'Pleasing Meghan Markle Comes First': Prince Harry Blasted for Placing Ex-Actress Above Royals

One month into the year, and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are on brand when it comes to generating controversy. Now, the Duke of Sussex has been accused of placing his wife "above all else," even higher than his own family's well-being.

"Harry has been dragged down with that; Meghan has never had any respect for the family and the hierarchy and protocols," royal expert Angela Levin told an outlet.

"The family had discussed that if they wanted to go, they could, and would have everyone's good wishes," Levin added when describing what brought about "Megxit" in early 2020. "They were asked to do it slowly and carefully, but they didn't want to. They decided to do it their own way by putting up that post. Harry said he tried to lay out the protocols and make it easy for her to understand, but she didn’t care."

She continued: "They bent over backwards to be kind, but Meghan wanted it all her way. They still pretend they know much better than the royal family do, and how to run it. They don’t want to have any connection to them. Harry is lonely but pleasing Meghan comes first."

Levin also highlighted how even at events without Meghan present, such as his recent acceptance of the Legend of Aviation Award, the Duke still doesn't quite act himself. This was in response to King Charles and Kate Middleton's recent health scares. "He didn’t say anything. I felt that he was bound to say, 'I’m so sorry to hear that both my father and sister-in-law are unwell.' He just needed to say one sentence. I think he’s between a rock and a hard place. He’s got to please his wife to an extreme. I think she’s very difficult."

The author concluded: "Deep down he still loves his family but she comes first and that’s OK. But I think she demands that he has no contact with the family."

"If they had made a public declaration, there would be a certain sympathy for them," royal expert Phil Dampier also shared. "There might have been private contact. I’m sure they are worried."

He continued: "They haven’t made anything public, and I think that is the contrast; they are enjoying themselves and probably went to the premiere via private jet. It does look like they are swanning about and enjoying themselves when there is real concern for many members of the royal family."

The duo walked the red carpet in Jamaica on Tuesday, January 23, at the film premiere for Bob Marley: One Love. The pair posed for glitzy photographs next to the Prime Minister of Jamaica, Andrew Holness, who holds anti-monarchy sentiments against King Charles III as the Caribbean nation's head of state. Jamaica is a former colony of the long-defunct British Empire but chose to keep the British monarch as their head of state after winning their full independence from the U.K. in 1962, during Queen Elizabeth II's early reign.

Daily Express reported on Levin's remarks.