In the glittering world of royal exiles and Hollywood deals, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have always presented a united front—two rebels against the crown, building their empire under the California sun. But according to one royal commentator, that image may be crumbling behind the scenes.

Prince Harry, once the beating heart of the couple’s public narrative, is reportedly “nowhere to be seen” and “lost,” struggling to carve out his own role while Meghan Markle prepares to charge ahead with her next big venture.

And this time, the gap between them isn’t just geographical—it’s creative, strategic, and potentially career-defining.

A Rough Patch Behind the Glamour

The trouble comes on the heels of a difficult few weeks for Harry. The couple recently announced a brand-new “multi-year first-look” deal with Netflix, meant to signal their staying power in Hollywood just as their original blockbuster agreement nears its expiration.

But eagle-eyed observers noticed something strange: while Meghan’s fingerprints are all over the new projects, Harry’s name appears only once—listed as a producer on a documentary about the HIV crisis in Uganda.

That’s it. No starring role, no headline-grabbing new series. Just a behind-the-scenes credit.

A Charity Clash Gone Public

To make matters worse, the Netflix announcement landed just days after a bruising charity row made headlines.

Harry’s beloved African charity, Sentebale, was caught in a boardroom feud with its own chairwoman, Dr. Sophie Chandauka. She accused the Duke of mishandling certain decisions; he pushed back.

The Charity Commission ultimately cleared Harry of all allegations—but publicly criticized both sides for airing their dirty laundry in front of the press. For a man who once wrapped his identity in philanthropy and military service, it was an unflattering turn.

“He’s Nowhere to Be Seen”

Broadcaster and royal commentator Esther Krakue didn’t mince words when speaking to The Sun:

“[Prince Harry] is nowhere to be seen. Yes, obviously, he’s dealing with the fallout from his charity and trying to find his own thing. But the man is lost. I mean, he’s really trying to find his feet. He has a kind of brown Midas touch, which I’m sure the viewers can infer what I mean by that. And really, this creative side of this endeavor has really been Meghan’s push.”

It’s a brutal assessment—and one that hints at a deeper truth about the Sussex brand.

Meghan the Visionary, Harry the Passenger?

Krakue’s take goes further:

“He’s not a creative. I think because he’s come from a world where everyone fawns at everything that he does because he’s Prince Harry.”

In other words, Harry’s royal upbringing—where adoration was automatic and success often ceremonial—may have left him ill-prepared for the cutthroat, content-driven Hollywood environment where numbers, not titles, decide your worth.

Meghan, on the other hand, has always been a creative operator—an actress, a lifestyle blogger, a brand-builder. Hollywood is her home turf, and Netflix is her playing field.

The new deal, insiders say, is driven almost entirely by her vision. For Harry, that means either finding his own lane—or risk fading into the background of his own post-royal story.

The Numbers Don’t Lie

Harry’s last major Netflix outing was Polo, a glossy documentary about the sport he’s long loved. It premiered in December 2024… and quietly vanished from the cultural conversation almost as soon as it dropped.

The viewing figures were worse than disappointing—they were embarrassing. Polo reportedly performed even worse than Meghan’s own much-criticized series, With Love, Meghan, which ranked 383rd on Netflix’s internal charts with just 5.3 million views.

For a couple whose $100 million Netflix deal was sold on their ability to deliver blockbuster content, those numbers are a problem.

A Spotlight That’s Getting Smaller

In the early post-Megxit years, Harry’s visibility was constant. He was front-and-center in the Oprah interview, he narrated Apple TV+ documentaries, and his memoir Spare dominated headlines for weeks.

But as the media cycle churned on, Meghan began taking the creative lead. From lifestyle ventures to podcast deals, her projects—though not always universally praised—at least kept her in the conversation.

Harry’s presence, by contrast, has felt increasingly reactive. When he does appear, it’s often tied to charitable causes or as Meghan’s co-star, rather than as the architect of his own brand.

The Hollywood Reality Check

Part of the challenge is that Hollywood doesn’t care about titles; it cares about traction. Prince or not, if your content doesn’t get clicks, streams, and buzz, you’re yesterday’s news.

It’s a sharp contrast to royal life, where every ribbon cut and charity gala guarantees front-page coverage. Here, in the relentless entertainment marketplace, your last hit is the only currency that counts.

Krakue’s comment about Harry having a “brown Midas touch” was caustic shorthand: instead of turning projects into gold, they seem to wither under his involvement.

Meghan’s “Push” and the Road Ahead

While Harry regroups, Meghan appears to be doubling down. The Netflix deal reportedly includes scripted projects and documentary concepts—genres where her experience and eye for production can shine.

Sources close to the couple insist there’s no rift—that Harry is simply focusing on “impactful” work behind the scenes. But as the months roll on, the optics are hard to ignore: Meghan is steering the ship, and Harry is somewhere below deck, trying to figure out what his role actually is.

Can Harry Stage a Comeback?

History shows that Harry thrives when he has a cause to champion—Invictus Games, mental health advocacy, and veterans’ issues have all brought out his best.

If he can align those passions with a content strategy that actually lands with audiences, there’s still room for a resurgence. But in a media environment that moves at lightning speed, time is not on his side.

For now, the royal rebel who once walked away from the palace with the world at his feet is, according to critics, “lost”—searching for a voice that Hollywood hasn’t yet heard, and maybe isn’t waiting for.