Meghan and Harry are no strangers to being critiqued and receiving backlash, and even though they’ve been out of the royal family for a while now, people still can’t stop obsessing over this couple despite all the other royal scandals that have taken over the first few months of 2026. From rumored money problems and desperate cash grabs to other appearances and statements that left people unimpressed, here are the most-critiqued Meghan and Harry moments of the year thus far.
Fans of the royals weren’t happy that Prince Harry was coming back to the UK
Prince Harry may have warmed up to the idea of coming back to the United Kingdom, but people weren’t exactly welcoming him with open arms. According to The Times, sources close to the Duke of Sussex said that while he would be open to an invitation to Sandringham, he didn’t feel safe returning to his home country without armed police protection, which he lost when he left the royal family. One X user wrote, “So, he wants an invitation on HIS conditions and security he already has with 30 days’ notice? What an arrogant child.”
Another wrote, “They refused a summer with the Late Queen Elizabeth…and now they are financially and global failures, they want an invite? Nope. Never. They made their beds.” While Harry might be ready to put old feuds to bed and reintegrate into the UK, its citizens may not be as excited for this.
Meghan Markle’s expensive Valentine’s Day chocolates were a disaster
Meghan Markle collaborated with California chocolate company Compartes for a Valentine’s Day gift bundle that came out to a whopping $185. While she offered a less pricey alternative at $92, the price for chocolates was even more upsetting given Meghan’s history of overpriced boutique jams and sweets. People on social media ripped apart the packaging, with one saying, “What did she expect selling overpriced slop and wickless candles?”
Others criticized the fact that her products were just for gift-giving and not for daily consumption, while some also called out the poor graphic design of the bundles, which many blamed on staff turnovers. Page Six also reported that the Netflix HQ that once hosted her now-cancelled show had so much excess stock that these expensive holiday bundles were given away to employees for free.
Prince Harry was dubbed a third wheel
When Prince Harry and Meghan Markle headed to Australia in April, there was a particularly awkward moment in The Land Down Under. Meghan was photographed getting cozy more than a few times with her longtime friend Markus Anderson, and photos of the three at the NSW Waratahs match led to the prince being nicknamed a ‘third wheel,’ looking sad as his wife nestled up to her buddy.
One X user quipped, “That marriage is a bit crowded, but I don’t think Harry is aware of that.” Another claimed, “Harry looks like he’s on a different planet.” The couple stayed quiet as they usually do when criticism comes their way.
People believed Meghan Markle snubbed her fans at her Australia retreat
In the “Her Best Life” podcast, Meghan Markle’s April retreat was marketed with the title “Yes, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex is coming to meet you all.” Ultimately, that turned out to be a bit of false advertising. The event claimed that the Duchess would have an in-person conversation with attendees for a wild price tag of $2,699 per person, and the VIP package, which cost $3,199 per person, also included a group table photo with Meghan.
While the event was meant to be centered on Meghan’s presence and those willing to pay thousands to bask in it, she reportedly only stayed for two hours. Online critics made comments like, “Why did Meghan Markle not even share a meal with women who had paid $3000 to spend ‘retreat’ time with her? How is that kind? She disappeared before dinner and spent longer at the rugby, where she ate classic footy fare.”
Although her reps clarified that she was only meant to attend the “Q&A portion of the weekend” since she was the only guest in the ticket descriptions, many viewed it as a bit of a rip-off and a bait-and-switch.
