Meghan Markle has drawn criticism for sharing a collection of intimate family photographs from a recent private holiday with Prince Harry, Prince Archie, and Princess Lilibet. Royal editor Rebecca English described the release of the images on Instagram as "extraordinary" and "hypocritical," particularly highlighting a picture that appears to show Prince Harry and Prince Archie visiting Princess Diana's grave.
During a discussion on the Daily Mail's "Palace Confidential" program, English and co-host Richard Eden debated the Sussexes' repeated public complaints about privacy and media intrusion in light of the Instagram post. The images included snapshots of the family on a beach, at local restaurants, and in shops near their reported holiday home in Portugal. English stated that she found the sharing of such personal moments "quite extraordinary given the complaints they have made about their privacy and security issues."
One photograph that sparked particular comment depicted Prince Harry and Prince Archie walking with flowers towards Princess Diana's island grave at Althorp, the Spencer family's ancestral home. English voiced her personal view that allowing such a private moment to be published was "hypocritical," especially considering Prince Harry's past statements about the "exploitation of his mother's memory."
Eden echoed these sentiments, suggesting that the context of Meghan's Instagram account, which promotes her lifestyle brand "As Ever," further compounded the issue. He argued that the account is a "commercial venture" and that sharing such intimate images, like the visit to Diana's grave, transforms a personal moment into something potentially exploitative. He noted the peculiar nature of the Althorp photos, which showed the backs of the children while revealing the significant personal act of laying flowers at their grandmother's grave for the first time.
The Sussexes' recent travels included a brief 24-hour visit to the UK, where Meghan and the children met with King Charles at Highgrove. The family's trip to Britain was only publicly announced by Buckingham Palace after their departure, aligning with the Sussexes' stated preference for managing their family's public presence.