Prince Harry taking ‘ownership’ of his late mother’s legacy could see Prince William intervene, a royal biographer has claimed.
Speaking to True Royalty TV’s Royal Beat, Duncan Larcombe said that the Duke of Sussex, 36, and the Duchess of Sussex, 39, should not expect to be able to use the legacy of the late Princess of Wales for their own projects – some of which they’re set to earn millions from, without royal approval.
When Prince Harry and Meghan Markle re-launched their Archewell foundation website in December 2020 they used an image of both of their mothers to promote it, with Prince Harry’s photo showing him sitting on Diana’s shoulders during his childhood.
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Royal biographer Duncan Larcombe told True Royalty TV’s Royal Beat that the Duke of Cambridge would be likely to be concerned over how Diana’s legacy is used by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle following their January 2020 split from the royal family (The Sussexes pictured at the Commonwealth Day Service on March 09, 2020)
In December, the couple updated the website of their charitable foundation Archewell, using images of Doria Ragland, Meghan’s mother, and a childhood photo of Prince Harry with the Princess of Wales
Intervention? Use of Princess Diana’s legacy could be a matter of concern for future king Prince William, says Larcombe, particularly if the Sussexes appear to be using it for commercial gain (Prince William and Kate Middleton pictured in Ireland in March 2020)
Prince Harry re-launched his Archewell foundation website stating ‘I am my mother’s son’ (Princes William and Harry pictured with Princess Diana at Thorpe Park in 1991)
The first line of ‘a letter for 2021′ laid over the photographs read: ”I am my mother’s son. And I am our son’s mother. Together we bring you Archewell. We believe in the best of humanity.’
Larcombe told Royal Beat host Kate Thornton that such use of Diana’s legacy were likely to be of concern to future king Prince William, saying: ‘I think William will be concerned with that…Harry trying to take ownership of the Diana Legacy will be a problem.’
He also suggested that should the Sussexes continue charity work in areas once close to Diana’s heart, that could also jar with Prince William and the rest of the royal family.
He said: ‘Harry doing mental health, Harry doing conservation, these are the issues that William and Kate want to do – that’s where I predict tensions. Heads Together was also Kate’s Idea.’
In the year since Prince Harry announced he would step back from royal duties, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have put ink to paper on a deal with Netflix thought to be worth around £100million and also have a lucrative podcast deal with Spotify, worth up to £30million
Larcombe also suggested that there might be future potential tensions between the brothers if they both promote similar causes, saying: ‘Harry doing mental health, Harry doing conservation, these are the issues that William and Kate want to do – that’s where I predict tensions’
Larcombe suggested that because Prince Harry will potentially earn money by using Diana’s name, it could negate the charitable benefit, saying: ‘Because there is money involved, it isn’t a charitable thing.’
It’s been a year since Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced they were stepping away from royal duties.
Posting on their now defunct Sussex Royal Instagram page, the couple revealed their plans to ‘step back as senior members’ of the Firm and work to become ‘financially independent’ while splitting their time between the UK and the US.
In the year since the dramatic split, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have put ink to paper on a deal with Netflix thought to be worth around £100million and also have a lucrative podcast deal with Spotify, worth up to £30million, in the bag, with private speaking engagements also swelling the coffers.
On New Year’s Eve, the couple released their first Spotify podcast, calling on famous friends including Sir Elton John, Brené Brown, Deepak Chopra, Stacey Abrams and James Corden to review 2020.
In spite of any potential tension over Princess Diana’s legacy, the Cambridges and the Sussexes are still set to reunite this summer when a new statue of the late royal is set to be unveiled in the gardens of Kensington Palace on July 1st.
The statue was commissioned by Princes William and Harry in 2017 to commemorate 20 years since their mother’s death in 1997 and to recognise her ‘positive impact’.
The Royal Beat is available on True Royalty TV from Saturday 16th January
Which five organisations are backed by Archewell?
Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education: The research group at Stanford University is investigating techniques for ‘developing compassion and promoting altruism within individuals and society’.
Center for Humane Technology: The organisation in San Francisco is led by former Google ‘design ethicist’ Tristan Harris and aims to ‘create the conditions for safer, more compassionate online communities’.
The Loveland Foundation: The organisation is providing affordable and accessible mental health resources to black women and girls.
The Center for Critical Internet Inquiry: The department at the University of California in Los Angeles aims to champion racial and economic justice in the tech sector.
World Central Kitchen: The project by chef José Andrés (right) is building four community relief centres in regions hit by hunger, starting in Dominica and Puerto Rico.