4 times Prince Harry and Meghan have been unfairly overshadowed by backlash as they’re accused of wildfires ‘photo op’

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex often find themselves at the centre of criticism…

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been out recently helping the people affected by the devastating LA wildfires.

The wildfires in parts of Los Angeles and Southern California began on January 7. The fires have destroyed thousands of homes. At least 25 people have died.

Harry and Meghan recently stepped out to volunteer to help those impacted by the fires. However, they’ve garnered some criticism and have been accused of making the appearance a “photo op”.

Amid this backlash, we’re taking a look at moments Harry, 40, and Meghan, 43, have been unfairly overshadowed by backlash.
Meghan and Harry have faced backlash recently (Credit: SplashNews.com)

Prince Harry and Meghan accused of ‘photo op’ amid LA wildfires

Last week, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex visited the Pasadena Convention Center in California to support residents and first responders impacted by the fires.

They made an anonymous visit to the evacuation centre, donning masks as they served meals to evacuees who didn’t recognise them.

What a repulsive ‘photo op’ they achieved.

However, Hollywood star Justine Bateman lashed out at the couple on X (formerly Twitter) as she accused them of being “disaster tourists”.

She wrote: “Meghan Markle and Harry are no better than ambulance chasers. What a repulsive ‘photo op’ they achieved. They are ‘touring the damage’? Are they politicians now?

“They don’t live here; they are tourists. Disaster tourists.”

According to reports, Prince Harry and Meghan are “offended” by the remarks.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been volunteering amid the wildfires in LA (Credit: SplashNews.com)

Harry and Meghan criticised over LA cemetery visit in 2020

This isn’t the first time Meghan and Harry have been accused of a ‘photo opportunity’. Back in 2020, the couple sparked criticism after visiting an LA cemetery to mark Remembrance Sunday.

In images obtained by ITV News, they visited the Los Angeles National Cemetery to lay flowers picked from their own garden at the graves of two Commonwealth soldiers.

Harry, who served in the army for 10 years, laid a wreath next to a memorial which read: “In Memory of the Men Who Offered Their Lives in Defense of Their Country.”

Harry wrote a message which read: “To all of those who have served, and are serving. Thank you.”

Images were taken from Harry and Meghan’s visit by photographer Lee Morgan.

However, it sparked backlash online with many accusing the couple of making the visit a ‘photo opportunity’.

TV host Piers Morgan hit out at the couple on social media, writing on X: “Just outrageous – treating Remembrance Sunday like a PR opportunity, and trying to steal headlines from the real royals doing their duty back home.”

A source reportedly close to Harry defended the duke at the time, insisting it wasn’t a PR stunt.

Time magazine names Prince Harry and Meghan Markle as among 100 most influential.
https://t.co/uck21OWQwWpic.twitter.com/UAdGy9rlYH

— BBC Breakfast (@BBCBreakfast) September 16, 2021

Harry and Meghan on TIME magazine’s cover

In 2021, Prince Harry and Meghan made the cover of TIME magazine for its 100 Most Influential People in the World issue.

Many royal fans were thrilled to see the couple on the cover.

However, the decision also sparked much criticism online and many questioned how they made the list. One person ranted on X: “Who in the world is influenced by these two? Somebody paid off that mag to put then on the list.”

Meanwhile, others were distracted by the actual image of Harry and Meghan with many speculating over the editing of the pictures.

Some even thought they “look CGI”. Another person wrote: “It’s a very strange pic. Heavily Photoshopped.”
Meghan and Harry didn’t pose on the hospital steps with baby Archie (Credit: ITV News)

Why Meghan didn’t pose on hospital steps after birth of son Archie

In another moment in which the couple were overshadowed by backlash was when they welcomed their son Archie in May 2019.

Traditionally, we’ve seen some royal couples pose with their newborn on the steps of the hospital after giving birth. Both the late Princess Diana and Kate, Princess of Wales, have done it with their kids.

However, Meghan chose not to follow this tradition. Instead, she and Harry did a photocall with baby Archie inside St George’s Hall in Windsor Castle days after his birth on May 6.

She explained her decision in her and Harry’s 2021 Oprah interview, saying they “weren’t asked to take a picture”.

It sparked some criticism online at the time, with many taking issue with them breaking tradition. Harry addressed the backlash in his and Meghan’s Netflix docuseries in 2022, saying: “The amount of abuse that we got, especially [Meghan], but both of us, for not wanting to serve our child up on a silver platter, was incredible.”

However, of course, Meghan and Harry received much support over their decision. Royal author Tina Brown told CBS News: “I’m not so sure that was the greatest of moves in terms of the whole perception and popularity, but on the other hand, this is a very private event. She’s allowed to do what she wants after having the baby.”