Prince Harry, Meghan Markle Face 'Growing Rift' As Ex-Actress Worries Life Isn't Going As Planned: Royal Expert
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's relationship has been affected by the setbacks they encountered within four years of leaving the royal family, according to a royal expert.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have signed and lost some deals over the years after they decided to quit their royal duties in 2020. They are now reportedly struggling, and this is seemingly causing tension in their marriage because Markle is allegedly not pleased with their current status.
"There is a growing rift between Harry and Meghan caused by Meghan's increasing concern that her life is not going in the direction she had planned -- she loves media attention and hates the fact that surveys suggest she and Harry are no longer of much interest to the American public," royal biographer and expert Tom Quinn told the Mirror.
The Sussexes signed a $100 million, multi-year deal with Netflix after they settled in California. Markle is set to launch a brand new show soon. The lifestyle program will reportedly focus on cooking, gardening and entertainment. Markle is also set to sell products under her American Riviera Orchard label, and Quinn warns that their "Netflix contract may be under threat" due to the mockery she received after she announced her new brand.
"Meghan feels very much under siege," Quinn added.
"The one fly in the ointment is Meghan's new internet brand, America Riviera Orchard. Meghan was in tears when the brand launched and her new jam was widely mocked for being expensive and nothing special," the expert continued.
"She has reached the point now where she thinks that anything and everything she does will be unfairly criticized. Like her husband, she feels that people are unfairly picking on her -- she cannot understand why people don't admire her work."
Quinn also believes that Markle isn't prepared for the criticisms once American Riviera Orchard goes live later this year. And she also allegedly doesn't understand why people are against her luxurious lifestyle.
"She is especially sensitive about any criticism of her luxurious lifestyle in the US -- from her point of view, this is something to be admired not criticized," Quinn continued.
Meanwhile, royal correspondent and commentator Kinsey Schofield recently appeared on Sky News' "The Rita Panahi Show" podcast and spoke about the Sussexes' business venture. The host, Rita Panahi, called Marke's upcoming Netflix program "bloody awful" and mocked Prince Harry's polo program, saying she couldn't see it "working out."
Schofield agreed with Panahi and said Prince Harry and Markle's next projects need to be a hit or their contract with the streaming giant would not be renewed.
"This is crucial that this is a success... because, as you know, Harry and Meghan's only commercial hit so far has been their Harry and Meghan docuseries, which was basically was just, you know, hours and hours of them ripping into the British royal family," Schofield told Panahi.
"They've released 'Live to Lead,' which was an absolute flop. Next up Heart of Invictus, no one tuned in. So it's very, very important that Meghan's show or Harry's polo program sees some similar numbers to the Harry and Meghan docuseries or they risk losing that Netflix gig."
