Once more, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle seek your attention. More than six years since they distanced themselves from royal duties and relocated to California, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex plan to return to Britain. They are expected to move back with their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, later this month. The children will start school in Britain in September, while Harry and Meghan are likely to reside in a private home and remain non-working royals.
This move, although newsworthy, is not entirely surprising. A key reason for their return lies in the inherent contradiction of their time in the U.S. Much of their celebrity status stemmed from their association with the British monarchy, the very institution they tried to distance themselves from.
America harbors an abundance of celebrities. It’s a nation where fame can be created almost overnight. However, royalty is rare, and this rarity kept Meghan and Harry relevant in the States. Their direct connection to Britain’s royal family, an institution watched closely by Americans, initially brought them significant attention.
After they stepped down from royal roles in 2020, they created a media venture encompassing podcasts, TV, and publishing. Their Netflix series, Harry & Meghan, focused mainly on their royal family experiences and became the platform’s most-viewed documentary in its initial days. Harry’s book Spare and their Oprah interview also transformed their account of palace life into a major cultural event worldwide.
Despite these successes, the stories that captured American interest repeatedly centered around their ties to the British monarchy. As they distanced themselves from their royal life, maintaining their unique celebrity status grew challenging. Their fame in the U.S. heavily relied on their closeness to a world that was otherwise inaccessible to many Americans. However, over time, the novelty of this proximity diminished. There were only so many royal disputes to expose, so many family stories to tell, and doors to open before audiences began to question what could capture their interest next.
While many immigrants in the U.S. have successfully reinvented themselves, Harry and Meghan struggled to become more captivating than the royal life they left behind. Perhaps they failed to capture ongoing interest because, truthfully, amid the spectacle, they were never that compelling to begin with.