The Duke and Duchess of Sussex subtly mocked during former US President’s praise of the royal family
Harry and Meghan Markle have once again landed in the firing line—this time through a sharp, indirect message from former US President Donald Trump. During a recent visit to Scotland, Trump praised King Charles and Queen Camilla while appearing to take aim at the couple who famously stepped back from royal life in 2020.
Now living in Montecito with their two children, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have frequently come under fire for their public criticism of the monarchy. Trump’s latest remarks suggest that criticism is far from over.
During a joint press conference with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Trump lauded the royal family, saying,
“Being with Charles, Camilla and everybody, I’ve got to know a lot of the family members. They are great people. They are really great people.”
Then, in what many saw as a veiled jab at the Sussexes, he added:
“In that sense, I think the UK is very lucky; you could have people that weren’t great people. I don’t know if I can say that, but you could have people that weren’t.”
The message wasn’t lost on royal watchers, especially given Trump’s history of openly criticising the couple. He previously called Meghan “terrible” and said Harry was “being led around by his nose.”
Supporters of the monarchy took to social media to applaud the perceived swipe. “I love the shade President Trump throws at Harry and Meghan,” one user wrote. Another added, “He is the best at throwing shade!”
Much of the backlash against Harry stems from his explosive memoir Spare, where he criticised Queen Camilla and described her as “the villain” and “the other woman” in his parents’ marriage. His portrayal of the Queen Consort reportedly left King Charles deeply hurt, and shortly after the book’s release, the King asked the couple to vacate Frogmore Cottage—a property gifted to them by the late Queen Elizabeth.
The book, which spans 416 pages, mentions Camilla over 60 times, with Harry accusing her of rehabilitating her public image at the expense of others. He also claimed that he and his brother had begged their father not to marry her, though they ultimately agreed to accept her into the family.
Trump, who has publicly praised the late Queen Elizabeth and offered a tribute following her passing in 2022, is set to return to the UK for a second state visit in September—a rare honour for a former president.
With the visit approaching, Trump’s message is being viewed as a clear sign of support for the senior royals—and a stark contrast to the path Harry and Meghan have chosen. As the couple continues to face mounting criticism, this latest statement adds to the growing chorus questioning their decision to walk away from royal duties while publicly criticising the institution they once represented.
