Julia Mullaney | Showbiz Cheat Sheet Senior Writer

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are Dealt Another Major Blow as Key Staffer Steps Down After Just 3 Months

Julia Mullaney — Tue, 13 Aug 2024 14:58:21 +0000

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been building a life for themselves in the United States since leaving the royal family in 2020. Although the two have had a chance to live a much freer lifestyle, it has come with its own set of trials and tribulations, including popularity issues. Some of the couple’s business ventures have not worked out, and they have continued to struggle with staffing as well. Now, Harry and Meghan have been dealt another major blow as Harry’s chief of staff steps down after only about three months on the job.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle | Matt Dunham/WPA Pool/Getty Images

Prince Harry’s chief of staff is stepping down

Harry and Meghan came under fire while in the royal family due to staff turnover being so high. There were rumors that Meghan Markle allegedly faced bullying accusations from former staffers, though nothing much came of the stories. When Harry and Meghan transitioned to life outside of the royal family, they started a number of deals and business ventures. This year, Invictus Games CEO Dominic Reid stepped down after 10 years, and while it wasn’t suspicious on its own, the timing was — it came on the heels of controversy over Harry receiving the Pat Tillman award at the ESPYs.

Not long after, it’s been announced that Harry’s chief of staff, Josh Kettler, who only started the job in the spring, is resigning. Kettler’s hiring was reportedly facing a trial period, and it seems that after the period ended, both Harry and Kettler mutually agreed to discontinue working together. It doesn’t bode well for Harry, given that he and Meghan have been working hard to improve their reputation since stepping down from their royal roles but have continued to face controversy through the years.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle still aren’t on good terms with the royals

Harry and Meghan’s relationship with royal family members has not improved much since the two left more than four years ago. They reportedly don’t speak often to King Charles or Prince William, and there have been rumors that Charles is unhappy he hasn’t seen his grandchildren in so long.

Harry and Meghan have taken on a number of interviews, documentaries, and even a memoir in order to tell their side of the story regarding the royal family, and while some people have championed them for it, others have criticized them for painting their family in such a bad light. It’s unclear at this point if Harry and Meghan will ever have a strong relationship with the royals again, but the two will not be at Balmoral this summer with the others.

Meghan Markle Just Debunked One of Her Own Claims About Royal Life

Julia Mullaney — Sun, 11 Aug 2024 11:50:00 +0000

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle famously left the royal family back in 2020 after they felt they weren’t being well-protected from the media and the public’s scrutiny — and it was damaging to their mental health. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have since settled down into a quieter life in Montecito, California, but they still take on a number of public appearances and have been shaping their own businesses and brands.

But Meghan once said something about royal fashion that suggested she wasn’t allowed to wear her preferred colors, yet it seems that her outfits since leaving the family go directly against her claims.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle | Karwai Tang/WireImage

Meghan Markle often wears neutral colors

During her time in the royal family, Meghan was often spotted wearing neutral colors like beige, white, and navy. Of course, this was the complete opposite of Queen Elizabeth II, who was known for her love of pastels. But during an interview long after leaving the family, Meghan made it seem like she only wore neutrals because she couldn’t outshine any of the other senior royals.

“When I was in the UK I rarely wore color,” Meghan said in her Netflix documentary with Harry. “I wore a lot of muted tones. I also wore it so I could just blend in. I’m not trying to stand out here. I don’t want to embarrass the family.”

Meghan continued, “To my understanding, you can’t ever wear the same color as Her Majesty if there’s a group event. But then you also shouldn’t be wearing the same color as one of the other more senior members of the family.”

While this does make some sense, Meghan is suggesting that her fashion sense was stifled and that she only dressed a certain way because she was so scared of what the royals would think — but her outfits today paint a different picture. Despite having left the family years ago, Meghan almost always wears neutrals to events. You’ll rarely, if ever, see the duchess in a bright outfit. She wore white to the ESPYs, beige during her recent interview with CBS Sunday Morning, and has almost exclusively worn neutrals or dark colors for appearances with Harry during the Invictus Games.

Fashion experts expected Meghan Markle to wear brighter colors outside royal life

Meghan faced many challenges during her time as a royal, and the impact they had on her emotional and mental health should very much be believed. However, the statement about muted fashion in the family, specifically, doesn’t add up given that Meghan continues to choose muted colors. It seems that it is just a fashion preference rather than because she was scared.

“It’s a little unexpected,” style expert Miranda Holder said in an interview with Express, referring to Meghan’s fashion choices since leaving royal life. “Following her statement, I think we all expected the duchess to be stepping out in a rainbow of vivid hues and making the most of her newfound freedom on the wardrobe front, but it’s quite the opposite.”

Meghan Markle’s Jewelry Collection From Princess Diana Is Worth a Shocking Amount of Money

Julia Mullaney — Sat, 10 Aug 2024 12:37:00 +0000

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been married since 2018. When the two wed, Meghan received a number of jewels from the late Princess Diana, Harry’s mother who tragically died in 1997. Since then, Meghan has been spotted wearing Diana’s jewelry and subtly using it as a way to honor her late mother-in-law.

Meghan has often seen wearing high-end designer jewels from Diana, but you might be surprised at how much the Duchess of Sussex’s jewelry collection is actually worth.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on their wedding day | Ben Stansall/WPA Pool/Getty Images

Meghan Markle inherited more than $500,000 worth of jewels from Princess Diana

Meghan and Harry were married in a widely-televised ceremony at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor more than six years ago. As time passed, Harry and Meghan’s relationship with the royal family dwindled, and they eventually stepped back from their royal roles altogether. Still, Meghan received a lot of jewelry from Diana when she and Harry wed, which she continues to wear to public appearances as a way of regularly honoring Harry’s mom.

But it might surprise people to know that Meghan’s jewelry collection from Diana is worth a staggering $507,000, according to Express. “Another particularly sentimental piece is Princess Diana’s gold cuff bangle, which Meghan first wore during her royal tour of Australia with Prince Harry in 2018. Featuring two large cabochon sapphires that appear to be 5 carats each, it’s likely to be worth around £25,000,” jewelry expert Maxwell Stone told Express. That amount translates to $31,700 US. Harry also sourced some of the diamonds for Meghan’s engagement ring from his mother’s collection, although the main diamond came from Botswana, a place where Harry and Meghan took their first trip together. Meghan has been spotted in all kinds of pieces from Diana, also including a pricey diamond tennis bracelet.

Prince Harry has always said his mother would have loved Meghan Markle

Although Meghan did not meet Diana, Harry has always been confident that the two would have had a great relationship. Diana and Harry were super close, and it’s always sweet to see Meghan wearing Diana’s jewelry.

It’s not uncommon for royals to inherit jewels that have been passed down from previous generations. On Meghan and Harry’s wedding day, Meghan wore a sparkly tiara that came from the jewelry collection of Princess Mary (later Queen Mary, who was married to King George V) back in 1893. Kate Middleton, who is married to Prince William, has also been spotted wearing plenty of Diana’s jewelry as well as pieces from the late Queen Elizabeth II’s collection.

King Charles Is Once Again ‘Furious’ With Prince Harry and ‘Refusing to Take Calls From His Son’ for a New Reason, Insiders Claim

Julia Mullaney — Fri, 09 Aug 2024 14:04:08 +0000

King Charles and Prince Harry have had a rocky relationship for years. The father and son were fairly close when Harry was growing up, but after he met and married Meghan Markle, things between him and Charles shifted for a number of reasons. The Duke of Sussex now lives in California with his wife and two children, and he has hardly seen his father in recent years except for a handful of visits to the United Kingdom.

Now, rumor has it that Charles is “furious” with Harry for one big reason that has everything to do with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.

King Charles and Prince Harry | Niall Carson-Pool/Getty Images

King Charles is reportedly upset with Prince Harry over Charles’ grandchildren

When Harry and Meghan moved to the United States in 2020, they took their son, Prince Archie, with them. In 2021, Harry and Meghan welcomed their second child: A daughter, Princess Lilibet. Archie and Lili have only returned to the UK on brief occasions, and they have not had much of a chance to forge a strong bond with their grandfather Charles. Now, rumor has it that Charles is getting upset at Harry over his inability to see his grandchildren.

“Charles believes Harry should let bygones be bygones for the sake of Archie and Lilibet,” royal author Tom Quinn told Mirror, “but he senses that access to the children is being used as a bargaining chip and that, in Charles’ view, is unforgivable.”

Quinn continued, “Despite Harry’s attacks on the Royal Family, his father has avoided responding by attacking his son publicly, but privately, King Charles is furious. So much so that he is now refusing to take calls from his son.”

It remains unclear if those rumors are true. Harry returned to the UK once in May 2024 after visiting his father in February; he did not see him during the May UK trip.

Prince Harry refuses to bring his family to the UK unless they have better security

After Harry and Meghan gave up their royal titles, the UK denied them the right to taxpayer-funded security. Harry went to court over the matter and lost but is filing an appeal. It seems that his father could step in and ensure he has proper security but hasn’t, and Harry has said more than once that he will not bring his family over to the UK until he knows they are protected.

Apparently, the security issue is widening the royal rift as Charles refuses to step in, but it’s also only causing Harry and Meghan’s kids to grow further apart from Harry’s family. At this point, it’s unclear if it will ever be remedied.

1 Surprising Royal Could Play ‘Peacemaker’ Between Prince Harry, Prince William, and King Charles — and It’s Not Who You Think

Julia Mullaney — Thu, 08 Aug 2024 20:43:04 +0000

Prince Harry and his father, King Charles, have had a difficult relationship for years. Harry and Charles have not been on great terms since even before Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, left the royal family back in 2020. The two have spoken a number of times, but it seems they’ve never been able to get on the same solid ground that they once were. Harry and his brother, Prince William, reportedly don’t speak at all.

Now, one insider thinks there is a royal who will be important in helping Harry, Charles, and William rebuild their relationship — and it’s not who you think.

Prince William, King Charles, and Prince Harry | Chris Jackson/Getty Images

Princess Beatrice could play a big role in helping Harry, William, and Charles

Harry and Charles don’t have a great relationship, but the two men do speak, which is something. Harry flew to the United Kingdom back in February 2024 after he learned his father had been diagnosed with cancer, and he later said he loves his family despite not speaking to William. Still, they aren’t on amazing terms, and at least one insider thinks that’s where Princess Beatrice could make a difference.

Former royal butler Grant Harrold told Fruity Slots (via Express) that Beatrice could be a “peacemaker” between Harry and Charles. “She would be someone to initiate peace in the family,” Harrold said. “She’s close to both William and Harry, as well as the King — and they trust her. It would be her out of anyone else, but she wouldn’t want to be too involved. She would try to be careful.”

Harrold continued, “I have no doubt she would have spoken to the two brothers at some point to try to improve the situation.”

Prince Harry and Prince William might never rebuild their relationship

It seems apparent that King Charles will always have love for his sons. Although Harry and Charles don’t get along super well, Charles does love his grandchildren — Harry and Meghan’s kids, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. But William and Harry are a bit of a different story. They seem to have the most distance between them compared to anyone else in the family despite being the ones who should have remained the closest.

At this point, it looks like it will be hard for Harry and William to ever reconcile. It’s possible something could cause them to come together, but after a year of difficult for the royal family and still no improvement between the brothers, it’s hard to picture a scenario that causes them to put their differences behind them.

King Charles Allegedly Claimed There Was ‘Not Enough Money’ to Fund Meghan Markle As a Working Royal When the She Wed Prince Harry

Julia Mullaney — Sun, 04 Aug 2024 16:45:00 +0000

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle wed in a high-profile ceremony back in 2018 after just under two years of dating. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were already having problems with some members of the royal family, but they were still seemingly excited about taking on their new royal roles as a married couple. Harry had been a working royal for years prior to meeting Meghan, but it was a new adventure for the two of them to work together.

However, new bombshell claims suggest that King Charles allegedly had doubts about making Meghan a working royal due to a lack of funding.

Prince William, Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and King Charles | Richard Pohle/WPA Pool/Getty Images

King Charles reportedly considered not allowing Meghan Markle to be a working royal

Charles has always preferred a slimmed-down monarchy. The king, who took the throne in 2022 after Queen Elizabeth II’s death at age 96, has since maintained that position. But new reports in Robert Jobson’s book “Catherine, the Princess of Wales” suggest that Charles was actually considering not having Meghan Markle take on a working royal role.

According to Express, Jobson claims that sources told him Charles wasn’t certain he would ever make Meghan a working royal, saying that Harry “claimed that his father told him there was ‘not enough money to go around’ for Meghan, because he was already having to pay for William and Catherine.” Jobson added that “Harry was furious” over the consideration.

Ultimately, we know that Meghan did become a working royal and remained one for roughly two years before she and Harry stepped down from their official royal duties in 2020. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have not completed royal duties on behalf of the monarchy since March of that year.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle seem content in their United States lives

Although Harry likely has moments where he misses his home country, he and Meghan seem content in their lives in California, where they’re raising their son and daughter, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. Harry has returned to the UK a number of times, but Meghan has not been back since the queen’s funeral in 2022.

Harry has said more than once that he will not bring his family back to the UK until he is given better security, but not much has been done on Charles’ side to help him with that. It remains unclear whether Charles would be willing to work with Harry on that, though now that Harry and Meghan have been moved out for four years with no security change for the Sussexes, it’s hard to imagine Charles will do something about it at this point.

1 Unsuspecting Royal Is Helping Prince William and Kate Middleton With the Wales Children

Julia Mullaney — Sat, 03 Aug 2024 15:45:00 +0000

Prince William and Kate Middleton have not had an easy year. At the top of 2024, Kate underwent abdominal surgery only to eventually learn that she was battling cancer. And at almost the same time, King Charles announced that he was undergoing cancer treatment as well.

In the midst of unprecedented times for the royals, William and Kate have not forgotten about the importance of keeping their family grounded. With three young kids, it appears that one unsuspecting royal has taken at least one of the Wales children under their wing.

Prince William and Kate Middleton with Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis | Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

Princess Anne has formed a special bond with Princess Charlotte

Charlotte is William and Kate’s only daughter, and although Kate will certainly raise her well, Kate doesn’t have knowledge of what it was like to be a royal at age nine. Anne, however, did have a royal upbringing, and she has apparently been able to impart some wisdom on Charlotte, who is just starting to make a few more royal appearances.

“Anne’s ‘training’, if you will, isn’t just about rank, file, and curtsies either,” a source close to the family told Woman magazine, according to Express. “She’s shown her how to spark conversations, but also how to end one and move on without upsetting anyone.” As Charlotte grows up, she’ll be face-to-face with many different people, some of whom she will have to end conversations with in a polite, respectful way.

“That was a tough one for Kate to learn, but Charlotte was born to royalty so is used to the subtle signals and messaging the royals give to stay in control of a situation,” the source continued.

Prince William and Kate Middleton are happy Princess Charlotte has a ‘role model’

It’s hard to imagine a better role model than Kate Middleton, but on days where Kate feels tired due to her health, it’s nice to know that Anne is stepping up. The source reports that William and Kate are happy that Charlotte has Anne.

“They couldn’t imagine a better role model than Anne, who is renowned for her work ethic and impregnable support for the King,” the source continued. “She doesn’t put a foot wrong whilst still having her opinions not only heard but respected.” The source added that Anne was “invaluable” to Kate when Kate was just starting out in the royal family and also needed a role model.

For the most part, the children are still remaining out of the royal spotlight, but since Charlotte has a long future ahead of her in the public eye, it’s never too early to get some pointers.

Meghan Markle Was ‘Taken Aback’ By 1 Key Detail Between Harry and William — and It Led to the Royal Rift

Julia Mullaney — Sat, 03 Aug 2024 13:34:19 +0000

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s relationship with the royal family has not come back from its fallout four years ago. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex now live in the United States, and Meghan has not returned to the UK since 2022; Harry has blamed it on a lack of security for his wife. But things between the royals went south years ago, and it might have had to do with one big disparity that Meghan noticed immediately upon meeting Prince William and Kate Middleton for the first time.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry | Chris Jackson/Getty Images for the Invictus Games Foundation

Meghan Markle was ‘taken aback’ by Prince William and Kate Middleton’s home

When Harry and Meghan started dating, they kept the relationship under wraps for quite a while. But during that time, Meghan did have a chance to get to know her future in-laws, and she and Harry eventually met up with William and Kate at their home. Although there were a number of things that led to the falling out between Harry and William, insiders claim that Meghan noticed something about the two brothers almost immediately upon visiting William and Kate’s home for the first time: They lived in completely different places.

Robert Jobson, author of “Catherine, the Princess of Wales: The Biography,” wrote in his book, “Meghan had moved into cozy Nottingham Cottage on the Kensington Palace estate with Harry. When they went to have drinks at William and Catherine’s palatial apartment, she was apparently ‘taken aback’ at the disparity between the brothers.”

According to Express, a source close to the couple said, “I am not saying Meghan was jealous, but she was surprised how lavishly Harry’s brother was living compared to where they were living … It was perhaps the beginning of all the tensions between the couples.”

At the time Meghan and Harry met, William and Kate had been married for several years and had two children. As the future king with a family, it might make sense that William and Kate had a slightly nicer place, but it’s also fair to question why they were living so much better than Harry.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle reportedly did not receive the same treatment in the family

A big reason why Harry and Meghan left the royal family was because they felt the treatment they received did not compare to the way William and Kate were treated. Harry revealed later in interviews that the royal family would often lie to protect William and Kate’s reputations, but they would never tell the truth if it meant protecting Meghan. The media often made accusations about Meghan and her actions, which the family never disputed.

These days, Harry and Meghan hardly have a relationship with the royal family. The two are living in California and raising their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, and they hardly ever return to the UK as a family due to security concerns. Of course, there is still time to heal the royal rift, but it looks like it runs pretty deep.

Prince Harry Warned Meghan Markle That Royal Life Was a ‘Big Deal’ and ‘Not Easy’ Before He Married Her: ‘We Were Totally Unprepared’

Julia Mullaney — Fri, 02 Aug 2024 12:40:00 +0000

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle didn’t have the easiest time as a married couple in the royal family. The two eventually distanced themselves from the rest of the royals by moving to California, where they remain today, and they haven’t been back as a couple in almost two years.

But Meghan seemingly knew that she would have a tough time in the royal family because Harry once clued her in that things would not be “easy” for the future Duchess of Sussex.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on their wedding day in 2018 | Ben Birchall/Pool/AFP/Getty Images

Prince Harry warned Meghan Markle about royal life

Love is love, so Meghan was willing to take on any challenge if it meant she could be with her husband. But when Harry and Meghan wed, things only became increasingly difficult for them in the royal family. Tensions rose between Harry and his brother, Prince William, and the press wasn’t always kind to Meghan. The difficulties forced Harry and Meghan out, and now, they hardly have a relationship with the royals.

But Harry did once warn Meghan that royal life would not be easy. During the couple’s engagement interview, Harry opened up about telling Meghan of the difficulties that would be associated with their relationship; however, he admitted that he was “unprepared” for how bad it would actually be.

“I think you can have as many conversations as you want and try and prepare as much as possible,” Harry said of Meghan joining the royal family, according to Express. “But we were totally unprepared for what happened after that. I still have to have some pretty frank conversations with her to say, you know, ‘What you’re letting yourself in for … it’s a big deal and it’s not … easy for anybody.”

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are raising their children differently

Harry and Meghan’s kids received the royal titles of Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet once their grandfather, King Charles, became king. But that doesn’t mean they’re being raised like a prince and princess. The two children live in California with Harry and Meghan, and while they’re known as prince and princess, that’s about as royal as they get. The two kids don’t have a face-to-face relationship with any royal family members, and they don’t attend any royal events. They have never experienced a Trooping the Colour, a royal Christmas, or any other annual celebrations and likely never will.

Harry and Meghan seemingly want to raise their children away from the royal spotlight due to the impact it’s had on Harry through the years, so it’s possible that the kids might never have a relationship with their relatives.

Prince Harry Feels ‘Guilty’ Over His Lack of Relationship With Certain Royals — But It Isn’t Charles and William

Julia Mullaney — Thu, 01 Aug 2024 13:29:00 +0000

Prince Harry doesn’t see much of his family anymore. Back in February 2024, after his father, King Charles, was diagnosed with cancer, Harry did say that he loves his family, and that might be very true; still, he does not share the closeness with them that he did so many years ago.

With that said, Harry does reportedly feel “guilty” about a lack of relationship with some royal family members but it’s not his father or brother, Prince William.

Prince William and Kate Middleton with Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Harry | Zak Hussein/Corbis/Corbis /Getty Images

Prince Harry feels ‘guilty’ for his lack of relationship with his niece and nephews

Harry was right there when William and Kate Middleton welcomed their first child, Prince George. He immediately had a close connection with George. And when Princess Charlotte was born, that still held true. But by the time Prince Louis was born, some tensions had already creeped into Harry’s relationship with his brother and sister-in-law, though it didn’t stop Harry from gifting Louis a very sentimental book that reminded him of his own childhood. Now that Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, are living in the United States, he has very little relationship with George, Charlotte, and Louis, and that is something he reportedly has guilt over.

“Whatever Harry feels about his brother and his dad, he always feels guilty that he doesn’t have a relationship with his niece and nephews and that Archie and Lili don’t know their only cousins,” a source close to the prince told OK! Magazine UK, according to Express.

The source continued, “Harry always had visions of them growing up around him and being able to come and ask him for advice that they couldn’t ask their parents, especially Charlotte and Louis.” The source also added that Harry “sees a lot of himself in little Louis, and it breaks his heart that he doesn’t really know them.”

Prince Harry does not see much of his niece and nephews

Since moving to the United States, Harry has hardly seen William and Kate’s children. The prince might have seen the little ones a handful of times during his UK returns, but he has visited his home country twice in 2024 and reportedly has not seen them either time.

The kids could be the easiest way for Harry and William to build up their relationship. It’s possible William and Kate want a relationship with Harry’s kids the same way that Harry and Meghan do with the Wales children, and it would be nice for the two families to grow up with their cousins. However, currently, it doesn’t appear that anyone is making moves to build something up. But down the road, the kids might reconnect and eventually bring the Wales and Sussex couples back together.