ONCE upon a time in America, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle epitomised a modern fairytale.
The charming prince and the glamorous actress had captured the world’s imagination and could do no wrong.
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And in the United States especially, their story seemed like a Hollywood script come to life.
Finally we had a royal couple we could claim as our own. And they moved here, too!
Wow, they really loved us as much as we loved them. Yet that was then.
Now, like their trajectory in Britain, Americans’ infatuation with Harry and Meghan has significantly cooled.
A few days ago saw the latest episode of bad feeling between the one-time HRHs and the USA.
Prince Harry’s nomination for the Pat Tillman Award for Service at the ESPY Awards was supposed to be a respectful nod to him setting up the Invictus Games for wounded servicemen and women.
But the decision to hand him the gong did not land well in America, a country where gratitude for genuine service runs deep.
The award is named in honour of former NFL player Pat Tillman, who left a lucrative sports career to serve in the US military and ultimately sacrificed his life for his country. It holds a deeply symbolic value.
Many Americans slammed the choice, arguing others in the veteran community were more deserving and lacked Harry’s privileges.
Mary Tillman, Pat’s mother, openly expressed her dismay at Harry’s selection, describing him as a “controversial and divisive individual” and asserting that there are “far more fitting” potential recipients.
Her comments reflected a broader sentiment among those who believe that Harry’s nomination diminishes the award’s value and disrespects Pat Tillman’s legacy.
A petition saying he was an unsuitable recipient attracted more than 75,000 signatures.
Meanwhile, a Newsweek magazine-commissioned poll of 1,500 American adults revealed 38 per cent thought it was wrong — while only 21 per cent agreed with giving Harry the prize.
He duly accepted the honour at a glitzy ceremony in Los Angeles, Meghan by his side.
But while some in the audience gave him a standing ovation, Venus Williams, sister of Meghan’s good friend Serena, remained seated, a perceived snub.
The episode has dealt a wincing blow to the Duke’s reputation.
‘They love to complain’
What a difference four years makes.
When the Sussexes moved to the US in 2020 they were warmly received.
In a country where monarchy and aristocracy are elusive, they had a status dollars couldn’t buy.
They represented a modern twist on royal life, blending titles with Hollywood star power.
Their initial appeal was undeniable.
High-profile interviews, such as the explosive sitdown with Oprah Winfrey in March 2021, captivated millions.
While UK viewers may have “cringed” at some of the over-the-top — and often preposterous — claims, US audiences were rapt.
Americans don’t mind their stars emoting. We don’t have the stiff upper lip that you Brits possess!
But we have our limits, too.
Eventually, the couple’s relentless media presence led to overexposure, even fatigue.
Audiences were rapt
The release of their six-hour Netflix docuseries in December 2022 initially boosted their popularity but ended up receiving polarising receptions from audiences and critics.
On the Rotten Tomatoes website — which aggregates critic and viewer scores — it has a meagre 19 per cent audience satisfaction level.
Critics piled in, with Hollywood bible Variety saying: “There’s an air of duty about the entire enterprise of ‘Harry & Meghan’, as if they’re honour-bound to keep reciting their personal story until we eventually lose interest.”
The Wall Street Journal added: “A viewer really has to be on board the royal soap opera bus not to be bored out of one’s mind by Harry & Meghan.”
And then came that book.
Though a huge commercial success, Harry’s 2023 memoir, Spare, with its highly personal, negative revelations about his family, damaged his and Meghan’s popularity on both sides of the pond.
And it led to a sustained decline in positive sentiment towards the couple online and in public opinion polls.
A September 2023 survey by Newsweek revealed Meghan’s net approval rating — with 31 per cent viewing her favourably and 33 per cent unfavourably, an eight-point decline from June 2023.
Prince Harry fared slightly better — 39 per cent liked him while 27 per cent didn’t — marking a six point drop for him in the same period.
Meanwhile, a January 2023 YouGov poll showed that while Harry (47 per cent favourable) and Meghan (44 per cent favourable) still had supporters, there was a significant portion of Americans with unfavourable views (34 and 36 per cent).
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People in the States found it hard to take the demolition of his family — a family we have taken to our hearts, especially the late Queen, who was widely loved.
And the incessant whining. Harry and Meghan just love to complain.
And in America’s largely optimistic society, that is a bad look.
While some view the couple’s openness as a brave stance against institutional rigidity, many others perceive it as ungrateful and divisive.
A segment of Americans, particularly those of us who respect and admire the monarchy, find these repeated criticisms disrespectful and unbecoming.
So the Sussexes’ endless narrative of grievance has alienated many who once admired their candour.
Harry and Meghan’s focus has skewed too heavily towards airing grievances, rather than engaging in constructive, positive activities.
And many Americans have come to find the pair’s complaints implausible and inappropriate.
This was highlighted by Meghan’s claims of racism in the Royal Family, which comedian Chris Rock hilariously dissected in his Netflix special, Selective Outrage, in March 2023.
Rock’s commentary tapped into a growing sentiment that the couple’s grievances might be more dramatic than substantial.
He quipped: “Like, who is this girl Meghan Markle? Seems like a nice lady — just complaining. . . . Some of that s**t she went through was not racism. It was just some in-law s**t.”
‘Harsh light of reality’
Satirical cartoon South Park also weighed in on the couple’s moaning in a brilliant takedown during an episode called Worldwide Privacy Tour.
Meghan was mocked as a “sorority girl, actress, influencer, victim”.
You had to laugh! Of course, the couple are not completely unworthy of praise.
Their Archewell Foundation has made some strides in charitable endeavours.
Yet the overwhelming public assessment has been that the couple talk more about their struggles than they act on solutions.
Then there is the widespread perception of hypocrisy, particularly concerning the Sussexes’ privacy — so brutally skewered by South Park.
While they have consistently spoken about the need to escape intrusive media, their actions often contradict this sentiment.
High-profile interviews, intimate TV shows and Harry’s tell-all memoir have led many to question their real motivations, further eroding public trust and affection.
By early 2023, Meghan’s Spotify podcast, Archetypes, had struggled to find its footing, raising further questions about the couple’s work ethic, and ultimately resulting in them parting ways with Spotify.
The critical turning point came when a Spotify executive labelled them “f***ing grifters” — a term that suggests an element of dishonesty — which tarnished their public image and could stick.
Reports, including from Princess Diana’s ex-butler Paul Burrell, have emerged that the couple are being shunned by Hollywood celebrities such as the Clooneys, plus Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom, and have drifted apart from their old pals the Beckhams.
No doubt some of these fear association with the Sussexes will alienate them from the King and the Waleses.
What Americans found hard to take was the demolition of his family – a family we have taken to our hearts, especially the late Queen, who was widely loved. And the incessant whining
Lee Cohen
While they still retain a base of loyal supporters, the broader American public’s love affair with the Sussexes appears to have faded.
Their journey is a testament to the fickle nature of celebrity and public opinion, particularly in an age of relentless media coverage and social scrutiny.
Whether they can reshape their narrative and regain public favour, even with the hiring of new PR directors on both sides of the Atlantic, along with the launch of Meghan’s new lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard, remains to be seen.
Social media, particularly X and Instagram, have become battle- grounds for Sussex supporters and critics alike.
Harry & Meg’s business flops
Despite the relentless media coverage and hype generated by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle through their projects, some ventures haven’t gone as well as others.
Hashtags including #MeghanMarkleExposed, #Harryand Meghanaregrifters and #Harryis noHero periodically trend.
Yet while it is evident a significant portion of the US public has fallen out of love with Harry and Meghan, we must recognise opinions remain divided.
Once welcomed as royal refugees in a land that thrives on fairytales and self-invention, their American dream is now a cautionary tale.
As the Hollywood glitter fades, I wonder if the Sussexes can reclaim their place in the public’s heart.
Or perhaps even the most enchanting tales lose their magic in the harsh light of reality.
- Lee Cohen, an author and royal commentator, was adviser on Great Britain to the US House of Representatives’ Foreign Affairs Committee.