Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Celebrity Status Wanes in America, Expert Claims
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, once the center of attention in American celebrity circles, are now viewed as a “side show” rather than a “main event,” according to revelations from a royal expert.
Speaking to Closer magazine, former royal butler Paul Burrell disclosed that the Sussexes’ social circle among A-listers in the US is dwindling. “Their circle is getting smaller and smaller,” Burrell remarked, noting that high-profile figures like Oprah Winfrey, who were once closely associated with them, are now seemingly less involved.
Burrell pointed out that celebrities who attended their 2018 wedding, such as George and Amal Clooney, and David and Victoria Beckham, have also distanced themselves from the couple. Journalist Tina Brown previously raised doubts about the authenticity of these friendships in her book, suggesting they were more about recruitment than genuine closeness.
While Harry and Meghan initially enjoyed immense popularity following their move to California, Burrell indicated a decline in their appeal. “Harry and Meghan were the most popular couple in the country at one time … but there’s since been a decline,” he stated.
Despite positive coverage of their recent “quasi-royal tour” to Nigeria and endorsements from celebrities like Kris Jenner and Chrissy Teigen for Meghan’s American Riviera Orchard strawberry jam, controversies and shifting perceptions have impacted their social standing.
In Montecito, their neighborhood dubbed the “Montecito Mafia,” the Sussexes have cultivated relationships with wealthy neighbors, but the nature of their connections with stars like Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom remains unclear.
However, there are indications that Prince Harry wishes to reconcile with his family and return to the UK, missing his British friends and former life. As royal commentator Tom Quinn noted, “the honeymoon period where everything in the States is new and exciting is coming to an end.”
The dynamics of their public image in the US reflect ongoing shifts, with their status evolving from a celebrated novelty to a more peripheral presence in American celebrity culture.
