Did Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Really Have a ‘Summer of Hell’?
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have been in the spotlight for years, but this year has been especially noteworthy for the royal couple. After welcoming their son, Archie Harrison, in early May, the two went on to face some of the worst backlash and publicity of their lives.
Now that the summer is over and Duchess Meghan is back from maternity leave, the couple is liking looking on to what lies ahead. Recently, a royal insider opened up to offer some clarity about what made their summer so difficult and whether or not they are letting the media outrage affect them now.
Meghan Markle’s Wimbledon scandal
In early July, Markle made a rare public appearance at Wimbledon to watch tennis and enjoy an afternoon out. Still, it didn’t take long before fans and critics alike were angry with her actions that day. Or rather, the actions of her security team.
When bystanders tried to take some pictures of Markle, her security stepped forward and told fans that since Markle was there in a “private capacity,” pictures would not be allowed. The negativity in the media in the days that followed the incident was intense.
Celebrities, media professionals, and royal watchers alike were angry that Markle would not be more open to photos, and she was even called “tacky” for banning pictures. All in all, it was a pretty terrible return to the public forum, and the incident would set the tone for the months that followed.
Prince Harry gets called a “fake activist”
It’s no secret that Prince Harry and Markle are both passionate about saving the environment. The two have devoted a great deal of time and attention to different charities that focus on fighting the effects of global warming. Over the summer, Prince Harry started stepping up his efforts by making speeches and appearances at several different environmental awareness conventions.
Still, he drew harsh criticism when he took several flights by private jet, including one with Duchess Meghan to Elton John’s lavish estate. Fans called Prince Harry a hypocrite and a “fake activist.”
That wasn’t the end of the criticism that Prince Harry received over the summer. He also got backlash for claiming that he and Markle would only have two children maximum because of the potential negative effects on the environment. Many people felt as though his words were a dig at his older brother, Prince William, who has three children.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are looking to the future
It could be because of the negativity that they have experienced themselves, or simply that they want him to have a more private life, but either way, Prince Harry and Markle seem determined to keep Archie Harrison away from the spotlight as much as possible.
That protectiveness is another reason why royal insiders have referred to the summer of 2019 as Markle and Prince Harry’s “summer of hell.” According to the report, the two are causing headaches for the rest of the royal family, as they seek to control the endless stream of negative media coverage.
Still, it seems likely that Markle and Prince Harry aren’t really sweating the hate all that much. After all, they have a major trip to Africa coming up, a place that Prince Harry calls his “second home” and a place that they both have great love and affection for.
Markle is also getting back into the swing of things, working on some high-profile projects that are close to her heart, such as guest-editing the September issue of British Vogue. They are probably both far too busy to spend too much time dwelling on the bad press. And, in the world of the royals, there’s no time to look back — only to the future.
