Prince Harry 'lonely' as Meghan Markle 'takes back seat' after explosive row
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle may be toasting their new Netflix deal - but a war of words has still rumbled on in the background.
Earlier this year, the Duke of Sussex stepped down from Sentebale, the charity he founded to help children orphaned by Aids in Lesotho, following a boardroom battle with the chairwoman, Dr Sophie Chandauka.
Harry was said to be devastated by the row, which saw all sides rebuked by the Charity Commission for allowing the war of words to play out so publicly. Meghan was even dragged into the row earlier this year when Dr Chandauka claimed she caused a stir at a fund- raiser for the charity with little notice.
But despite posting on Instagram and publicly announcing the new Netflix deal, Meghan has stayed silent on the row. And according to former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond, there is good reason for this.
She told the Mirror: "This is a very sensitive issue all round. Sentebale was Harry's charity from the start, along with his co-founder, Prince Seeiso.
"The allegations of misogyny and misogynoir - both discounted by the charity commission - make this an even more sensitive issue for Meghan to become involved with.
"So I think she has wisely taken a back seat on this and left it to her husband. I'm sure she has supported and comforted him in private, and I think Harry will completely understand that it's not her place to get involved in a public row with his charity."
Since the Charity Commission's report, it has since been revealed that Harry might be set to start a new humanitarian charity. His spokesperson said: "The duke remains absolutely committed to continuing the work he started, supporting the children and young people of Lesotho and Botswana, nearly 20 years ago. In what form that support takes — no decisions have been made.
"All options remain on the table; whether that be starting a new charity or working to support pre-existing charities operating in the same sector in the region." But for royal historian and expert Dr Tessa Dunlop, Meghan's silence on the issue has been notable.
She added: "Now that Meghan and Harry have signed a new Netflix deal ('looser' and apparently less lucrative than the previous $78m one but a deal nonetheless), might the Duchess find her voice?
"Not the one she volubly uses to hawk As Ever wares (in conjunction with Netflix) but rather the voice Meghan famously re-found after leaving the Royal Family, the one that talked her truth to royal power and surely could talk her truth to the Sentebale fiasco?
"No, really, why hasn't Meghan come out batting for Prince Harry in his latest round of verbal fisty-cuffs concerning his former African charity?
After all, the Duke has consistently spoken out in support of his wife, establishing the precedent early on and against the wishes of his family when he condemned Britain's media coverage and insisted he had never before witnessed such a 'degree of pressure, scrutiny and harassment' from the press. As it currently stands, Harry cuts a lonely figure."
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