Prince Harry and Meghan Markle accused of 'hypocrisy' over Montecito 'royal court' reshuffle
MONTECITO, CALIFORNIA: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been accused of "hypocrisy" by royal experts over their new "royal court" in Montecito after they decried life as royals.
The couple, who abandoned their roles as senior royals in 2020 and moved to California, has reportedly revamped the structure of their staff to form a similar hierarchical system that has underpinned Harry's family for decades, the Daily Mail reported.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle accused of 'hypocrisy' over Montecito 'royal court' move
Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams spoke to the Daily Mail and argued that the couple has hypocritically formed a similar structure for themselves to that of Prince Harry's family, despite attacking the royal system.
Notably, Meredith Kendall Maines, a seasoned communications strategist, will be at the top of a team of 11, operating out of Montecito and the UK.
Fitzwilliams said, "The hypocrisy lies in the act that Harry has, especially in his most recent interview, attacked courtiers and the royal household, considering them enemies. So it is extremely surprising that he should want a similar structure in Montecito. In [Harry's memoir] 'Spare', he excoriated senior courtiers. He, as his mother did, regards them as the enemy."
The royal expert further mentioned, "The difference is, tragically, that she would not accept police protection as she distrusted it so. Ironically, it's what he wants for himself and his family. He also claimed courtiers or their equivalent used security as a lever to prevent them stepping down as senior working royals."
"So the 'Montecito model' better be different and they would be wise to pay attention to its advice," he added.
Expert calls the Montecito 'royal court' a desperate bid by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to save their brand
Another royal expert, Tom Bower, criticised the new reshuffle and claimed that it does not resemble a "royal court" but rather marks the pair's "desperate bid to save their brand."
"Undoubtedly, the Sussexes would like to rule over a 'royal court' from their Montecito mansion. Nothing would give them greater pleasure than courtiers pulling their forelocks as they bow and scrape to please the Duke and Duchess," Bower told the Daily Mail.
He added, "Competing with Buckingham Palace and Kensington Palace would delight Meghan. But what the Sussexes have assembled is not a 'royal court'. Rather, it's a hugely expensive group of bureaucrats signalling the Sussexes' final, desperate bid to save their brand."
Bower also mentioned that Buckingham Palace's "royal court are under-paid, over-worked devoted loyal professionals committed to the traditions of a thousand year monarchy and the country they serve," as the Montecito restructuring will apparently see each senior appointee earn a six-figure salary.
"If Harry follows Meghan to commercialise his title to earn some dollars then his currently minimal chance of reconciliation and return to Britain will be totally extinguished," he added.
Meanwhile, Fitzwilliams added that the revamp has brought up questions of how successful the new operation will be, especially concerning earlier "bullying" accusations plaguing the duchess.
"We are promised new projects and initiatives in the months to come and obviously can then judge the success of this revamp. However, there are question marks which have haunted the Sussexes entire operation. The first issue is whether the high staff turnover which has characterised their ventures continues, with some 20 having left," he said.
He added, "In the run-up to the interview on Oprah, Meghan was accused of bullying, which she strongly denied. However, this has been extremely damaging to her image..."
