Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been trying to raise their profile through ‘quasi-royal’ tours around the world – and it hasn’t escaped the notice of King Charles, an insider says

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s global trips and high-profile media appearances are giving King Charles fears that “history is repeating itself”, it has been claimed.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are said to have regarded their two “quasi-royal” tours to Nigeria in May and Colombia last month as major successes, and are reportedly planning further trips. Some commentators have tipped them to fly out to Lesotho or Botswana later this year, having courted plenty of media attention on their recent trips abroad.

It comes after a mixed set of results in launching their media career in California, including an abandoned podcast deal with Spotify and a recently delayed release date for Meghan’s Netflix cooking show.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are said to be planning to go on more ‘quasi-royal’ tours ( 
Image:
Archewell Foundation via Getty I)

According to reports in Woman magazine, insiders from the Sussex camp have suggested that the Sussexes’ attempts to go global have ruffled feathers in the Palace – and even brought back some unwelcome memories of Princess Diana. They claimed: “The Palace is mindful of what happened when Princess Diana left royal life and instantly eclipsed the institution. They claim the King is fearful of a repeat of the past, with Harry and Meghan overshadowing his work and becoming global superstars.” Buckingham Palace has been contacted for comment.

The couple’s next move is a solo trip to New York City for Prince Harry later this month. The visit, set to coincide with The UN General Assembly’s High-Level Week and Climate Week, will “advance a number of [the Prince’s] patronages and philanthropic initiatives,” according to his team. A source revealed to Hello! Magazine that Prince Harry believes he can make the most impact through his various diplomatic initiatives, and said: “That’s his world, that’s what he’s used to and that’s what he knows. He can still add value”.

When it comes to Harry and Meghan’s international trips, the host countries are typically expected to foot the bill for the couple’s security. Their August trip to Colombia cost the financially struggling country around eight billion pesos or £1.5million, according to local media reports.

It comes after a new Netflix show starring Prince Harry and directed by the Sussex’s Archewell Productions was finally given an air date. The new documentary series named ‘POLO’ will follow “elite global players” and offer “an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at the fast-paced world of the sport”, according to Netflix. The announcement on Monday came less than two hours after the Prince and Princess of Wales released their heartfelt family video with an update on Kate’s cancer treatment.