Meghan’s baby bombshell amid backlash
As speculation mounts over Meghan Markle’s pregnancy, royal expert Katie Nicholl tells Closer she and Harry could be cut off from The Establishment for good following recent scandals, and psychological therapist Emma Kenny fears the timing couldn’t be worse
They’ve dominated the headlines since getting together five years ago – and last week the ongoing scandals surrounding Prince Harry and Meghan Markle reached fever pitch.
Just ten weeks after it emerged they had signed a controversial £75m deal with Netflix, Prince Charles’ inner circle blasted the streaming service for exploiting the royal family’s pain for financial gain and presenting “fiction as fact,” with The Crown storylines concentrating on Princess Diana’s eating disorder and her misery during the Prince’s affair with Camilla Parker Bowles. Prince William was also reportedly “none too pleased” with the heartbreaking portrayal of his beloved mum.
In the same week, it was revealed that Meghan, mum to Archie, two, allowed a friend to brief authors of the explosive biography Finding Freedom. And in documents for the same case – in which Meghan is currently suing a national newspaper that published parts of a handwritten letter she wrote to her father Thomas – it was also revealed that she was helped by two palace aides to write the letter to her estranged dad, prompting an online backlash. One critic wrote, “Everything she does is false and has ulterior motives. Feel so bad for her father,” while another added, “Meghan Markle case is getting weaker and weaker.”
As Closer went to press, speculation continued that Meghan would be announcing her second pregnancy any day soon after postponing her privacy trial for nine months.
DRAMA
Now royal expert Katie Nicholl says a new baby will do little to bridge the widening gap between the pair, who moved to LA after stepping down as senior royals in March, and the rest of the royal family.
Katie says, “I wouldn’t be surprised if there were a pregnancy announcement imminently – the couple have made no secret of the fact they want another child, and the nine-month delay [of the privacy trial] seems telling.
“With all the drama recently, the hope may be that news of another royal baby would help the families heal a rift. But the reality is the royals have seen very little of Archie as it is – he’s only met his cousins once or twice. So I don’t think a baby would bring them closer. With the couple being millions of miles away, on different time zones, with different agendas, it’s likely they’ll continue to be just as cut off from one another. The royal family won’t get to see a lot of Archie or any siblings he may have.”
Rumours of a fallout between Harry, 36, and Meghan, 39, and the royals have been rife during their marriage. In October 2019, Harry admitted he and William “didn’t see each other as much” after reports the pair fell out over him choosing Meghan as a wife. Finding Freedom also details the tension between Meghan and sisterin-law Kate Middleton and, just last week, it was reported that Meghan and Harry were “growing increasingly apart” from the Queen.
The Palace’s recent refusal to allow Prince Harry – who has previously served in the military – to have a wreath placed on his behalf at the Cenotaph for the annual Remembrance Day service would suggest the rift is no closer to being healed.
And the couple received a backlash over setting up a photo shoot at an LA cemetery on Remembrance Sunday, with fans branding it “tasteless”, after their royal snub.
Katie adds, “I’ve heard that at the Palace they are very much concerned that TV series The Crown is refocusing everyone’s attention on an unhappy time that they have tried to move on from. Netflix is cashing-in on the royals – they haven’t been consulted, they have had nothing to do with the programme. They’re making millions out of commercialising their lives. While viewers may be aware some of the show is fictionalised, there has been no disclaimer.
ALARM BELLS
“I think Harry and Meghan’s Netflix deal raised alarm bells at the Palace before The Crown
– and now there will be more caution around it. I imagine the Netflix deal will have been driven by Meghan – she will have used her contacts and she’s made a big impression on them. So the latest crossover will no doubt be on Harry’s radar – that he’s working with a company that is causing his family a great deal of discomfort. I imagine he’ll be feeling torn.
“I’ve heard that footage was shot at the Palace in the buildup to Harry and Meghan’s departure from the royal family, or ‘Megxit’. If they were to ever share a documentary-style TV
show, with behind-the-scenes footage, that would be them cut out of the family for good.”
And now TV psychological therapist Emma Kenny says bringing a baby into the world amid the stress and tension isn’t ideal for any mother.
TENSION
She says, “There’s a lot going on for the couple without the added pressure of a new baby. Any pregnant woman or new mum needs to avoid stress and strive for a calm environment in which to raise their baby – and an ongoing court case, launching a new business venture, public backlash and a family fallout are bound to create tension. It could be tough bringing a baby into this.
“And as much as single parents without support can do a brilliant job in raising a child, there’s a reason the phrase ‘it takes a village to raise a child’ exists. Family support is invaluable – it means you can rely on family for advice and a break – there’s no doubt it’s more challenging without your support system around you.”