The Duke and Duchess of Sussex moved to California in 2020

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s tactic in the US came back to bite them, a royal commentator has claimed.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped back from royal duties four years ago, intending to live a more private life with their two children in North America.

However, royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams spoke exclusively to GB News to explain why this could be unachievable for the duke and duchess, who need publicity for their endeavours.

He said: “They’ve never been out of the public spotlight, practically never.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle facing ‘two-edged sword in the US’

“Time Magazine in 2021 said they were two of the world’s 100 most influential people, which they wouldn’t be now.

“But what’s been proven is it’s a two-edged sword, the fact that, on the one hand, everything they do is publicised.

“On the other hand, they need publicity for their programmes.

Prince Harry was joined at the ESPY Awards by Meghan Markle

“Prince Harry is producing a programme on polo, and Meghan will too with her lifestyle brand.”

Last month, the Duke of Sussex was awarded the Pat Tillman Award at the ESPYs for his work with the Invictus Games.

This award was very controversial, with Tillman’s mother Mary slamming the duke as a “divisive” choice.

Fitzwilliams added: “One of the problems was with the ESPY Awards, and there’s a conspiracy theory that ESPN was behind some of the publicity because it would get people to watch.

Mary Tillman [right] spoke out negatively against the duke’s nomination

Harry and Meghan ‘need publicity’ for their causes, a commentator has claimed

“They need publicity for everything they get, and as we saw with the ESPYs, 76,000 people said, ‘Please rethink’, and Mary Tillman very damagingly attacked him personally.

“They’ve monetised their connections, so of course, they got huge publicity.

“Initially, it was very favourable for them in the US, but that has changed now.

“They still, as royals, needed some charitable purposes and also for their business ventures. On the other hand, as they’ve just found out, it can bite them.”