How Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Were Just Humiliated by an Art Gallery
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have had a few setbacks recently and found themselves embroiled in bad press once again.
While fans had been waiting patiently since March for the full launch of the duchess’s lifestyle brand, things hit a snag as Meghan’s U.S. trademark application was rejected. Harry’s wife also took some heat for the timing of an appearance she made just ahead of the second anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s death. Moreover, The Hollywood Reporter published a damning piece about why no one wants to work for the Sussexes. In addition, several of the couple’s Montecito neighbors came forward to share how they don’t like them living in the town because they’re nothing but a “traveling soap opera.”
Now, the prince and former Suits star are suffering fresh humiliation due to a decision made by a world-renowned art gallery, and there could be even more to the story.
What a London art gallery refuses to do with Prince Harry and Meghan’s portrait
Express reported that the National Portrait Gallery in central London acquired a portrait of Harry and Meghan earlier this year but have decided against hanging and displaying it in the gallery now.
A spokesperson for the National Portrait Gallery said: “The portrait of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex was acquired for the Gallery’s photographs collection in May 2024. Following cataloging and its digitization, the portrait was added to our website at the beginning of this month. There are no current plans to display the portrait in the gallery.”
The image is a black-and-white portrait of the Sussexes standing side-by-side at the opening of the One Young World Summit in 2022. It was shot by Meghan’s friend, photographer Misan Harriman.
But now some believe there’s a reason the portrait won’t go up, and it has to do with the Princess of Wales (formerly known as Kate Middleton).
What Kate has to do with the gallery’s decision to snub the Sussexes
The decision by the gallery has raised some eyebrows because Prince William’s wife is the patron of the National Portrait Gallery. While Kate reportedly has no say over which portraits are added to the collection and displayed, there have been rumors that she had enough pull to get one of her own portraits taken down.
A portrait of Kate, painted by artist Paul Emsley, was previously removed from public view and placed into storage at the gallery. It was first unveiled in 2012, and at the time, Kate called it “amazing.” But the majority of people did not see it that way and slammed it as a very unflattering image of the princess.
Royal editor and commentator Richard Eden recalled how critics described it as “ghastly” and “rotten.”
So did Kate know or call for its removal?
A source told Eden: “It’s unthinkable that the painting of Her Royal Highness would be removed from public view without consulting her. That would be very discourteous.”
