Additional Coverage:
- Prince Harry’s ‘Spare’ curse hits Hollywood as royal drifts in Meghan Markle’s shadow: experts (foxnews.com)
Has Prince Harry’s “Spare” Curse Followed Him to Hollywood? Royal Experts Weigh In
Montecito, CA – Six years after his dramatic exit from royal life, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, appears to be grappling with a new kind of “spare” curse – this time, in the glittering, yet cutthroat, world of Hollywood. Royal experts and insiders suggest that while his wife, Meghan Markle, charts a clear course in her entrepreneurial endeavors, Harry seems to be struggling to find his footing beyond the lingering fallout of his royal departure and his tell-all memoir.
“Prince Harry has essentially traded one hierarchy for another,” claimed Kinsey Schofield, host of “Kinsey Schofield Unfiltered,” in an interview with Fox News Digital. “In the royal family, he was the spare to Prince William. In Hollywood, he risks becoming the supporting character to Meghan Markle’s ambitions.”
Schofield further elaborated, pointing out that the entertainment industry thrives on “relevance, star power and personal branding.” She believes Meghan has consistently demonstrated a “clearer strategy and stronger command of that ecosystem,” while Harry has “struggled to define a role beyond being ‘Prince Harry,’ which leaves him vulnerable to fading into the background.”
California Dream or California Conundrum?
Harry’s move to California was widely seen as a quest for “freedom and reinvention.” However, Schofield suggests that the 41-year-old royal has yet to carve out a distinct identity apart from airing grievances.
“California seems to have left Harry unmoored,” she stated. “He is far from his family, his military community and the institutional structure that once gave him direction.
While he enjoys the privileges of wealth and privacy, there is a visible lack of grounding. To the public, he appears less settled than solid.”
This sentiment comes on the heels of a noticeable contrast in Harry’s recent public appearances. Just days after appearing “clearly very emotional” in London’s High Court, fighting back tears over alleged privacy violations and condemning British tabloids for making his wife’s life “absolute misery,” the Duke was seen mingling with Hollywood’s elite alongside Meghan at the Sundance Film Festival. An unnamed Hollywood insider told Page Six, “For Harry to go from the hearing – and pleading for privacy – to then go to Sundance just days after is nuts.”
The Shadow of “Spare”
Harry’s 2023 memoir, “Spare,” which laid bare intimate details about the royal family, continues to cast a long shadow, further estranging him from his father, King Charles III, and his elder brother, Prince William. Despite Harry publicly defending the book as his truth, Schofield believes it “continues to haunt Harry,” leaving him adrift in California with little sense of purpose beyond his work with the Invictus Games.
“The irony is that by naming and monetizing the wound, he has reinforced it,” Schofield observed. “The grievance has become his brand.
Instead of transcending the role of ‘spare,’ he continues to orbit it. In Hollywood, where perception is everything, that narrative risks defining him permanently.”
Diverging Paths: Meghan’s Ascent, Harry’s Search
While Harry appears to be caught in a cycle of past grievances, Meghan Markle is actively building her empire. “Meghan is operating with intention, more than Harry is,” Schofield noted.
“She is building lifestyle ventures, media projects, and positioning herself as a modern influencer and entrepreneur. Harry, meanwhile, feels reactive.
Meghan is at least trying to create lanes. Harry is trying to find one.
That contrast is becoming more noticeable as their professional paths diverge.”
Reports suggest that multi-million dollar deals struck by the couple with major Hollywood players have quietly unraveled, sparking questions about Harry’s long-term viability in California. Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams pointed to Harry’s “silly cameo role in Meghan’s ill-fated cookery series” (“With Love, Meghan”), which is reportedly not returning for a third season, and the loss of the charity Sentebale, which Harry co-founded.
British royals expert Hilary Fordwich echoed the sentiment, suggesting that Harry likely misses his closest friends in England. While a return to royal duties is unlikely given Prince William’s strong opposition, Fordwich believes any return would be personal.
“The shock value from the royal family’s more lurid revelations has faded. Harry remains trapped in the past.
Anything tied to the royals will always draw some interest, which actually underscores how difficult things are for Harry and Meghan, as even their titles no longer seem enough to attract audiences to lackluster projects.”
Fordwich concluded, “I don’t see a major comeback for Harry – certainly not while he leans into a victim narrative… Meghan is embracing Hollywood, while Harry has effectively become her ‘spare.’ He still struggles with the spotlight, making him less marketable on his own.”
An unnamed source reiterated this to Page Six, stating, “Harry’s not really doing anything in America. It seems he’s still very wrapped up in the past. I think Harry’s banking on speaking engagements for income right now.”
A Crossroads for the Duke
Despite the challenges, royal experts believe it’s not too late for Harry to pivot. “His best pivot would be toward Africa – or leaning more into Invictus, where he always appears most engaged,” suggested Fordwich.
Schofield concurred, emphasizing the need for reinvention. “Meghan understands how to package a narrative and build a brand,” she said.
“Harry has yet to prove he can do the same without relying on royal controversy. The public appetite for grievance-driven storytelling has cooled.”
“If there’s a comeback, it will require reinvention – less victim narrative, more tangible purpose. Right now, the Sussex brand feels stalled, and Harry appears caught between royal identity and celebrity ambition.”
Ultimately, Schofield believes Harry stands at a crossroads. “He can continue chasing relevance through proximity to controversy, or he can build an identity rooted in service, philanthropy and genuine leadership.
The latter would require humility and patience – qualities Hollywood doesn’t reward quickly. But it’s the only path that offers long-term credibility.”
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who share two young children and reside in Montecito, California, have yet to comment on these observations.