Are Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Still Trying to Steal the Spotlight From the Royal Family?
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have made no secret about their dislike for the press. However, the media is also a tool they utilize to stay relevant and at times, compete with the Duke of Sussex‘s family. Many fans can recall times that the prince and his wife just happened to make news the same day another royal does; defying the unwritten rule not to do anything that might overshadow the activities of other royals.
Here’s more on when the Sussexes have tried to outshine other members of Britain’s most famous family and whether they are done trying to steal the limelight.
Meghan and Harry released their documentary before Prince Charles’
In October 2019, Prince Charles released a documentary titled Prince Charles: Inside the Duchy of Cornwall. The film highlighted some of the Prince of Wales’ environmental efforts and touched on what he called the “horrors” humans are facing with climate change. However, the program was merely an afterthought and certainly wasn’t a big topic of conversation thanks to the bombshell admissions from his youngest son and daughter-in-law in their documentary released just ahead of Charles’.
In Harry and Meghan: An African Journey, the pair spoke candidly to journalist Tom Bradby. It was the first time Meghan publicly spoke about the struggles of trying to adjust to royal life and when Harry first admitted to a royal rift with his brother Prince William.
The couple took the attention away from Princess Eugenie more than once
The duke and duchess stole the spotlight away from Harry’s cousin Princess Eugenie not once, but twice. The first time was when Meghan revealed that she was pregnant with Archie on the very day of Princess Eugenie’s wedding to Jack Brooksbank. An extract from the book Finding Freedom revealed “that did not go down particularly well” with the bride.
The second time the Sussexes took a headlining moment away from Eugenie was after she gave birth to her first child on Feb. 9, 2021. A number of publications began to run stories about the arrival of the new royal and what the princess was going to name her baby. But once different media outlets started to pick up the stories, Meghan and Harry highjacked the moment that was supposed to be about Eugenie’s son by revealing that they were expecting baby No. 2.
The Sussexes were in the news on Kate Middleton and Prince Louis’ birthdays too
In a moment royal fans will never forget, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex took to Instagram when they made their bombshell announcement that they were stepping down from their roles as senior royals. The couple did so on January 8, 2020, hours before Kate Middleton celebrated her birthday. Because Meghan and Harry’s news was so huge it dominated the headlines for several days and many people had no idea that Jan. 9 was the Duchess of Cambridge’s birthday.
Another royal’s big day that was pretty much overshadowed was when Prince Louis turned 3. To mark the occasion, the Cambridges released a photo of their youngest the day before his birthday on April 22, 2021. However, later that same day a picture of Meghan out and about with her son, Archie, just happened to be released. Because Archie hadn’t been seen in public since the Sussexes moved to the U.S., the image generated some buzz. Several fans though did point out the timing was another attempt by the Sussexes to take the spotlight off the royals again.
Harry speaks about mental health hours after Prince William’s audio series
Meghan and Prince Harry have the same celebrity status as their Montecito neighbors in California and are in the news as much as the royal family these days. But if you think they’re going to stop making announcements or dropping newsworthy pics and soundbites when the royals make news you’re wrong; it’s still happening.
On Dec. 6, Prince William’s much-anticipated audio series Time to Walk collaboration with Apple Music+ aired. The Duke of Cambridge said he hoped to inspire people “to get active and take time for their own mental health.” But within hours William was sharing news headlines with his brother because like clockwork, Prince Harry made comments about people quitting their jobs to make their mental health a top priority.
With members of the family still at odds, there’s no indication that the battle for royal surpremcy with the Sussexs and the other royals will end anytime soon.
