Prince Harry and Meghan Markle face mounting criticism for allegedly creating an elaborate organizational structure that mirrors the very royal system they publicly rejected when stepping back from their duties in 2020.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have significantly expanded their communications team by hiring Method Communications to assist in their ongoing efforts, according to reports from May 30, 2025.
The expansion comes as Harry prepares to embark on his own undisclosed commercial venture in the coming months, which he will manage alongside his commitments to the Invictus Games. Royal expert Jennie Bond warned that this commercial route exposes Harry to accusations of trading on his royal status. Bond suggested that Harry might feel pressured to develop commercial projects as Meghan launched her lifestyle brand earlier this year, questioning whether he is content being a stay-at-home father while his wife becomes the primary breadwinner.
Critics have pointed to apparent contradictions between the couple’s stated values and their actions. Harry recently traveled to Shanghai on May 29 to promote sustainable travel through his organization Travalyst, flying approximately 6,500 miles from Los Angeles to deliver his message about environmental responsibility. The irony of using air travel to promote greener alternatives drew widespread mockery, with one headline summarizing the situation as “Prince Harry flies from LA to Shanghai to promote greener travel.”
During his speech at the Envision 2025 Global Partners Conference organized by Trip.com Group, Harry emphasized climate change as a critical business emergency costing the global economy $143 million annually. However, his decision to attend in person rather than participate via video call undermined his environmental message, according to commentators who noted the availability of video conferencing technology as an alternative.
The couple’s organizational growth has extended beyond the communications staff. Bond indicated that by normal standards, Harry is very wealthy, but life in Montecito requires substantial income, especially with security costs he deems necessary. This financial pressure may be driving the couple’s increased commercial activities and staff expansion.
The timing of Harry’s China trip coincided with King Charles and Queen Camilla’s tour of Canada, preventing a possible meeting between father and son despite geographic proximity. This represents another missed opportunity to strengthen family relationships that have remained strained since the couple’s departure from royal duties.
Political figures have also weighed in on the couple’s American residency. UK politician and Trump ally Nigel Farage made pointed comments about the exchange during a Bitcoin Conference appearance in Las Vegas on May 30, stating that while America sends Britain many good things, “we sent you Prince Harry in return.” Farage previously criticized Harry’s comments about King Charles’s cancer treatment as inappropriate and unnecessary.
The couple’s relationship with their California community has also drawn scrutiny. Local residents indicate that Harry and Meghan have remained practically invisible to their neighbors since purchasing their $14 million Montecito property, which has since doubled in value. Despite this isolation, Harry previously expressed satisfaction with his California lifestyle, noting the opportunities it provides for raising his children away from UK constraints.
While Harry pursues international commitments, Meghan focuses on domestic responsibilities and her own projects. She recently shared images of cooking and home activities while maintaining boundaries between her public work and private family life. For her series “With Love,” she explained that filming occurred in a different kitchen to protect her family’s privacy and preserve her children’s routines.
The accusations of hypocrisy extend to broader questions about the couple’s rejection of royal traditions while maintaining similar organizational structures. Their expansion of communications staff and commercial ventures suggests a formalization of operations that parallels the institutional framework they previously criticized. Bond recommended that Harry focus on his natural abilities in charitable work rather than pursuing commercial ventures that could generate additional controversy.
