews like the one with Oprah Winfrey, their Netflix docuseries Harry & Meghan, and Harry’s memoir Spare—sparked mixed reactions.
For many Americans, these revelations crossed a line, with some perceiving them as disrespectful to the monarchy, especially to the late queen, who passed away in September 2022 at age 96.
Hollywood and Public Perception
Their Hollywood journey has also been rocky. Initially welcomed with enthusiasm, the couple has struggled to maintain that momentum.
Publicist Jane Owen remarked that Harry and Meghan “had every opportunity to shine in Hollywood. They were given a massive platform with deals like the one with Spotify, but they squandered it.”
Owen likened Hollywood to a high school, where popularity and reputation can make or break someone. According to her, the couple has become “the most unpopular kids in school.”
The loss of their $20 million Spotify deal in 2023 was a significant blow. Their production company, Archewell Audio, managed to deliver just 12 episodes of Meghan’s podcast Archetypes over a two-and-a-half-year period.
While the podcast explored important themes like labels that hold women back, it failed to sustain widespread interest.
Stacy Jones, founder of Hollywood Branded, explained:
“Hollywood operates on trust—trust that a project will deliver, that a partnership will be beneficial, and that public perception will remain positive. Losing the Spotify deal lingered into 2024 and hurt their standing.”
Cooling Relationships
The couple’s social standing in Los Angeles has also taken a hit. Once surrounded by a circle of high-profile friends like Oprah Winfrey, the Clooneys, and Serena Williams, insiders claim that some of these relationships have cooled.
Paul Burrell, Princess Diana’s former butler, revealed that many Hollywood stars have “turned down recent invites” from the Sussexes. He added that celebrities are increasingly associating themselves with Prince William and Princess Kate, who seem to have maintained their appeal both in the UK and abroad.
Kinsey Schofield, host of the To Di For Daily podcast, echoed this sentiment, saying, “We lost interest in Harry and Meghan after realizing we had given them way too much credit over the years.”
Eric Trump even commented that “Americans don’t care about Harry,” a sentiment that appears to resonate with many.
A Dimmed Enthusiasm
Despite their challenges, Harry and Meghan continue to generate some buzz. They live in a $14 million mansion in Montecito, California, with their two young children, Archie and Lilibet.
While they don’t struggle to get attention at high-profile events or reservations at exclusive restaurants, the excitement around them has notably diminished.
Experts agree that their next steps will be crucial in shaping their legacy. For now, however, the couple’s struggles in maintaining public favor and Hollywood’s trust highlight a stark contrast to the high expectations that accompanied their arrival in the United States.