For years, Prince Harry and Meghan Sussex were attacked for doing exactly what the working royals are now trying to do. When the Sussexes stepped back as working royals and signed deals with platforms like Spotify and Netflix, the outrage was immediate. The royal press framed it as vulgar, greedy and somehow beneath them. How dare Harry and Meghan earn a living? How dare they produce podcasts, documentaries, books, television and lifestyle content on their own terms? But now the same institution that sneered at the Sussex playbook appears to be copying from it.

Prince William appeared on New Heights, the podcast hosted by Travis and Jason Kelce. He also granted a rare interview to Canadian actor Eugene Levy, a figure with clear crossover appeal in North America. The Waleses have leaned heavily into glossy digital content, carefully produced videos and polished social media storytelling. Kate Middleton’s recent Three Peaks Challenge, which was logged as an official engagement, also appeared to involve professional filming, reported microphones and a content strategy that looked far more produced than spontaneous.

And now King Charles and Queen Camilla have reportedly hired an official videographer in a first for the British monarchy. The role is said to involve creating “on-trend” digital content to maximise their global reach.

So after years of pretending Harry and Meghan’s media deals were some kind of royal scandal, the truth is becoming harder to ignore. The working royals did not object to the Sussexes producing content. They objected to the Sussexes doing it successfully, independently and globally.

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The Palace Approved Content Machine

The hypocrisy is not subtle anymore. For years, Harry and Meghan were attacked for signing with Spotify and Netflix, as if creating podcasts, documentaries and shows was beneath royal dignity. Yet the working royals have since embraced the same media ecosystem, just with palace approval attached.

Charles has a Prime Video documentary, Finding Harmony: A King’s Vision, made with The King’s Foundation and released in more than 240 countries. William fronted Prince William: We Can End Homelessness, a two-part documentary with behind-the-scenes access to his Homewards project, which streamed on Disney Plus. William has also stepped into podcast culture, appearing on New Heights with Travis and Jason Kelce. Meanwhile, Charles and Camilla are reportedly hiring an official videographer to create “on‑trend” digital content for Instagram, X and YouTube, with the aim of expanding their global reach.

The Palace Copies The Playbook It Condemned

Then there are the Waleses’ glossy social media videos, polished photography, scripted nature clips and behind‑the‑scenes content. Kate’s Three Peaks Challenge was logged as an official engagement, while cameras and microphones appeared to be part of the rollout. Again, there is nothing wrong with modern storytelling. The problem is the double standard.

The charitable excuse does not work either. Harry and Meghan’s content was often tied to causes, not just celebrity for celebrity’s sake. Heart of Invictus is centred on wounded veterans and service members. Live to Lead spotlighted global leaders and social justice work. Meghan’s podcast Archetypes explored the labels used to limit women. Their online safety work with Archewell has focused on families harmed by social media. Yet when they used major platforms to tell those stories, it was called tacky, greedy and unroyal.

But when working royals do the same thing through foundations, charities, streaming platforms and palace-approved communications teams, suddenly it becomes public service. Charles on Prime Video is legacy-building. William on Disney Plus is awareness-raising. The Waleses’ glossy videos are modern monarchy. Charles and Camilla hiring a videographer for “on-trend” content is just outreach. Please. The content was never the scandal. The independence was.

Final Thoughts

And here is the problem the palace keeps refusing to understand: if this glossy content strategy barely lands for William and Kate, it is not suddenly going to work miracles for Charles, who has been criticised by some as cold and punitive, while Camilla still carries the baggage of the Diana years for many royal watchers. She has also faced criticism from younger audiences after appearing alongside J.K. Rowling, whose views on trans rights remain deeply controversial. Both couples have the same issue. They are stiff, overly managed and painfully boring to the wider public.

You can add cameras, microphones, soft lighting and trendy editing, but you cannot manufacture charisma. The Sussexes worked because people were actually interested in what they had to say. The working royals keep copying the format while missing the most important ingredient: personality.

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