Turbulent First Year as Royal Commentator Claims Sussexes Marred King Charles’ Reign

The first year of King Charles III’s reign has been overshadowed by ongoing controversies involving his son, Prince Harry, and daughter-in-law, Meghan Markle. Renowned royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams has pointedly criticized the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, accusing them of “ruining” the monarch’s inaugural year through their revelatory projects and public grievances about royal life, via New York Post.

In an interview with The Sun, Fitzwilliams expressed his disapproval of the couple’s actions, particularly following the release of Prince Harry’s memoir, Spare. “The facts simply are with Harry and Megan that after ‘Spare,’ enough was enough, so he had them evicted from Frogmore Cottage, and I don’t think they expected it. And they certainly didn’t like it,” he stated. The eviction from their UK residence was a direct repercussion of the memoir’s content, which included various criticisms of the royal family, especially Queen Camilla.

Fitzwilliams highlighted the depth of the conflict, noting, “To attack Queen Camilla was clearly a red line, as was pointed out by the press that he’s so hostile to,” emphasizing that the King’s response was a necessary assertion of boundaries within the royal framework. He further accused Harry and Meghan of exploiting their royal connections for financial gain, suggesting that their removal from Frogmore Cottage signified a major expression of royal displeasure, and affirmed, “It was absolutely right to have done it.”

Meghan has been open about her challenges in adjusting to royal duties and the expectations that came with her role as Duchess. Additionally, the Sussexes have indicated that they felt their family was treated unfairly within the royal household, attributing some of the treatment to racial biases.

Despite the friction, Fitzwilliams acknowledged the couple’s enduring newsworthiness, remarking, “They will forever, it seems, be in the news and precisely how they behave and what they decide to do a matter for them obviously.”

The complexities of Prince Harry’s relationship with his father are accentuated by his current visit to the UK for the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games, during which there will be no meeting between him and King Charles. A spokesperson for the Duke stated that the reunion was impossible due to the King’s “full program” and other commitments.

This news follows Harry’s recent rush to be by his father’s side after the King was diagnosed with cancer. Reflecting on this visit, Harry shared in a Good Morning America interview, “I jumped on a plane and went to go see him as soon as I could. Look, I love my family. The fact that I was able to get on a plane and go and see him and spend any time with him, I’m grateful for that.”

As Prince Harry continues his commitments abroad, including a planned reunion with Meghan in Nigeria to promote the Invictus Games, their global influence persists. The Nigerian Defence Headquarters has expressed enthusiasm about hosting the couple, hinting at aspirations to one day welcome the Invictus Games to their nation.