Latest news with #RichardFitzwilliams
Daily Mail
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Harry and Meghan are accused of hypocrisy over Montecito 'royal' court after they decried life as royals - as experts ridicule new group as 'expensive bureaucrats trying to save their brand'
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been accused of 'hypocrisy' over their new 'royal' court in Montecito after they condemned life as royals. The pair, who abandoned their roles as senior royals in 2020, have revamped the structure of their staff to create a similar hierarchical system that has underpinned Harry's family for decades, the Mail on Sunday revealed this weekend. Meredith Kendall Maines, a seasoned communications strategist, will be at the helm of a team of 11, operating out of Montecito, California, and the UK. Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams argued the couple has hypocritically created a similar structure for themselves to that of Harry's family, despite recently attacking royal systems. Speaking to MailOnline, Mr Fitzwilliams said: 'The hypocrisy lies in the act that Harry has, especially in his most recent interview, attacked courtiers and the Royal Household, considering them enemies. So it is extremely surprising that he should want a similar structure in Montecito. 'In [Harry's memoir] Spare he excoriated senior courtiers. He, as his mother did, regards them as the enemy.' The expert added: 'The difference is, tragically, that she would not accept police protection as she distrusted it so. Ironically, it's what he wants for himself and his family. He also claimed courtiers or their equivalent used security as a lever to prevent them stepping down as senior working royals. 'So the ''Montecito model'' better be different and they would be wise to pay attention to its advice.' Meanwhile, royal expert Tom Bower has criticised the new reshuffle, claiming it does not resemble a 'royal' court but rather marks the couple's 'final, desperate bid to save their brand'. Speaking to MailOnline, Mr Bower said: 'Undoubtedly, the Sussexes would like to rule over a ''royal court'' from their Montecito mansion. Nothing would give them greater pleasure than courtiers pulling their forelocks as they bow and scrape to please the Duke and Duchess. 'Competing with Buckingham Palace and Kensington Palace would delight Meghan. But what the Sussexes have assembled is not a ''royal court''. Rather, it's a hugely expensive group of bureaucrats signalling the Sussexes' final, desperate bid to save their brand.' This week, the MoS revealed the restructuring will see each senior appointee reportedly earn a six-figure salary. Mr Bower said: 'Buckingham Palace's ''royal court' are under-paid, over-worked devoted loyal professionals committed to the traditions of a thousand year monarchy and the country they serve.' He added: 'If Harry follows Meghan to commercialise his title to earn some dollars then his currently minimal chance of reconciliation and return to Britain will be totally extinguished.' Royal expert Mr Fitzwilliams added that the dramatic revamp has brought up questions of how successful the new operation will be, in light of previous 'bullying' accusations plaguing the Duchess. 'We are promised new projects and initiatives in the months to come and obviously can then judge the success of this revamp,' he said. Meredith Kendall Maines (pictured), a seasoned communications strategist, will be at the helm of a team of 11, operating out of Montecito, California, and the UK 'However there are question marks which have haunted the Sussexes entire operation. The first issue is whether the high staff turnover which has characterised their ventures continues, with some 20 having left. 'In the run up to the interview on Oprah, Meghan was accused of bullying, which she strongly denied. However this has been extremely damaging to her image...' The new operation is set to be run separately to Archewell, the Sussex's charity foundation. The MoS revealed that the restructuring will include the duke and duchess each having their own chief of staff. On top of this, Harry will launch his own as-yet-undisclosed commercial venture in the upcoming months, and Meghan's lifestyle business, As Ever, will expand its range of products later in the year. A spokesman for the couple said last night: 'The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have retained the support of Method Communications to support their growing business portfolio and philanthropic interests. 'Serving as an extension of the Sussex communications team, led by chief communications officer Meredith Maines.'
Fox News
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Meghan Markle admits to shattered dreams of royal motherhood while experts question Sussex family choices
Print Close By Stephanie Nolasco, Ashley Papa Published May 22, 2025 Meghan Markle is reflecting on how royal motherhood could have been different for her, but for several royal experts, it's too little, too late. On Tuesday's episode of her podcast, "Confessions of a Female Founder," the Duchess of Sussex admitted that things didn't pan out how she would have liked. "I will say… I've always wanted to be a mom," the 43-year-old shared. "I was like, 'Oh gosh, I'm going to give a speech with a baby on my hip.' I had a whole vision. Granted, I had a lot of external things happening by the time I had both pregnancies and both babies. But it was not the way I envisioned it." MEGHAN MARKLE'S 'AVALANCHE OF MISSTEPS' MAKE IT A STRUGGLE TO WIN BACK THE PUBLIC: EXPERTS Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told Fox News Digital that the British royal family had their own vision for the Sussexes — that their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, would learn about their British heritage. "What is certain is that the rift caused by the Sussexes' behavior and their brutal attacks on the royal family will make it difficult for Prince Archie and Princess Lili to have contact with their royal relatives," Fitzwilliams claimed. WATCH: MEGHAN MARKLE 'MOVED ON' FROM ROYAL FAMILY DRAMA, AUTHOR CLAIMS "The Sussexes claimed the palace establishment worked against them," he said. "There is no doubt that Meghan [and her sister-in-law] Kate [Middleton] had very different roles and temperaments. [But] the stresses the Sussexes said they experienced and their unhappiness with their roles only intensified. And in 'Spare,' Prince Harry personally attacked several influential courtiers." Meghan, a former American actress, became the Duchess of Sussex when she married the British prince in 2018. They welcomed their son while they were still senior members of the royal family. The couple brought their son, now 6, with them on a royal tour of Africa in 2019 and introduced him to Bishop Desmond Tutu. But then in 2020, the couple announced they were stepping back as senior royals, citing the unbearable intrusions of the British press and a lack of support from the palace. That year, they moved to California. In 2021, they welcomed their daughter Lilibet. Since their royal exit, the "Suits" alum has shared limited photos and videos of her kids without showing their faces. The couple also doesn't take them to public events where they could be photographed by paparazzi. "When Harry married Meghan, it was widely thought that her experience on the red carpet as the star of 'Suits' and her public speaking as a campaigner meant that, stressful though it was, royal life would be easier for her," Fitzwilliams explained. "How wrong the pundits were. Her wish for privacy in the period surrounding Archie's birth may have been understandable, but meant her relations with the press took a dive." CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER "The Sussexes' obsession with privacy has subsequently been lampooned since they are so selective," he claimed. "Archie was born in May 2019, and by September, the Sussexes had gone public with their unhappiness with their royal roles when on tour in South Africa." After the royal couple's exit, they went on to air their grievances in interviews and a Netflix series. Harry's 2023 tell-all memoir "Spare," loaded with embarrassing details about the House of Windsor, only worsened the rift. "The distance between the Sussex children and their English heritage didn't originate with the royal family," British royals expert Hilary Fordwich claimed to Fox News Digital. "[The royal family] have done their utmost to take the high road, despite a constant bombardment of criticism. Over time, the 'proof is in the pudding,' as the British say. The dedication to duty by all the senior royals has won over the public." Fordwich claimed that the ongoing rift, as well as the "different paths chosen by Harry and Meghan," is something that the royals "have come to reluctantly accept." "While the royal family has not publicly responded to Meghan's latest reflections, as with most issues, they are [aligned] with the British public," Fordwich claimed. She pointed out that polls in the country have "Meghan and Harry at the bottom." LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS On May 2, Harry declared in an interview with the BBC that he wanted to reconcile with his family after losing a court battle over his publicly funded security, which he said led his father, King Charles III, to stop talking to him. The monarch, 76, is being treated for an undisclosed form of cancer. "I would love reconciliation with my family," said Harry, 40. "There's no point in continuing to fight anymore. I don't know how much longer my father has… He won't speak to me because of this security stuff." Harry, who has been estranged from his family since his royal exit, said the court verdict meant it would be impossible to safely bring his family back to the U.K. The prince said repeatedly that the decision to withdraw his security had been made at the direction of palace officials to control him and his wife, even though it put their safety at risk. "What I'm struggling to forgive, and what I will probably always struggle to forgive, is the decision that was made in 2020 that affects my every single day, and that is knowingly putting me and my family in harm's way," Harry said. A government committee decided in 2020 that Harry's security arrangements should be decided on a case-by-case basis whenever he visits the U.K. Harry said that the committee includes two representatives of Buckingham Palace who have blocked his security in the U.K. The king could resolve the security issue by stepping out of the way and letting experts make the decision, Harry added. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP In response to the court ruling, Buckingham Palace issued a statement saying that the issue had been meticulously examined by the courts "with the same conclusion reached on each occasion." Harry said that he loves his country and would love to show his young children his homeland, but now he only returns for funerals and court cases. "Other royals receive credible threats and face intense scrutiny, and they have all weathered these ghastly experiences admirably," Fordwich pointed out. "Both Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles III have been shot at. Luckily, both were with blanks… And Princess Anne survived a kidnapping attempt." But Ian Pelham Turner told Fox News Digital that if Meghan and Harry's concerns with royal life had been addressed early on, perhaps the family could have been more united today. "Many people… I have spoken to since have said they were not surprised Meghan left," he claimed. "They were expecting it to happen. Now, it is up to the king to find a way of allowing them all back." The Duke and Duchess of Sussex continue to raise their children in the wealthy coastal city of Montecito. Print Close URL
Daily Mail
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Meghan and Harry's 7-year itch! Couple on different career paths as they mark their wedding anniversary - amid claims the Duchess aims to be a 'billionaire' while Prince lacks her 'ruthlessness'
As they look back on their wedding at St George's Chapel seven years ago today, Harry and Meghan remain united in their desire to live a different life away from the Royal Family, but they are not on the same page in every single sense. During their brief period as working royals where they appeared to be the perfect double act. Even during the drama of 'Megxit', Harry and Meghan's early business ventures were almost entirely joint which included the formation of their non-profit organisation Archewell and a lucrative Netflix deal which saw the pair star in a documentary. However, as the couple celebrate their seventh wedding anniversary, there appears to be a growing career chasm between the Sussexes in their business ventures with both taking on more solo projects. According to one royal insider, the couple could be suffering from a so-called 'seven-year glitch' where by they are still very much happily married but are separating their professional lives. Speaking to MailOnline, royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams said that Meghan has ambitions to become a billionaire with her various projects including TV and investing in start-ups, but Harry lacks the same 'ruthlessness'. 'Harry is increasingly finding himself as the spare in a relationship with Meghan which undoubtedly involves mutual affection, but where their priorities differ widely. 'Meghan likes glitz and glamour and is absolutely ruthless as the interview on Oprah showed so clearly. Because she married Harry, her brand does have reach. 'She would like to be a billionaire influencer and an A-list celebrity but she has very few A-list friends.' Richard said that Harry's comfort zone is his charity work, and this is the direction in which he naturally finds himself leaning. 'Invictus means a lot to him, it was a joy to see him at the WellChild Awards last year. He genuinely enjoyed being with the children, it seemed as though the "old Harry" was temporarily back,' he said. However, he cautioned that the Duke has made a 'large number of mistakes'. These include his 'angry and resentful half hour interview with the BBC after he lost his court case over security and his ill-judged memoir Spare'. He added: However, though often emotional, he lacks Meghan's ruthlessness, which was so apparent in the Oprah interview.' As for Meghan's hopes of reaching her billionaire goal, Richard said that her public image could be problematic. 'Her declining popularity in the United States is partly due to the bullying allegations which have dogged her though she strongly denies them, and partly because, as was pointed out by critics of her With Love, Meghan cookery show, she is too self-obsessed,' he explained. 'She should take advice from the infamous but pragmatic 16th century diplomat Nicolo Machiavelli who wrote 'It is not necessary that a prince (in her case a princess) be just. It is very necessary that he (she) appear to be'. 'The talent isn't there, the ambition is boundless, the self-love infinite and it shows far too obviously. The novelty has worn off, too. If you preach love but rubbish the royal family, which you married into, you might not make the fortune you seek!' Indeed, Meghan does appear to have focused much of her energy on her solo business projects in recent years. In March 2024, she soft-launched American Riviera Orchard before changing the companies name to As Ever. Announcing the new venture, Meghan said: 'This new chapter is an extension of what has always been my love language, beautifully weaving together everything I cherish - food, gardening, entertaining, thoughtful living, and finding joy in the everyday.' The food products sold by the brand include an assortment of teas, edible flower sprinkles and a £20 jar of honey. Meghan has also invested in a number of companies including the vegan coffee brand Clevr Blends and haircare line Highbrow Hippie. She has also invested in asset manager Ethic, which focuses on sustainable investments. Harry and Meghan signed a lucrative £18million deal with Spotify in 2020. However despite appearing to be a joint venture, the only show they produced was hosted by Meghan. In the series, titled Archetypes, Meghan interviewed various celebrities from Serena Williams to Paris Hilton. In 2022, the first Netflix series about the Sussexes was released aptly named Harry and Meghan. While it holds the record for the biggest debut for a Netflix documentary it received mixed reviews from critics The deal was 'mutually ended' in June 2023 with sources claiming the music streaming giant did not see a enough content to warrant the full payout. Earlier this year, the duchess launched her Confessions of a Female Founder with Meghan podcast which saw the royal chat with female business owners from an array of successful companies. In a slight career change, Meghan also penned a children's book in 2021 titles The Bench. The book follows the relationship of a father and son through the eyes of the mother. It received mixed reviews from critics. Harry remains focused on his charity work. He is still involved heavily with the Invictus Games and the foundation which supports the tournament as well as the HALO Trust - a charity working to remove landmines which Princess Diana was supportive of. The Duke of Sussex also launched more new projects in recent years including an eco-travel campaign through his non-profit Travalyst, aimed at encouraging sustainable travel. In November 2023 he became the global ambassador for Scotty's Little Soldiers - a charity which cares for children whose parents died while serving in the armed forces. A jar of honey for sale on As Ever which sells an array of food products Prince Harry and Meghan on their wedding day in May 2018 In their television projects, Harry and Meghan have kept a much more united front but even so the couple do now appear to be doing much more separate projects. Although an official figure was never announced, Harry and Meghan's deal with Netflix was allegedly worth around £80million and seen the couple produce multiple shows. In 2022, the first Netflix series about the Sussexes was released aptly named Harry and Meghan. While it holds the record for the biggest debut for a Netflix documentary it received mixed reviews. The pair were also executive producers on the Polo sports documentary series which followed athletes at the US Open Polo Championship. In 2023, Meghan did not join Harry as an executive producer on the Heart of Invictus series, although the duke and duchess did appear together during the show. Meghan's first major solo television project was her lifestyle programme called With Love Meghan which saw the duchess team up with a number of famous guests to cook and create homeware products. Harry was almost entirely absent from the series aside from a very brief cameo in the last episode. A source from the show has since reported that neither Harry nor their children will appear in the next season of the show.
