Claims the younger generation of royals are competing with each other

As talk continues of a rift between the royal brothers, it seems there is now a “petty transatlantic popularity contest” going on between the Cambridges and the Sussexes.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are competing in a “petty transatlantic popularity contest” with Kate Middleton and Prince William, claims a royal expert.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have launched a string of projects since stepping down as senior royals, including Meghan’s new book and starting their Archewell podcast.

Harry and Meghan have taken on a string of projects since their departure from the UK. Picture: CBS

Meanwhile, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge also appear to have embarked on a rebranding in the last few months, with the launch of their new YouTube channel and change of Instagram name.

Royal author Duncan Larcome told Fabulous: “Whether William and Kate like it or not, they are now international players in a transatlantic popularity contest with their own flesh and blood.”

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The Cambridges released a video of their family for their tenth anniversary. Picture: Duke and Duchess of Cambridge Instagram.

Online profiles signify a right royal showdown

“Harry and Meghan have shown that modern royalty will only survive if it is absolutely at the cutting edge of social media and their profiles play into the narrative of the cult of the celebrity.

“Which is a complete change from the era of Prince Philip. It was never about the royals, it was about the causes, never complain, never explain, ignore questions about you and make it about your causes.”

He added: “Clearly William and Kate are quite clear they need to do more to sell themselves as a couple, family and personalities.

“I think in the first few years of their marriage they were very formal.

“Things like their anniversary video, that is a deliberate charm offensive to sell them as personalities as well as people who are going to be the king and queen.”

Brothers face off from either side of the Atlantic

Meghan and Harry are now living in Santa Barbara, after stepping back from royal duties last March, with Harry telling Oprah he felt “trapped” in the royal family.

After a rumoured rift, brothers Harry and William were briefly reunitedat Prince Philip’s funeral last month.

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Royals during the annual Commonwealth Service in 2020. Picture: Phil Harris/AFP

It is the first time Harry had seen his family since Megxit – although it was reported he spoke on the phone to Charles and William after landing in the UK.

Meanwhile Meghan watched the funeral on a live-stream from the US after reportedly being advised not to attend due to her pregnancy.

Now Meghan’s kids’ book The Bench is the latest project in a long list of work for the couple since they moved to the US.

Meghan has written a children’s book titled ‘The Bench’.

They signed a $130 million Netflix deal and a megabucks deal with Spotify with a docuseries now planned about the Invictus Games.

And Harry got a standing ovation as he appeared solo at a COVID concert – with US fans saying “he belongs to us now”.

At the weekend, Meghan claimed COVID has wiped out a generation of progress for women during her first TV appearance since her Oprah interview.

Meghan, who is pregnant with the couple’s second child, acted as a campaign chair of the Vax Live concert to support the global vaccination effort with Prince Harry.

This article originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced with permission