Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s lives have significantly changed in recent years. The couple moved to the US for a more private life, but instead they’ve been the center of media attention worldwide, even going on what some have called “royal tours” to South America and Africa.
As Harry and Meghan venture out into separate business fields—rumored to be more than a professional split—the couple have bought a new house in Portugal. The Sussexes’ new European base, after being evicted from Frogmore Cottage last year by King Charles, means they are closer to the Royal Family, and their children, Archie and Lilibet, have a chance to get to know their cousins.
Unfortunately for Archie and Lilibet, their parents won’t let them travel to the UK because of security issues. But one royal expert urges Harry and Meghan to rethink their decision, saying that Harry and Meghan’s refusal to bury the hatchet might negatively impact their children’s future relationships with the royal family.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been married for over six years. Meghan once referred to her relationship with Harry as “salt and pepper,” but rumors suggest their relationship may have abruptly soured.
Rumors have swirled that Harry and Meghan’s marriage may be falling apart, and Meghan’s recent solo engagements in recent months have only further fueled that speculation.
There has been no official comment from the Sussexes’ camp about whether the rumors are true but, according to a GB News source, Meghan feels stressed that the rumors won’t go away.
“She has really felt the strain in recent weeks, and with all the speculation surrounding her and Harry and their marriage,” the source said.
Prince Harry & Meghan Markle’s ‘professional split’
“They haven’t done themselves any favours by doing so many separate events but this is what they have decided to do as it works best for them at the moment as a couple and they both feel they can shine at events that are close to their hearts.”
The insider added: “But it does upset her that, while Harry was getting praised for all of his appearances, she is getting criticised for what she says, what she wears, etc and it brings back hurtful memories of when she was a royal.”
Even though there have been rumors all over the newspapers about Prince Harry and Meghan living separate lives, PR expert Ed Coram James believes that their decision not to work together could be conscious.
Speaking to the Mirror, Coram James explained that the Sussexes have had a “distinct brand as a duo for many years.” But since the infamous Oprah interview–which ignited a major public feud with the royals–their brand has become “more toxic” and “commercially untenable.”
The PR expert stated that big brands are most likely to be cautious about paying Harry and Meghan to work with them because of this.
“This is because the ongoing confrontation with the rest of the Royal Family, as well as much of Meghan’s family, have made them appear confrontational and combative, their string of commercial projects that haven’t worked out and have led to a sense that they aren’t the best producers. And their worldwide publicity tour made them look whiney, ungrateful, and unconscious to the enormous privilege that they have enjoyed,” Ed Coram James told the Mirror.
“To overcome the obstacles of appearing spoiled, arrogant, immature, attention-seeking, aggressive, fight-picking, hypocritical, and incompetent is very tricky. But, it is achievable. To do it, they need to lean into the exact opposites of these labels. The first step in this always had to be to dissociate themselves from the brand that had achieved such labels in the first place.”
Prince Harry & Meghan Markle buy property in Portugal
The PR expert continued: “When combined, the Sussexes brand is, from a PR perspective, toxic. But, when separate, they have a genuine chance of creating an entirely separate brand, with completely different labels. If they manage to achieve this, then one day they could again reunite brands, and create a new combined brand that works.”
Neither Harry nor Meghan have commented on the rumors about their allegedly failing marriage. The couple are raising their children, Prince Archie and Lilibet, behind the walls of their $14 million mansion. They also recently made a decision that could give their children a relationship with the royal family.
Some weeks ago, it was reported that the Sussexes had bought a house in Portugal. The house is located in Alentejo, just an hour’s drive from the coastal town of Melides — and there may be a strategic reason for that location.
Princess Eugenie and her husband, Jack Brooksbank, own a home in Melides. According to reports, Harry’s cousin is the only member of the Royal Family with whom he is still friends.
Just days after Harry released his tell-all memoir, Spare, in 2023, King Charles decided to evict his son and daughter-in-law from Frogmore Cottage. At this time, no Royal Family member, except for Eugenie and her husband, wants anything to do with them.
“The number of people inside the Royal Family who are willing to proclaim their friendship for Harry and Meghan has dwindled to practically nothing,” Christopher Andersen told Fox.
“Royal reunion awfully long way off,” expert says
“No one wants to run afoul of the king and Prince William – it’s that simple. Somehow Prince Harry’s cousin Princess Eugenie, who has a home in Portugal, has been able to straddle the fence – to remain in the king’s good graces but also not turn her back on the Sussexes. Obviously, Harry and Meghan are very grateful for the loyalty Eugenie has shown.”
“Purchasing a villa in Portugal has more to do with being close to a Royal Family member who is still genuinely fond of them than it does with being geographically closer to Great Britain,” he claimed. “Maybe in the future Eugenie, who also remains close to William and his wife Kate Middleton, could also play the role of go-between. But any scenario like that seems an awfully long way off.”
In an interview with the Daily Mail, royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams claimed the decision to buy a home in that part of Portugal “emphasizes that they still have goodwill” with some members of the Royal Family.
“This proves they are close, and it also gives the Sussexes a base in the EU with the possibility of acquiring the Golden Visa, which would give them free access to the EU’s Schengen area. This also gives them a base near Britain,” Fitzwilliams explained.
“It makes clear that they are connected closely to part of the Royal Family and it will be interesting to see how they intend to develop this. Will it, for example, lead to more solo or perhaps even joint visits to Britain, but without participating in royal life or royal rituals at Sandringham and Balmoral? It might lead to a ‘faux royal’ tour of an EU country following their trips to Nigeria and Colombia.”
Royal expert brands Archie & Lilibet’s non-existent relationship with Royal Family “sad”
Fitzwilliams concluded: “It will certainly involve their children and we may see photos of Archie and Lili, in the future, possibly the distant future, we may well see them with Eugenie and Jack and their family. This move obviously advertises that the couples are close. Now we know that Harry and Meghan have a base in Europe, their exile in California is far less distant.”
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle nervously followed the US election after Donald Trump stated that he could possibly deport Harry if he had lied on his visa application. Royal expert Jennie Bond told OK! that Donald Trump’s return to the White House could mean that they would spend more time in Portugal, if not during school holidays.
She stated that while it’s “sad” that Archie and Lilibet don’t have a relationship with their UK family, spending time with their cousins could be life-changing.
“How curious and sad it will be for Archie and Lilibet if they grow up knowing they are part of one of the most famous families in the world — and yet they are estranged from almost all of them. To know that their grandfather and uncle were both Kings, and they didn’t know them,” Bond said.
“The Portugal house does suggest that Harry and Meghan want the children to experience European culture, and get to know Eugenie’s kids. Perhaps we shall finally see some pictures of the Sussex brood playing with their cousins. But, by now, they must be steeped in the Californian way of life and sound like proper little Americans.”
Meghan fears Archie and Lilibet will “blame her” if they don’t get a royal reunion
While Prince Harry and Meghan claim that security issues are why they won’t bring their children to the UK, the Duchess is afraid that her children will blame her if they don’t get the opportunity to get to know their royal cousins.
“A friend of the couple – one of Meghan’s few aristocratic friends from her time in the UK – told me Meghan does miss some aspects of life in the UK and worries that her children will blame her if they never get to see their cousins and feel as adults that they have been deprived of what might have been a fun and meaningful existence in the UK as working royals,” royal expert Tom Quinn told the Mirror.
Time will tell if Harry and Meghan will give in and make amends with the Royal Family, thus allowing their children to get to know Harry’s side of the family. But as things stand today, it doesn’t seem likely.
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