Meghan Markle has come under renewed scrutiny after sharing family photos to mark Princess Lilibet's fifth birthday, with critics questioning whether the posts conflict with her long-standing stance on protecting her children's privacy.
The Duchess of Sussex recently returned to Instagram to celebrate her daughter's milestone birthday, sharing personal moments from family life. The posts have sparked debate among some royal commentators, who argue that the move appears at odds with previous concerns about keeping her children out of the public spotlight.
Speaking to the Mirror, royal commentator Duncan Larcombe suggested that Meghan's critics are likely to view the posts as contradictory.
"I'm sure her accusers will say she's exploiting the children," he said.
Larcombe went on to claim that some observers may see the images as a way of attracting public attention while maintaining a public profile.
"Lecturing about children's privacy but then posting her own children as clickbait," he said.
The commentator also argued that the family's social media content appears carefully planned and largely focused on Meghan's personal brand.
"They are growing up a bit, but that will make it more of a problem. It's all carefully orchestrated. It seems to promote Meghan, it's all about Meghan. She's in most of the pictures," Larcombe stated.
He further questioned whether changing circumstances may have influenced the couple's approach to sharing family content online.
At the same time, Larcombe acknowledged that Meghan has never argued that parents should not share photos of their children. However, he suggested that, given her advocacy for online safety and privacy, some people may be surprised by the decision to make family images public.
The debate highlights the continuing public interest in how Meghan Markle and Harry balance family privacy with their public and professional lives.
