Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been accused of risking clashes with the Royal Family's engagements to generate rival publicity, with royal editor Emily Ferguson and commentator Carole Malone questioning the timing of the couple's public appearances.
Speaking on the Daily Express's Royals Unscripted podcast, the pair discussed whether future Sussex engagements could coincide with trips by King Charles, Prince William and Princess Kate, potentially diverting attention from the working royals.
Claims of disruption
Ms Malone suggested the couple could be tempted to disrupt the Royal Family's public engagements, claiming they remained angry about being described as private citizens. "I think they will do everything they can to disrupt," Ms Malone said, adding that the couple believed they should still be part of the Firm.
The discussion centred on Prince Harry and Meghan's visit to Nottingham, with Ms Malone questioning whether the appearance was intended to serve as a public launch for the Sussexes. "I don't want to say they're using the people of Nottingham, but I feel kind of they are," she said. "It's a launch for them and they're using the people there to launch themselves."
Timing of appearances
The pair also questioned when Prince Harry and Meghan might next appear in public, particularly if their engagements coincided with major royal trips. Prince William's planned visit to India for Earthshot was raised during the discussion, alongside a Caribbean tour.
Ferguson and Ms Malone also recalled that last year, while Prince William was in Brazil for Earthshot, an announcement was made that Prince Harry and Meghan would be travelling to Australia. Ms Malone suggested the timing was curious, raising the possibility that the Sussexes' announcement had diverted attention from Prince William's visit.
"I think they probably managed to get hold of the diaries of all the working royals to see exactly what they're doing," Ms Malone said.
Impact on working royals
Ms Malone argued that such a strategy risked overshadowing the work carried out by Prince William and Princess Kate. "Those guys put in a lot of work. I mean, you know, especially Wills and Kate, they put in a lot of work and it's all going to be watered down because of Harry and Meghan," she said.
The discussion also touched on Prince Harry's stated desire to rebuild relations with his family. Ms Malone argued that competing publicity could make reconciliation more difficult. "If, as Harry has said, he wants to build bridges with his family, that is never going to happen in a million years if he keeps on doing this," she said.
The pair went on to discuss the role of media management in royal appearances, with Ms Malone recalling how Diana, Princess of Wales, had been skilled at positioning herself during public events to secure favourable photographs. She claimed Prince Harry and Meghan were particularly adept at managing media attention, suggesting their appearances could attract headlines that might otherwise focus on the working royals.
