KATE and William have always been popular on home soil, but their sudden recognition in the US has left Harry and Meghan feeling “angry” and “struggling”, according to a royal expert.
Some commentators this week said Harry tried to “overshadow” Prince William’s Earthshot Awards with a comedy video, after he denied turning down an invitation to King Charles’ birthday.
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Prince and Princess of Wales rise in US opinion polls, despite accusations of Prince Harry’s spare biographyCredit: Getty
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The Prince and Princess of Wales during their visit to Boston in 2022. Credit: PA
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Talk TV’s royal editor Sarah Hewson says William has an army of fans Credit: Instagram /sarahhewsontv
Tensions were high at the start of the year, when the Prince and Princess of Wales feared their popularity in America had plummeted following a series of damaging allegations made by Harry, 39, in his book Spare.
They were also “very concerned” about public opinion after Harry and Meghan, 42, claimed a member of the royal family was racist, allegedly questioning the skin color of their then-unborn son Archie.
But now that Wales is high in the US polls – boosted by William’s visit to New York for the Earthshot Awards in September – Harry and Meghan are left fuming.
Sarah Hewson, royal editor of Talk TV, exclusively told Fabulous: “Kate and William are breaking into America, which was not a given because of what Harry and Meghan said in their interview with Oprah, what was said in their documentary on Netflix and of course in Spare.
“It could have gone the exact opposite way for Kate and William and I think they were very worried about how the American public might react to these revelations.
“But the polls seem to be on the side of Kate and William.”
She continued: “When William was in America, he was at the top of the polls, even beating domestic leaders like Joe Biden and Donald Trump.
“He’s really raised his profile as a world statesman – courting crowds in Singapore this week – and now has an army of female fans after wading in the Hudson River in his boots.
“Meanwhile, Catherine grows in confidence and stature, and looks like a queen in waiting.
“Americans love her. So I think Harry and Meghan will be frustrated watching this all play out. I think they’re going to feel isolated and I think they’re going to be angry.”
Kate and William’s popularity across the pond coincided with their hiring a top Hollywood producer.
They have appointed Dame Pippa Harris – whose production company produced Oscar-nominated Revolution Road starring Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio – as director of their Royal Foundation.
Dame Pippa, 56, who was an executive producer of the hit BBC series Call The Midwife, will also be a director of the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund Trustee Company.
Meghan returned to the United States to build a life [with Harry] away from the royal family and it didn’t go as she wanted
Sarah HewsonRoyal Editor, Talk TV
And according to Denise Palmer-Davies, director of celebrity PR firm Borne Media, Kate and William’s engagement of Dame Pippa, along with their huge popularity in America, is “the ultimate revenge” on Harry and Meghan.
She explained: “Hiring someone like Dame Pippa, who is extremely successful in her field, shows that they mean business.
“She has a very impressive resume, working with Hollywood directors such as Sam Mendes, and has helped produce BAFTA-winning and Oscar-nominated TV series and films.
“Kate and William already have many famous celebrity connections here in the UK, but someone like Dame Pippa, who will have a lot of contacts in the States, can only help increase their popularity there.
“A full state takeover would be the ultimate revenge – after all the damaging allegations made by the Sussexes, Kate and William are still more popular than them.
“It backfired spectacularly on them and I think it will be difficult for them to handle it. I have no doubt that Harry and Meghan are now scratching their heads, wondering where it all went wrong.”
Since moving to America in 2020, the Sussexes have landed a string of lucrative deals, only to have them cut short.
Last year, Meghan’s animated Netflix series was dropped because “few kids would care if the show they’re watching was produced by a duchess,” and her podcast Archetypes was also axed, marking the end of her multimillion-dollar deal with Spotify.
I think Meghan and Harry are learning the hard way that if you’re not royalty, you’re a celebrity
Sarah HewsonRoyal Editor, Talk TV
And last week it was reported that the pair had been warned they could lose their rumored $100 million Netflix deal if they didn’t “get the goods”.
Sarah, who interviewed six senior members of the royal family, says the couple are now “learning the hard way” and that Meghan in particular is “struggling”.
She explained: “Meghan returned to the United States to build a life [with Harry] away from the royal family and it didn’t go as she wanted.
“OK, the Netflix documentary was a huge hit, but it took a toll on their popularity because her podcast Archetypes was dropped. There was also talk of her teaming up with luxury brands, which did not materialize.
“With Kate and William’s popularity growing [in America]there must be a sense that this is ‘my turf’ and she struggles to understand why she is so unpopular.
“Are she and Harry too toxic to work with now? It will be interesting to see where her talent agents take her next and I know there’s talk of a book, but I think she’s really struggling with what to do next.”
Sarah added: “I think Meghan and Harry are learning the hard way that if you’re not a royal, you’re a celebrity.
“And being a celebrity is a fickle job and you’re out of favor as soon as you get in.”
Meanwhile, William and Kate have a few busy weeks ahead of them – William, 40, is in Singapore until Wednesday for the Earthshot Award.
The couple are also expected to attend the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall in London on November 11, and will join the King at a wreath-laying ceremony at the Cenotaph on November 12.
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Since moving to America in 2020, the Sussexes have landed a string of lucrative deals, only to be cut shortCredit: AP
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Kate and William’s popularity across the pond coincided with their hiring of top Hollywood producer Credit: Splash
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Prince Harry and Meghan made a series of damaging claims against the royal family during an interview with Oprah WinfreyCredit: Reuters
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Royal expert Sarah Hewson claims that Kate and William are making their way to America. Pictured sign from their visit in 2022. Credit: Paul Edwards
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