An expert claims that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle‘s estrangement from the Royal Family is costing them more than they expected. After leaving royal duties in 2020 for California, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have worked to build a new independent life. But recent results suggest that distance from the Crown may be creating challenges they didn’t foresee.
Kinsey Schofield says the Sussexes’ fractured ties with the Royal Family have become a professional liability
A royal expert has suggested that Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s strained ties with the Royal Family are now acting as a “professional liability.” In an interview with Page Six, royal commentator Kinsey Schofield advised that the Sussexes should “get out of the way” and avoid micromanaging every choice on their projects, and instead allow the experts to take the lead.
Schofield further added that the pair should pursue projects that are completely unrelated to their issues with the Royal Family. “There are only so many times you can tell audiences why you left the royal family. If they want longevity in entertainment, they have to prove people are interested in their taste, ideas and storytelling when the monarchy isn’t the hook,” she noted.
“I also don’t think it’s a coincidence that we’re seeing renewed efforts toward reconciliation with King Charles at a moment when Harry and Meghan need to rebuild their credibility,” the expert explained. “I suspect that they understand that their fractured relationship with the royal family has become a professional liability.”
The comment comes after “Cookie Queens,” which was executive produced by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle through Archewell Productions, struggled at the box office during opening weekend. Reported figures put the documentary at about $354,262 from 446 theaters. “CatVideoFest 2026” did better with $568,414, despite screening in only 255 theaters.
The outcome has royal analysts wondering if the Sussexes’ power to lead the news cycle is as strong as before. British royal expert Hilary Fordwich echoed that view. She told Fox News Digital that “the extremely underwhelming box office” raises doubts about whether the couple can draw viewers when their work isn’t centered around the “stories, secrets and betraying the privacy” of the Royal Family.
