Prince Harry is reportedly growing uneasy over comparisons between his wife, Meghan Markle, and Sarah Ferguson, the former Duchess of York. Sources suggest the Duke of Sussex worries Meghan’s growing public profile and business ventures are drawing parallels to Fergie’s history of monetizing royal connections.
According to The Mirror, an insider revealed that Harry “is aware” of how such comparisons could be perceived. “He knows things like that are not a great look and Fergie-esque,” the source said. The Duke, once known as one of the most popular members of the royal family, is said to be struggling with the shift in public perception.
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“He’s used to being universally loved,” the source continued. “Now it’s the exact opposite — actively booed.” The insider was reportedly referring to an incident earlier this year when the couple was booed during an appearance at a Los Angeles Dodgers game, a moment that highlighted the growing criticism they face both in the UK and abroad.
Observers have drawn parallels between Meghan and Sarah Ferguson, who was also a royal outsider and faced intense media scrutiny during and after her marriage to Prince Andrew. Ferguson later became known for commercial ventures that leveraged her royal connections, something Meghan has been accused of by some critics through her business and media projects.
Body language expert Judi James told The Mirror that Meghan and Harry appear to be handling their public image strategically, particularly when it comes to social media and personal branding. “The balance between sharing glimpses of a celeb’s private life and invading their own privacy must hopefully be one that Harry and Meghan have taken on with a seriously like-minded approach,” James explained.
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However, she noted that Meghan often appears to take the lead when the couple shares aspects of their private life. “Meghan does tend to be shown as the keener and more comfortable performer during their more recent ‘private’ clips,” she said, suggesting that the Duchess seems more at ease navigating the blurred lines between celebrity and privacy.
Despite the scrutiny, Harry and Meghan continue to pursue their own ventures, including production projects under their Archewell brand and Meghan’s upcoming lifestyle endeavors. Still, the Dukes’ reported discomfort with the Fergie comparisons suggests they remain cautious about how their public image could affect their long-term reputation.
For now, the Sussexes appear focused on controlling their narrative, but the pressure of royal expectations — even from afar — continues to follow them.