Meghan Markle’s post-royal missteps criticised by Tina Brown
Brown criticises Meghan's judgment in post-royal life
Tina Brown, former Vanity Fair editor, has labelled the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s departure from royal duties as a ‘disaster’, criticising Meghan’s judgment harshly.
Despite the strong critique, Brown’s perspective carries weight. She is a royal biographer who dined with Princess Diana shortly before her tragic death.
As a close observer of Prince Harry and Meghan’s journey since they moved to California, I find myself agreeing with Brown on several points. Here are ten significant errors the former actress has made since ‘Megxit’:
DM: Tina Brown ‘sees Meghan’s judgement as dreadful and the facts bear this out’ https://t.co/Cy830GDnEH pic.twitter.com/Yvml8JLOzX
— celebitchy (@celebitchy) October 24, 2024
1) In January 2020, the Sussexes announced they were stepping down as working royals before consulting with Queen Elizabeth. They had also launched their SussexRoyal website and applied to trademark 100 items six months earlier. This was seen as presumptuous and disrespectful to the Queen, who subsequently barred them from using the ‘royal’ title.
2) Meghan’s interview with Oprah Winfrey in March 2021 was intended to boost her Hollywood profile. Instead, it damaged her reputation in the US. Criticising the royal family on national television, while Prince Philip was gravely ill, worsened the situation.
3) Naming their daughter Lilibet, born three months later, was controversial. Lilibet was Queen Elizabeth’s childhood nickname, used by close family. The Sussexes claimed it was a tribute, but a palace source stated the Queen had not been consulted. This reportedly upset the Queen, who did not pose for a photograph with Lilibet during the Platinum Jubilee visit.
4) After signing a $20 million (£15.4 million) deal with Spotify in December 2020, the Sussexes appeared on a pilot podcast episode. However, the August 2022 series, Archetypes, featured only Meghan. Spotify had expected a duo, not just Meghan. The series was cancelled after one season, with an executive calling the Sussexes ‘grifters’.
5) In a 2022 Netflix docu-series, Meghan’s exaggerated curtsy when recounting her first meeting with the Queen appeared mocking. Harry’s discomfort during the performance was notable.
6) The Queen appointed Meghan as vice-president of the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust, a role she and Harry vowed to honour post-royalty. However, their Netflix series criticised the Commonwealth, calling it ‘Empire 2.0’. This was seen as either mischief or ignorance.
7) Meghan’s visit to Uvalde, Texas, in 2022, two days after a school shooting, risked appearing as a PR stunt. Her aide later cited the visit as a sign of Meghan’s compassion, which seemed like an image-polishing attempt.
8) During a 2021 visit to a Harlem school, Meghan wore a $7,629 (£5,891) outfit, including a $5,268 (£4,068) Loro Piana coat and $581 (£449) Manolo Blahnik stilettos. This was deemed inappropriate, given that 94% of the children at the school qualified for free meals.
9) Meghan’s disdain for the Press led to a rushed decision. When informed that the Daily Mail planned to report on her lifestyle company, she quickly launched an Instagram page and video. Eight months later, the company has yet to sell any products, showing poor business strategy.
10) Meghan’s solo red carpet appearances in Los Angeles highlight the decline of the Sussexes’ ‘power couple’ status. Competing for attention among American stars, sometimes in less-than-regal outfits, diminishes her royal image.
What Other Media Are Saying
- NY Post reports Tina Brown criticizes Meghan Markle, labeling her ideas as “total crap,” and describes the Duchess as “naïve” in her latest endeavors.(read more)
- Meghan Markle’s Loss of Tina Brown: Meghan Markle has lost a powerful ally in Tina Brown, a royal biographer, who now criticizes Meghan’s judgment and public relations skills, calling her approach a “disaster.”(read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
Why did Tina Brown call the Sussexes’ departure a ‘disaster’?
Brown believes their departure was poorly managed and disrespectful to the Queen.
What was controversial about naming their daughter Lilibet?
The Queen was reportedly not consulted, and Lilibet was her personal childhood nickname.
Why did Meghan’s interview with Oprah backfire?
Criticizing the royal family on TV while Prince Philip was ill damaged her US reputation.
What happened with their Spotify deal?
Spotify expected a duo podcast, but only Meghan featured. The series was cancelled after one season.
Why was Meghan’s visit to Uvalde criticized?
It was seen as a PR stunt and an attempt to polish her image rather than a genuine act of compassion.
