Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams has delivered a sharp critique of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s actions since stepping back from senior royal duties, identifying their public attacks on the Royal Family as their “greatest sin.” Speaking exclusively to the Daily Express, Fitzwilliams argued that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex caused profound emotional and reputational harm to the British monarchy, particularly during the final years of Queen Elizabeth II’s life.
The royal expert pointed to the couple’s high-profile March 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey as a pivotal moment of damage. Fitzwilliams emphasized that the broadcast took place while Prince Philip was hospitalized shortly before his passing, placing immense stress on the late monarch during an extraordinarily delicate time. He noted that while several assertions made during the interview have since faced widespread skepticism and debate, the Sussexes were rarely subjected to rigorous cross-examination regarding their claims, effectively allowing their narrative to shape public perception unchecked.
The fallout continued to compound in subsequent years through multi-media commercial ventures, including their highly rated Netflix docuseries and Prince Harry’s 2023 memoir Spare. While the ghostwritten autobiography broke global publishing records by selling millions of copies worldwide, it also deepened family rifts by detailing intimate personal grievances and institutional friction. Fitzwilliams observed that while typical family disputes might eventually prove surmountable, the cumulative impact of the couple’s destructive public disclosures—combined with health challenges facing senior royals—made reconciliation far more difficult.
The commentary comes as the Sussexes navigate their recent relocation back to the United Kingdom. In response to their return, King Charles III issued official guidance through the Lord Chamberlain reaffirming that the couple remains non-working royals operating strictly as private citizens. Analysts maintain that as the couple attempts to establish a dual presence in Britain, the lingering institutional friction stemming from their past media campaigns continues to overshadow efforts toward family unity.
Source: Compiled from various sources
