A German documentary has cast a new shadow over Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s lives in Montecito, California, drawing fresh criticism from both the media and the public.
The documentary, *Harry: The Lost Prince*, accuses the couple of hypocrisy following their decision to step down from their official royal duties. The program explores what many see as a disconnect between the Sussexes’ advocacy for charity and social causes while living an extravagant lifestyle.
The documentary focuses on incidents such as their visits to less affluent countries, including Nigeria and Colombia, where the couple was seen wearing expensive designer clothing. These images seemed to clash with the couple’s messages of compassion and social justice.
Reporter Russel Myers, who supported the documentary’s findings, remarked, “If you're going to places like Nigeria and Colombia, which face huge socio-economic problems and have some of the world's poorest communities, and you're showing up wearing tens of thousands of pounds worth of designer clothes, it really doesn’t send the right message.”
The program also touches on their charity work with Archewell, the couple's foundation. It points out that Harry and Meghan had admitted to only working one hour a week on the organization, all while pointing to a notable drop in donations—down $11 million from the previous year, leaving them with just $2 million in 2022.
The documentary doesn’t stop there. It also accuses the pair of abandoning their royal duties to focus on more lucrative projects, such as their controversial Netflix series and Harry's tell-all memoir, *Spare*.
The couple's actions have sparked backlash from some, including veteran Ben McBean, who lost his left arm and right leg in an Afghanistan landmine blast in 2008. McBean criticized Harry for sharing a personal story about his brother pushing him in his book, calling it petty. "I was just like, 'Mate, just leave it out,'" McBean said. "If one of my friends fell out with his partner and started posting things on social media, I’d have told him to shut up as well."
Despite this, the Sussexes' reputation saw a surge in Germany following their appearance at the Invictus Games in Düsseldorf. However, the documentary casts a shadow on their philanthropic efforts, raising questions about the funding behind the games, particularly a €40 million donation from Germany's Ministry of Defence.
As Harry and Meghan continue to navigate their new lives in California, this latest criticism threatens to complicate their carefully crafted image of charitable advocates and social justice warriors.
