Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, have grown beyond their royal status, an expert has said.
The couple, who officially split from the Firm in 2020, have built enough of a personal brand that they no longer need to rely on their family across the Atlantic.
Clive Irving, a royal author and expert who penned The Last Queen, said the couple has been celebrities “in their own right”, allowing them to grow beyond the Royal Family.
Previously speaking to Express US, he said: “Harry and Meghan’s celebrity used to rest on the former’s connection to the Royal Family, but they’ve now been celebrities in their own right for so long that they don’t need to trade on that anymore. That’s no longer part of their lives.”
The couple’s celebrity has been highlighted by a recent charity event they attended alongside a star-studded group of fellow celebrities.
They debuted at an event held by Hollywood royal Kevin Costner over the weekend, which also saw appearances by some of America’s most well-known figures.
The actor held his One805 Live! charity event for first responders on the evening of Friday, September 23.
While there, the former royals rubbed shoulders with other famous guests, including talkshow hosts Ellen DeGeneres and Oprah Winfrey, who famously interviewed the couple after they arrived on US shores.
The event showed the self-sustaining nature of the Duke and Duchess’ celebrity, but Mr Irving warned this comes with some downsides.
He said Duchess Meghan would never want to join in on royal engagements out of fears of being “accused of embarrassing” King Charles III or a “burden on the monarchy”.
