Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have been warned their “lack of magic” since relocating to the United States means they can no longer compete with the Prince and Princess of Wales and other UK royals.
The Sussexes have been chastened in recent weeks after it was revealed Netflix has pulled the plug on Meghan’s Spotify podcast, and the couple are thought to be pondering their next move as they look for projects to keep them busy.
Royal expert Tessa Dunlop said the pomp and circumstance afforded US President Joe Biden during his recent visit to the UK indicated there remained a huge appetite for all things royal on both sides of the Atlantic.
And she suggested it was the ceremonial aspect which Meghan and Harry were now unable to muster.
She explained: “Surrounded by pomp and ceremony, the visit was a reminder that the trappings of royalty are what sets it apart.
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“And the absence of those trappings is what the Duke and Duchess of Sussex so sorely lack.”
Ms Dunlop, a historian who has presented several shows for the BBC, Channel 4 and others, told The Mirror: “Surrounded by pomp and ceremony, the visit was a reminder that the trappings of royalty are what sets it apart. And the absence of those trappings is what the Duke and Duchess of Sussex so sorely lack.
“After all, no matter how great your celebrity (and yes, despite what disgruntled Spotify bosses say, the couple are still big news), in America there will always be someone richer and more famous.”
She added: “Over there, fame is commonplace, not so the magic and mystery that comes with monarchy. As the Sussexes are discovering to their cost, royalty does not travel well (abdicated Edward VIII found this out in the late 1930s).
“To really flourish more than titles and money are required. Harry, barefoot in a beanie, can’t compete with William in full-blown honorary military uniform. Meghan in Valentino or Givenchy is less noteworthy than the Princess of Wales in her Lover’s Knot tiara (once Diana’s) and badge of the Royal Victorian Order.”