Former royal press spokesman Dickie Arbiter has described the "worst thing" Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have done since stepping back as senior royals, claiming they "sold themselves to the American media" following Megxit.
Arbiter, a royal biographer who served as press spokesman for Queen Elizabeth II between 1988 and 2000, said US audiences were "buying into" their "lies".
'Gospel according to St Harry'
Speaking to Daily Expresso host JJ Anisiobi, Arbiter said: "The Americans bought into it so much that there was a time when the network shows, the breakfast shows in particular, were actually looking at their Netflix series as being the gospel according to St Harry. The same as The Crown, they were using that as a textbook. And The Crown is as much a lie as Harry and Meghan ... The Americans, they're quite gullible actually, I'm sorry to say."
In the 2022 Netflix series, Harry and Meghan alleged they had been victims of "institutional gaslighting" and described their move to America as a "freedom flight".
Return to Britain
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex moved back to Britain after six years in late August, and have not commented publicly on the reasons behind their decision.
They are expected to stay for an "extended period", enrolling their children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet in British schools, amid rumours Meghan will return to acting while based in the UK.
Harry, who previously said reduced police protection for his family meant returning to Britain would be too dangerous, is waiting to hear the conclusion of a threat assessment that will determine whether they are assigned taxpayer-funded security.
Tensions with the Royal Family
In a sign that tensions with the Royal Family have not abated, Harry and Meghan issued a blunt rejoinder to King Charles's statement confirming that they remain "private citizens" with no royal status this week.
A spokesperson for the Sussexes said they were "a little surprised not to have been told about this in advance" and reportedly took issue with the statement's language, preferring the term "public figures".
"It is well known that in January 2020 the duke and duchess stepped down from undertaking representative duties on behalf of the Sovereign, and are no longer working members of the Royal Family," the announcement read. "The charitable work of the duke and duchess is a personal matter for them both and undertaken in their private capacity."
