Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have once again found themselves under scrutiny, this time due to a critical Vanity Fair cover story titled “American Hustle.” The article delves into their lives five years after stepping back from royal duties, making claims about what it’s allegedly like to work for the couple. This isn’t the first time Vanity Fair has sparked controversy regarding the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, as a previous cover story also raised concerns within royal circles.
Back in 2017, Meghan appeared on the magazine’s cover to celebrate her role in the TV series Suits. The headline, “She’s Just Wild About Harry,” accompanied by a glamorous photo of the actress, caused unease at Buckingham Palace. At the time, Meghan openly discussed her relationship with Harry, confirming, “We’re in love.” However, this candidness reportedly alarmed royal insiders.
According to Richard Eden of the Daily Mail, a palace source described the situation as “a punch to the solar plexus,” explaining that such interviews were not customary before official engagement announcements. The source added that Kate Middleton and Princess Diana had adhered to this protocol, with interviews being “meticulously arranged by royal officials under strict guidelines.” The article led some to speculate that Meghan might have been leveraging her relationship for publicity.
Interestingly, Meghan herself was reportedly unhappy with how that 2017 piece turned out. In Valentine Low’s book Courtiers, it’s revealed that Meghan “detested” the article, disliking both the photographs and the tone, which she felt focused too much on Harry and carried a negative slant.
Meghan’s influence on Harry explored
The latest Vanity Fair story continues this critical narrative, suggesting that Harry may have underestimated the consequences of his memoir Spare on family relationships. It also claims Meghan has taken steps to “re-parent” Harry and notes the couple’s apparent struggles to solidify ideas for their Netflix and Spotify projects.
These claims come after months of speculation about their media ventures, including concerns over Meghan’s Netflix show potentially being canceled before its release.
Adding to the drama, Meghan was reportedly given an unkind nickname by Spotify co-workers-a detail she was unaware of. Despite such allegations, some of their staff have defended Meghan in US Weekly, countering claims of her being difficult to work with. While criticism persists, supporters argue that public perception doesn’t always align with reality.