Meghan Markle is facing backlash from royal commentators who accuse her of using Prince Harry and their family for public image-building, despite past calls for privacy. The criticism comes after the Duchess of Sussex shared intimate family photos to mark Father’s Day, a move some see as inconsistent with the couple’s previous stance on media intrusion.
Royal expert Ingrid Seward, speaking to The Sun, called out what she described as a shift in Meghan’s approach to publicity. “I think the problem with the video that Meghan’s put out, which is actually charming, is that it’s really very hypocritical, because they begged for privacy. They refused to let their children’s faces be seen,” Seward said.
The Sussexes have long expressed concern over media exposure, particularly regarding their children, Archie and Lilibet. In the past, they allowed only limited glimpses of their children, maintaining a strong boundary between their private family life and public engagements.
“In fact, at the beginning, there were just like one or two photographs of their children,” Seward noted. “And now suddenly Meghan is flooding the market with photographs of their children, and this goes absolutely against everything they wanted.”
Seward suggested that Markle’s sudden openness may be driven by a desire to bolster her public profile and commercial ventures. “Meghan is doing all these things in her anxiety to get publicity for herself, so that she can improve her money-making powers,” she claimed.
She continued: “I think their whole lives online is a publicity stunt. Everything that they do online is aimed at them being able to make more money.” The royal expert also highlighted the contradiction in the couple’s approach to social media, referencing their past critiques of its impact on mental health and child safety.
“Otherwise, why on earth would they do it? Because, remember, they’ve spoken about social media and how damaging it can be, especially for young kids, and how worried they are about it. And then the next thing you know is Meghan is posting quite personal, very charming pictures of her husband and the children all over everywhere, through her Instagram account. So it just doesn’t make sense.”
Seward concluded by speculating on Prince Harry’s feelings about the post: “I would love to know what Harry thought, but I suspect he might be a little uncomfortable, because Harry isn’t really a great self-promoter. Unlike his wife, who is.”
The Duchess’s Father’s Day tribute, while warmly received by some, has reignited debate over the couple’s evolving media strategy and their ongoing struggle to balance privacy with public life.