It was a low-key start – a dingy industrial estate in the back streets of Nottingham – but make no mistake this was the first salvo in Harry and Meghan's war of attrition with the royal family. This was them establishing a rival royal court and sticking two fingers up at the King who, just five weeks ago, blindsided them by publicly announcing they were to be treated as private citizens NOT working royals.
But this week in one of Britain's poorest cities the Sussexes made it clear that's exactly what they believe themselves to be. They arrived – late – to a community recording studio, the site of their first royal engagement together back in 2107, but the message was unmistakable. THIS was their first step back into a public life that six years ago they fled believing they had a golden future in the US.
Reclaiming the Royal Pedestal
But having blown it there, they're now back here determined to reclaim their “royal” pedestal – no matter what the King says. So, on those drab Nottingham streets, a high-gloss Meghan in her £3,386 plum outfit expertly worked the crowds. I say crowds, there were around 200 people there, two thirds of whom were the Press. She clutched her heart – code for I love you all. She flashed the megawatt smile, she looked super interested in everything anyone had to say. And she greedily lapped up the “We love you Meghans”.
They were doing exactly what they ran away to escape six years ago but having failed spectacularly Stateside, they now know the UK is their Last Chance Saloon and, if they're to earn a living here, they're going to have to ingratiate themselves with the British people – great swathes of whom still harbour HUGE animosity towards them.
Tougher Road Ahead
Nottingham was a doddle. Having a bit of Hollywood on those dejected streets was always going to go down well. But the road ahead will be a lot tougher, as Harry discovered when he was booed at a rugby match last weekend. He was crushed, apparently. But what did he expect having flounced out of Britain branding it racist, having devastated the Queen and sold his entire family down the river for money? A hero's welcome?
Meghan has also taken a bashing this week after her very public meeting with human rights champion Malala Yousafzai, outside posh Claridge's hotel. Her people made sure everyone knew she was donating a day's takings from her As Ever brand to Malala's charity (which educates and empowers women) – a donation it's been calculated will amount to a piddling £1,900. It's an amount Team Sussex hasn't denied, which is less than the cost of the Ralph Lauren trousers Meghan was wearing that day where (surprise, surprise) photographers were waiting for her.
William's Fury and What Comes Next
The thing about giving to charity is the best people do it privately and without fuss. People like George Michael gave multi-millions which people never knew about until he died. But we all knew about Meghan's donation.
It's clear nothing has changed with this self-interested pair. Everything is always about them. And while the public fell for it once – they won't again.
And how interesting that all Harry's concerns about security were swept aside for this visit. As was his hatred of the media, which was invited not just to cover every cough and spit of their visit but to share stories and videos with the Sussexes' media pool as well.
But what the two of them won't have bargained for is Prince William's fury and what that might mean in the future. Harry might be able to manipulate his father but Wills will see exactly what he and Meghan are doing – not just setting up their own court but undermining the royal court – and he'll be incandescent.
When they came back to the UK, Harry said he desperately wanted to repair things with his family which is a lie because, if he did, he and Meghan wouldn't be doing what they're doing. This return was never about making peace – it was about waging a new war. This time on home soil. And Nottingham is just the start…
