Commentator claims the Sussexes are staging a “rent-a-royal” tour while tensions with the royal family remain unresolved.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have come under fresh criticism over their latest visit to Australia, with one commentator suggesting the trip resembles a “rent-a-royal” tour rather than a private engagement.
The remarks were made by media personality Kinsey Schofield, host of the YouTube programme Kinsey Schofield Unfiltered. Speaking to Fox News Digital, she shared a blunt assessment of how the Duke and Meghan Markle are approaching the trip and the type of engagements they have chosen.
According to Schofield, the visit appears designed to mirror the structure of an official royal tour, despite the couple stepping back from working royal duties several years ago. She argued that this style of appearance risks blurring the lines set out when they left the monarchy.
In her view, the palace has long been clear about the boundaries. During the late Queen’s lifetime, the couple’s suggestion that they could remain partly involved in royal duties while also pursuing independent work was firmly rejected. The arrangement, often described as a “half-in, half-out” model, was ultimately ruled out during the negotiations that followed their decision to step away from senior royal roles.
Schofield suggested that the current trip appears to challenge that earlier stance. She described the visit as resembling “rent-a-royal tours”, claiming it gives the impression of official royal activity while operating outside the structure of the monarchy.
She went further, arguing that the couple’s titles continue to be central to their public image and commercial ventures. According to the US-based commentator, their connection to the royal family remains the key factor sustaining public interest.
Schofield also claimed that relations between Harry and members of his family remain strained, alleging that some relatives are no longer responding to his calls.
In her assessment, the Australian trip serves two purposes. She suggested it is partly financial but also intended to reinforce the couple’s royal image on the global stage.
Despite the criticism, Harry and Meghan Markle continue to pursue their independent projects and public engagements outside the royal framework established by Buckingham Palace.
