MEGHAN Markle’s attempt to “rebrand” herself with worthy solo visits won’t work in the UK, a royal expert has claimed.
The Duchess of Sussex, 43, stepped out alone visiting Girls Inc. of Greater Santa Barbara, California, on October 2.
Her outing marked a second without her husband Prince Harry in as many weeks.
She also made a striking solo appearance at the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles gala on October 5.
And historian Hugo Vickers suggested it’s “very possible” they’re both attempting to rebrand themselves.
He told The Sun: “Prince Harry is trying to sort of turn himself into the old Prince Harry and do what he was very good at.
“He is giving out awards instead of accepting them and talking about the issues that he likes talking about when he’s on his own.
“When Meghan is there I always seem to find that he’s either spouting whatever she tells him to or she’s doing the talking.
“She leads the narrative.”
The biographer continued: “She of course was an actress and so appearing in a red dress in front of one of those advertising screens and talking to celebrities and things is very much her world.”
Mr Vickers argued Meghan’s solo visits to organisations talking to children won’t improve her popularity.
“I don’t think that anything she’s doing at the moment is going to appeal to people in the UK very much,” he said.
“Her wearing a red dress is this sort of power statement like Princess Diana wearing a black dress when she went to the Serpentine Gallery.
“Sort of establishing herself as a figure. I think that works better in America than it does over here.”
The royal expert also added fuel to claims she and Harry are “living separate lives”.
Mr Vickers said: “I am picking up vibes and rumours from California that things are not actually very good between the two of them.
Meghan and Harry are 'living separate lives'
By Jon Rogers and Summer Raemason
MEGHAN Markle and Prince Harry are “going their own ways” as they increasingly live “separate lives”, royal experts told The Sun.
Speaking on our first ever Royal Exclusive Live show, Arthur Edwards and Jennie Bond lifted the lid on the power couple’s recent time apart.
Sun legend Arthur revealed how the pair are “doing things separately now” after failing to be spotted together in three weeks.
Meanwhile Ms Bond, a royal correspondent for the last 35 years, also revealed: “Meghan is not popular. She doesn’t want to come back and they are going their own ways, to some extent.”
The pair spoke on our first Royal Exclusive Live show, which you can watch on our YouTube channel.
The event was hosted on Friday night in front of a live audience of more than 100 special guests.
Mr Edwards said: “I don’t think she [Meghan] can come here much. I don’t think people think too much of her.
“I think she’s struggling in popularity in the UK and I think they seem to be doing things separately now.
“She’s got her programme and he’s got his.”
Mr Edwards added: “He comes into Britain now with no fuss.
“He’s come for the Invictus Games, in and out with no fuss, he came for his uncle’s funeral, no fuss.”
Royal commentator Jennie Bond said: “The point is he doesn’t want to come back [into the Royal Family in the UK], I think.
“He regarded it as a trap. He still thinks his father and his brother are trapped and he’s finding his own way. All credit to him.
“I think Meghan has her own independent style and way of life. Yes, it’s not in tune with the people in the UK.
“She’s not popular and I don’t think she wants to come back and therefore they are going their own ways, to an extent.
“But I hope and believe that Harry is very happy in his life.”
“I wonder whether in a year or so when we look back at this time we won’t think that this isn’t the beginning of something quite serious.”
The Sun has approached the Sussexes for comment.
Meghan helped with a new digital-wellness programme called Social Media U last week.
The Duchess discussed her own experiences with social media.
The new effort is financially supported by the Archewell Foundation, the Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation and Melinda French Gates’s Pivotal Ventures
Its aim is reportedly to encourage teenage girls to socialise without screens and urge them to use technology for positive connection and creativity.
Meghan donned a blue and white J.Crew shirt which she paired with a pair of wide-leg trousers, a brown leather belt by Ralph Lauren and a some brown suede heels by Manolo Blahnik.
She took part in the event alongside Girls Inc. CEO Stephanie J. Hull and #HalfTheStory founder Larissa May.
Megxit timeline
- November 2016 – Harry formally reveals he is in a relationship with Suits actress Meghan Markle.
- September 2017 – Meghan tells Vanity Fair the couple are in love and happy together.
- September 2017 – The couple make their first public appearance together holding hands at the Invictus Games in Toronto.
- November 2017 – Prince Charles issues a statement revealing Harry and Meghan are engaged.
- May 2018 – Harry and Meghan tie the knot, becoming Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
- October 2018 – The couple announce they are expecting their first child while on their first overseas tour in Australia.
- March 2019 – Harry and Meghan set up their own household, splitting their joint operation with Prince William and Kate.
- May 2019 – Meghan gives birth to a baby boy named Archie.
- October 2019 – Harry reveals his rift with his brother William in a bombshell documentary.
- January 2020 – The couple stun the Queen by announcing plans to quit senior roles and settle in North America. After ten days of talks at Sandringham, it’s agreed the couple will no longer be working royals and will give up their “Royal Highness” titles.
- March 2020 – Harry and Meghan carry out their last official engagement and move to California.
- September 2020 – Netflix announces a huge deal with the couple.
- February 2021 – Buckingham Palace announces the couple’s split as working members of the monarchy is permanent and they will lose their royal patronages.
- March 2021 – The palace says it is “very concerned” about allegations of bullying made by former staff of Harry and Meghan, launching a probe.
- March 2021 – Meghan tells Oprah Winfrey Archie wasn’t made a prince after “concerns and conversations” about “how dark” his skin would be when he was born. She claims Kate “hurt her feelings” and made her cry before her wedding. Harry says Charles has stopped taking his calls and he has been “cut off” financially.
- January 2023 – Harry publishes his tell-all memoir Spare, launching scathing attacks on William, Kate and Camilla. He says he and William once got into a physical fight over Meghan.
- April 2023 – Harry has a “heart-to-heart” talk with his dad before agreeing to come to the Coronation in London.
- September 2023 – Harry rejects an offer to spend the anniversary of the Queen’s death at Balmoral with his father.
- February 2024 – Prince Harry flies to the UK to be with his father as royal experts claim their four-year rift could be put aside. They meet for half an hour before Harry flies home. He does not meet William.