Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are no strangers to controversy, backlash, or outrage – but insiders suggest that the constant turmoil they face serves as a bonding agent in their marriage. The Duchess of Sussex, 44, faced a fresh wave of public criticism last week for choosing not to wear a poppy at two significant events over the Remembrance Day weekend, including Kris Jenner’s star-studded birthday celebration.
Various newspapers cited a source who claimed that poppies were not as “widely available” in the US as they are in the UK and across the Commonwealth, sparking a flurry of comments that Harry, 41, had one pinned to his tuxedo at the Baby2Baby Gala they both attended. However, according to royal expert Duncan Larcombe, the Sussexes have become so accustomed to dealing with criticism that it strengthens their bond as a couple.
“There have been times in their marriage where it’s been Meghan and Harry against the world,” he said. “A clear theme from when they first met in the very beginning has been how protective Harry is of Meghan. He’s a very loyal husband – much more so than most, because Meghan gets an awful lot of negative publicity, especially online.
“We’ve seen Harry supporting her in court cases, and also speaking out against those people that have wronged Meghan, which in his mind has included the Princess of Wales, Catherine. There’s also been a lot of heartbreak in their marriage, but their similar past experiences and traumas are what hold them together and make them stronger.”
At the celebration for Kardashian-Jenner matriarch Kris’s 70th birthday, Harry and Meghan mingled with the likes of Amazon co-founder Jeff Bezos and his wife Lauren Sánchez Bezos, singers Beyoncé and Mariah Carey, as well as Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan.
Royal observers interpreted their presence as yet another indication the couple view their life and future as firmly established in Hollywood rather than within the Royal family.
Since initially coming together nearly a decade ago, the duo have become entangled in family disputes leading to estrangements.
However, Duncan told The Mirror that part of the attraction in relocating to the States and distancing themselves from the royals was to protect Archie, six, and Lilibet, four, from some of their own agonising childhood experiences.
“Neither of them had an ideal upbringing by any stretch of the imagination. Both of their parents’ marriages ended in divorce, and of course, Harry’s mum, Princess Diana, died shortly after that. There’s trauma and heartbreak there for both of them, and that has bonded them.
“Harry, by his own admission, is a damaged person, and he has had struggles. It’s hardly a surprise given his extraordinary upbringing, and his profile of being the ‘partying Prince’. A lot has happened in Harry’s life that Meghan can feel sorry for, and therefore feel like she wants to protect him and look after him too.”