Hollywood stars or royals? Meghan and Harry are dividing opinion over baby Archie’s ‘private’ christening
The controversy surrounding the royal christening of baby Archie has upset Aussie royal fans, and it’s also a sign Meghan Markle has changed Prince Harry forever. HAVE YOUR SAY
She’s been accused of approaching her royal role like a Hollywood star — with demands and spending to match — and it seems Meghan Markle’s behaviour has rubbed off on Prince Harry.
Once considered the “people’s prince” much like his late mother Princess Diana was the “people’s princess”, royal watchers are claiming Harry is actually behaving more like an A-list star than a member of the British royal family.
Markle, a former actor on the TV drama Suits, and her boundary-pushing behaviour is clearly influencing Harry, 34.
Once known for being approachable and affable, Harry is increasingly displaying a more guarded public image.
As royal biographer Penny Junor wrote in London’s Sunday Times: Prince Harry “is acting like an A-lister over Archie’s christening, not a royal”.
The christening of the couple’s son Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor is the latest controversy dividing public opinion.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex opted to keep the religious ceremony, held at Windsor Castle at the weekend, away from the spotlight.
There were only 25 guests. The Queen and Prince Philip didn’t attend, as they had a prior engagement in Sandringham (they weren’t at Prince Louis’ christening last year, either).
The names of Archie’s godparents have not been released or confirmed by the palace though Harry’s close friend, Charlie Van Straubenzee, is believed to be one of Archie’s godfathers.
Archie’s christening was completely closed to media, except for two slightly awkward and staged photos released to the public that were taken by the couple’s personal photographer.
Body language expert Dr Louise Mahler said: “If this was really a party they’d have that look of joy. That’s no party, that’s no celebration.
“They look like the survivors of a war in crisis. I’m not saying they don’t love each other but they look like they are supporting each other through a crisis.”
ROYAL ‘CRISIS’ IN ARCHIE CHRISTENING PHOTOS
MEGHAN WEARS DIOR ON ARCHIE’S DAY
The couple is, of course, part of the royal fold and their lavish lifestyle — including Meghan’s designer-studded wardrobe billed at more than $1.4 million — is paid for by the public purse.
“They can’t have it both ways,” Junor wrote in the Sunday Times.
“Either they are totally private, pay for their own house and disappear out of view, or play the game the way it is played.”
The divide is also being felt by Australian royal fans, with some backing the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s request for privacy, while others were clearly angered by the secrecy.
The royal family, by definition, lives their lives in front of the public eye as the British public foots the bill for everything from what they wear, to the extravagant renovations of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s new residence at Frogmore Cottage.
This is another PR disaster in Harry and Meghan’s royal conduct which has sent cracks through the public image of the House of Windsor.
And it is not lost on royal watchers. One deemed the couple as becoming “irrelevant”, while another suggested Meghan had “reduced a royal event to a nothing moment”.
“I’m starting to tire of the royals. Ever with the hand out to take taxes to live off and live the high life,” declared one frustrated royal follower.
ROYAL RULES MEGHAN IS BREAKING
However, some backed Meghan and Harry for choosing to step away from the public glare.
“We don’t have to know everything,” a supporter told News Corp Australia.
Another Sussex fan added: “It’s only a christening. His parents and grandparents were there with other family members so what’s the problem?”
Others slammed the “nasty” comments, posted online, insisting that the public “don’t have to be privy to every occasion”.
From reports of bitter feuds to lavish spending, this christening fiasco is the latest in a long line of dramas in the British royal family.
And much to the palace’s dismay, a lot of it has been played out in the public eye.
Tensions have been obvious between Prince William and Prince Harry for some time, as well as persistent reports that there’s no love lost between their wives, Meghan and Kate.
“It is not a ‘party snap’ for any of them. Yes, the picture is gorgeous, but there is something wrong … he’s (Harry) definitely had a falling out with Will and Kate,” said Dr Mahler.
Reports of the Duchess of Sussex’s exorbitant spending haven’t helped the public perception of an imploding palace.
Royal accounts revealed that Harry and Meghan’s Frogmore Cottage renovations have cost at least £2.4 million ($4.3 million).
Add to that her Givenchy and Burberry-clad designer wardrobe £800,000 ($A1.43 million) and the couple’s spending has certainly raised eyebrows.
There are also questions over just how much the Dior dress and Cartier earrings she sported to Archie’s christening actually cost.
It is not known whether the white midi-dress was custom-made for the Duchess, though she has a longstanding relationship with Dior, having worn designs by the brand’s Italian-born creative director, Maria Grazia Chiuri, before.
For the “intimate” christening gathering, Kate took a thrifty approach, sporting a pink Stella McCartney dress with a pussy bow neckline, teamed with a red headband and a pair of red pointy-toed heels.
According to The Sun, Kate first wore the knee-length dress in 2009 and has had it in her wardrobe for a decade.
Fashion spending aside, the palace’s main players have also been at the centre of a series of embarrassing controversies.
Harry was caught telling Meghan off at Trooping the Colour, appearing to sternly tell her to “turn around”.
The drama continued at the Order of the Garter, when Camilla dramatically tapped Kate on the shoulder and instructed her to pay attention because she had been chatting with Queen Maxima of the Netherlands.
There were also reports Prince Philip told Harry he shouldn’t marry former Suits actor Meghan.
Queen Margrethe rushed to hospital after fall
Denmark’s Queen Margrethe, who abdicated in January in favour of her son King Frederik and his Australian wife Queen Mary, has been hospitalised after an accident at her home.
Diana’s confidant Al Fayed accused of multiple rapes
The late Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed, whose son Dodi died alongside Princess Diana, has been accused of multiple sexual assaults amid claims the luxury store covered up the alleged abuse.