A recent Vanity Fair exposé titled American Hustle has caused an uproar, exposing shocking details about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
The title alone is a masterstroke, perfectly encapsulating the controversy surrounding the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Just when it seemed that everything about their royal departure had been dissected, this article suggests that the drama runs far deeper than imagined. To fully grasp the significance of these revelations, it’s necessary to revisit 2017—a time when the British public was still unaware of the upheaval ahead. Meghan Markle was introduced to the world as Harry’s girlfriend in a now-infamous Vanity Fair cover story, She’s Just Wild About Harry.
At first glance, it seemed like a lighthearted feature, but in hindsight, it was a glaring red flag that either went unnoticed or was deliberately ignored by Buckingham Palace.
Unlike royal women before her, such as Princess Diana and Princess Catherine, Meghan participated in a major magazine interview before an official engagement announcement. This was an unprecedented breach of royal protocol, as relationships within the monarchy are typically kept private until formally confirmed. Yet Meghan saw it as a public relations opportunity, fueling speculation that her relationship with Harry was just as much a career move as it was a romantic one. Palace sources described the article as a “punch to the solar plexus,” a sentiment that now feels almost prophetic given everything that followed. Even more telling, despite getting exactly what she wanted—global attention, a major magazine cover, and a narrative that framed her as the next royal icon—Meghan reportedly hated the piece. She disliked the photos, despite her well-documented eagerness for the camera, and complained that the article focused too much on Harry. But realistically, had it not been for her royal connection, would anyone have cared about the story at all?
Fast-forward to today, and the latest Vanity Fair feature has reportedly left King Charles III livid. The article suggests that Prince Harry was completely unprepared for the repercussions of publishing Spare, his controversial memoir. It should hardly be a surprise that airing family grievances for profit would come back to haunt him. Yet, the most startling revelation is Meghan’s alleged belief that Harry needs to be “re-parented”—a stunning claim, considering this is a man who served in Afghanistan, founded the Invictus Games, and was raised by Princess Diana. The sheer presumption of such an idea is astonishing.
Meanwhile, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are struggling to maintain their relevance in Hollywood. Their high-profile deals with Netflix and Spotify—once touted as the foundation of their post-royal careers—are floundering. Unsurprisingly, their entire public image has been built on criticizing the royal family, but after exhausting every grievance, they now appear to have nothing new to offer. Reports suggest that Meghan’s highly publicized Netflix show may be canceled before it even airs. Then there’s the Spotify debacle, where insiders allegedly gave Meghan a particularly unflattering nickname behind the scenes—hardly a sign of someone respected by their peers. Despite PR attempts to paint her as an easygoing professional, the high turnover of staff in their camp tells a different story.
All of this has reportedly pushed King Charles to his breaking point. Having dedicated himself to modernizing the monarchy alongside Prince William and Princess Catherine, he has little patience left for the chaos that Meghan and Harry continue to stir. The timing of this latest controversy couldn’t be worse, given that Catherine is currently recovering from surgery with her characteristic grace and dignity, while the Sussexes remain entangled in self-inflicted drama.
Perhaps the saddest part of this entire saga is what has happened to Prince Harry. He was once a beloved, charismatic royal—a soldier, a humanitarian, a devoted grandson to Queen Elizabeth II. Now, he seems reduced to a background player in Meghan’s Hollywood ambitions, his former identity fading as he becomes more entangled in the world of celebrity activism. His transformation from a respected royal to an exiled prince chasing media deals is nothing short of tragic.
In stark contrast, Prince William and Princess Catherine continue to serve with dignity and commitment, raising their children with a clear sense of duty. Meanwhile, Harry and Meghan appear intent on monetizing their royal ties while simultaneously complaining about them—a contradiction that has not gone unnoticed.
As King Charles works tirelessly to streamline and modernize the monarchy, the Sussexes seem to be running a parallel court in California, devoid of the tradition, duty, and restraint that have defined the royal family for over a thousand years. It’s a scenario reminiscent of someone who leaves a prestigious job, trashes their former employer, and then attempts to leverage that very association for personal gain. It’s transparent, undignified, and increasingly unsustainable.
With King Charles finally issuing an ultimatum, the question now is how much longer the monarchy will tolerate this ongoing spectacle. Will Harry and Meghan be forced to sever their last remaining royal ties, or will they continue to exploit them for personal benefit?
One thing remains certain: the royal family will endure, as it has for centuries. Whether the Sussexes will still have a place in its future remains to be seen.
