Clinging to 'Relevance': How Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Royal 'Obsession' Is Tarnishing Queen Elizabeth's Legacy

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's "use of their royal titles for commercial ventures" is "counterproductive to them," Paul Burrell, the former royal aide to the late Queen Elizabeth II and Diana, Princess of Wales, exclusively tells OK! on behalf of Slingo.

The butler-turned-author observed how "our late Queen asked them not to," which was reportedly part of the "deal" reached at the infamous "Sandringham Summit" in January 2020 that launched "Megxit."

"They’ve ignored all advice by carrying forward, thinking, we’re royal, we need to project being royal," he says. " Again, looking at Diana, she was royal but didn't use her title. People would shout 'Lady Diana' wherever we went in the world. She was Diana to everyone. Meghan needs to be 'Meghan' to everyone, and so does Harry."

Burrell explains, "People loved Harry for being Harry, and people will love Meghan for just being Meghan if they can just tread the right path. To be accountable and relevant in America, they’ve utilized their royal titles and now they’re stuck. They've not been well-served or well-advised."

As OK! previously reported, a royal command may as well have been finalized for the Duke and Duchess "of Greed" when it comes to the British monarchy, and their efforts "to tarnish Elizabeth II's legacy," a palace aide spilled. The pair have reportedly been "permanently reprimanded" due to their continued use of their royal styles and titles for "financial gain."

"There is really no foreseeable way in which they’ll ever be welcomed back," royal author Christopher Andersen told an outlet. "Even if Harry was to throw himself at the king’s feet and beg for forgiveness — which Harry is not about to do — the best he could hope for would be crumbs from the royal table, and the sort of grudging acceptance that is currently being afforded to Harry’s disgraced uncle, Prince Andrew."

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have frequently been chastised by royal analysts and historians for using their royal connections after Megxit, which saw them abandon royal duties.

"If Harry and Meghan are determined to monetize their titles, then they’ll just be digging that hole deeper and deeper," Andersen stated. "But if they simply use their California-centric celebrity to build their brand and steer clear of overtly capitalizing on the Sussex name and Windsor connection — well, everybody has a right to make a living. Even then, there would still be acrimony and zero chance of Harry getting back into the King’s and William’s good graces."

Although the pair said they wished to become "part-time royals," many royal insiders have disputed this claim.

If reports from the time are to be believed, the late monarch replied to the couple, "You are either in or out" of the royal institution. After arriving in Montecito, Calif., later that year, it was understood the pair would stop using their "HRH" styles.