Meghan Markle is “reeling” over a setback while Prince Harry has been “really hurt” by backlash over an award, a source has claimed.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are experiencing “tension” following backlash over an award and the end of their deal with Spotify, a source has claimed.

Since stepping back from royal duties in 2020, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been forging their own path, focusing on their personal brand and private life in California.

However, a source has highlighted problems the couple are facing.

“This has been such a tough few months for Meghan and Harry and the pressure they are under is a lot to handle, they feel they are constantly under attack,” a source revealed to OK!. “When they first left the royals, they had so much support and that support seems to be dwindling over time and they’re facing more and more criticism.”

“Harry has been really hurt by the backlash over his award nomination”, the source added, “and Meghan is still reeling over the Spotify axe as she loved doing that podcast and she knows people want her to fail with her next project so there’s quite a lot of tension in the house at the moment.”

Harry has been criticised for receiving the Pat Tillman Award for his service with the Invictus Games. (Image: Getty)

In 2023, Harry and Meghan’s deal with Spotify ended after just 12 episodes of their Archetypes podcast. The company and the Sussexes stated it was a mutual decision. Meghan has since signed a deal with Lemonada for a new podcast, but its release has been delayed until 2025.

Harry faced significant backlash for receiving the Pat Tillman Award for his service with the Invictus Games. A petition with over 70,000 signatures called for ESPN to reconsider the honour, though the network defended their choice, praising Harry’s contributions to sport.

The couple’s five-year partnership with Netflix established post-Royal Family exit, is also under scrutiny, with no clear news on its renewal. Meghan is working on a new Netflix series focused on gardening, lifestyle, cooking, and wellness, but it has already faced criticism.

“They are both so determined to prove everyone wrong that, for the first time in a long time, obviously, they are very supportive of each other but they have to be successful to make money to pay for their lavish lifestyle and they need the public onside”, the source added.

“The royals have really turned things around and are very popular again and Meghan, in particular, is determined for them to be number one”, the source noted. “They know they can’t go on like this as it’s started to affect their brand and they are going to make changes.”

“However, they now have to show off their other talents to become the global success that they so desperately want but they have a lot to overcome.”