Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are facing a significant "challenge" in securing invitations to A-List events in the United States, according to royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who moved to California in the summer of 2020 after stepping down as senior royals, have become increasingly estranged from the Royal Family and have distanced themselves from England.
The couple's recent absence from the wedding of Harry's close friend, the billionaire Duke of Westminster, has highlighted the difficulties they face in attending high-profile events without becoming the center of attention. Fitzwilliams, speaking exclusively to The Mirror, suggested that Meghan's presence at the wedding would have caused a "media storm," given that she has not visited Britain since Queen Elizabeth's funeral.
"The challenge for Harry and Meghan is to attend comparable events in the United States which are not focused on them," Fitzwilliams explained. "The Met Gala and the Oscars are the sort of events they would benefit from being seen at, since they have pretensions to be A-listers. Barack Obama's 60th, held in 2021, the year they were in Time Magazine's Top 100, is the sort of event they would undoubtedly want to be seen at but were not invited to."
The Sussexes' struggle to secure invitations to elite events has not gone unnoticed by their critics and supporters of the British royal family. The couple has recently been mocked for their absence from a star-studded 4th of July party hosted by sports merchandise billionaire Michael Rubin at his $50 million beachside mansion in Bridgehampton. The guest list included a who's who of Hollywood, such as Beyonce, Kim Kardashian, Leonardo DiCaprio, Ben Affleck, Jennifer Lopez, and Justin Bieber, along with top-tier influencers, business moguls, and sports stars.
While there may be various reasons for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex not attending Rubin's annual "white party," their unforgiving critics have heaped scorn on the couple, interpreting their absence as a sign of Hollywood's unwillingness to welcome them.
The Sussexes have also been targeted for not attending the wedding of Jack Mann, one of Prince Harry's closest friends. Most critics have blamed Meghan for being the reason behind Harry's absence from the wedding, further highlighting the challenges the couple faces in navigating their social lives post-royal duties.
Fitzwilliams' comments underscore the delicate balance the Sussexes must strike in attending high-profile events without overshadowing the occasion or drawing unwanted media attention. The royal expert's insights suggest that the couple's desire to be seen as A-listers in the United States may be hampered by their royal status and the ongoing tensions with the Royal Family.
As Prince Harry and Meghan Markle continue to establish their new lives in California, their ability to secure invitations to prestigious events and maintain a presence in elite social circles will likely remain a topic of intense scrutiny and speculation. The couple's absence from the Duke of Westminster's wedding and Rubin's 4th of July party has only served to highlight the challenges they face in carving out a niche for themselves in the world of celebrity and influence, while simultaneously managing their complex relationship with the Royal Family and the media.
Only time will tell if the Sussexes can successfully navigate the treacherous waters of Hollywood's social scene and establish themselves as true A-listers, or if their royal baggage will continue to hinder their efforts to fully integrate into the upper echelons of American society.