In a stark assessment of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's life in America, Princess Diana's biographer and friend, Tina Brown, has described the couple's situation as 'sad', pointing to a series of professional missteps and their status as 'pariahs'. The respected author of The Palace Papers claims that Meghan's 'terrible professional judgment' and Harry's decision to follow her lead have compounded their problems, suggesting his only viable path is to return to Britain and reconcile with his family.
A String of Professional Blunders
The recent 'photo-gate' debacle at Kris Jenner's 70th birthday party was cited by Brown as the latest in a string of massive blunders. The James Bond-themed bash, hosted by Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez, saw the Sussexes partying with A-listers, only for pictures of the couple to be mysteriously deleted from the social media accounts of Kris Jenner and Kim Kardashian within 48 hours.
While People Magazine suggested the deletion was due to the Sussexes ticking a 'no' box on a photo consent form, a source close to the event strongly refuted this, telling the Daily Mail that 'there were no consent forms'. This has led to renewed speculation, with spokespeople for both the Sussexes and the Kardashians avoiding questions on the matter. Brand experts suggest the incident has upset the powerful Jenner-Kardashian clan, with Bethenny Frankel alleging the photos were removed because the couple did not want to be seen 'hobnobbing with the Kardashians'.
'Pariahs' and Financial Peril
Speaking to the New York Times, Brown did not hold back in her criticism. 'I have never seen anybody in professional life make as many mistakes as Meghan has,' she stated, adding that 'unfortunately, Harry is not the brightest bulb.' She described the couple as 'sort of pariahs everywhere', a situation she finds particularly difficult given that 'America was supposed to be the place which paid the bills.'
Brown, a former editor-in-chief of Tatler and Vanity Fair, expressed concern that their persistent errors could lead to financial problems. She argued that Harry, who believed Meghan would be his guide outside the Royal Family, has found that she 'makes one terrible professional decision after another.' Brown scathingly remarked that Harry, who was 'born to be a prince', is now 'essentially just some guy doing PR gigs while Meghan tries out her latest cooking idea or whatever'.
The Path to Redemption: A Return to England?
The core of Brown's argument is that Harry must find a way back to England and make amends with his father, King Charles, and his brother, Prince William. 'He was born to be a prince,' she said. 'He’s charming, he’s upbeat, he’s attractive, he makes people happy when he walks into a room... You could send him around the world and he’s always going to be welcomed and appealing. And I think he has realised too late.'
However, Brown acknowledged that a reconciliation would be challenging. She believes that Prince William, in particular, holds a 'very tough view' and likely sees Harry's actions as a 'betrayal' that 'is not something that can be remedied.' Despite this, she concluded that 'Harry’s best decision would be to find a way to come back to England,' warning that the opportunity for a family reunion becomes 'harder and harder as the years go by.' A spokesman for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex was asked for comment on these claims.
