As others have said the duke & duchess appear to be morphing into celebrities... There are real commercial advantages to be gained here for the Sussexes. It’s a springboard for future ambition.
That they continue to do this sort of thing, taking advantage of & monetising their status in the American market, will continue to divide opinion of course. Here in Britain it will also probably further erode goodwill towards the idea of having a royal family.
Historically
many members of the British royal family and some other royal families lead life in a fishbowl, which inevitably makes them very similar to being celebrities as a result of the fame and the popular interest.
There have been a number of U.K. documentaries examining this reality, including:
The Scrutinized Lives of William & Harry: Prisoners of Celebrity. Yet another documentary from the late 1990s, early 2000s about William, 'Young Royal,' describes him as a 'rock star royal.' There are a number of associations between the royals and celebrity. That's factual.
Meghan was a moderately known working actor within the entertainment and fashion industries at the time she met Harry. It was meeting and marrying Harry which catapulted her to a level of celebrity status which hadn't existed for her previously. But the scrutiny once she married Prince Harry became intrusive and over-the-top.
Part of why M&H were attracted to each other was sharing the same interest in giving back to others. That's a huge driving force in their lives. Plus Meghan is used to working, as a self-made millionaire. There's nothing wrong with either of them wanting to lead independent lives together in which they can generate their own income and not be beholden to U.K. taxpayers.
The reality is that M&H have been criticized in the U.K. media nonstop, even when they go for weeks and months not being seen in public, or with only a few Zoom appearances on behalf of their charities and other worthy groups. No matter what M&H do, they will be criticized, so it's smart of them to carve out their own lives on their own terms, and make their own choices.
Part of the reason for the media storm in the U.K. surrounding the Oprah interview and anything and everything about M&H, is that Harry made the choice to depart with Meghan and Archie, and the U.K. media can no longer 'monetize' the Sussexes or their offspring.
... He was happy as a Soldier, he was one of them, when he exited the Military he changed MO, he was lost. Sadly to say after he married, he lost some of himself, he was made to change, sorry to say this, but not for the better. Turning his Back on the Family he knew, was born into it, he grew up with and his friends made him bitter IMO...
Harry has said that during his time in the military, he was able to lead a more normal life. He seems to have always loved the military. Harry was apparently born to be a soldier and he thrived in the military. He was not happy about having to give it up, though he did in 2015 out of a sense of duty to his grandmother and to the royal firm.
it is well known that Harry had previously thought about stepping away from being a senior royal on more than one occasion prior to ever meeting Meghan. Both Harry and William have expressed in numerous interviews over the years, a desire to lead more 'normal' lives. Living life in the royal fishbowl has many drawbacks, as well as advantages. Losing their mother was an enormous trauma for both of him. It's the military, the creation of Sentebale and Invictus, and meeting and marrying Meghan which IMO made a man out of Prince Harry, and gave him a sense of purpose.
It's a fact that Harry is a blood royal prince, and nothing will ever change that. He fell deeply in love and got married, and he's protecting his core family unit. He's not breaking the law by deciding to put his core family first.
The kind of changes I see in Harry are very positive. If that's what being in love can wrought, I think it's wonderful. I look forward to seeing the Oprah interview, and learning whatever the 90 minutes will provide.
For those who aren't aware, Oprah Winfrey is already a self-made billionaire (actor, producer, publisher, philanthropist, broadcaster). She wields enormous influence, and she's surely someone it would be a distinct honor to get to know and to be in the position of befriending. In addition to the Duchess of York, Oprah has also previously interviewed Earl Spencer.
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