The recent annual Santa Belle Polo Cup, a fundraising event for Prince Harry‘s HIV charity, took an unexpected turn as tension between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle became visible.
The couple’s upcoming Netflix series and undisclosed factors seemed to contribute to their unease.
This event marked the debut of their camera crew capturing footage for one of their final Netflix projects, alongside a lifestyle show.
The presence of the crew reportedly caused chaos and disruption throughout the day.
Observers noted Prince Harry’s struggle to smile for photographs, appearing disconnected and tense.
According to Women’s Day, Prince Harry appeared upset by Meghan’s enjoyment of mingling with other players.
He seemed unhappy, avoiding eye contact with her, creating discomfort.
An insider at the event mentioned that despite Meghan’s usual skill in smoothing things over, it was clear Harry had something on his mind even during the car ride home.
Friends of the couple suggested that the pressure to make the polo documentary successful was straining their relationship.
The couple felt the weight of delivering on their commitments to Netflix, adding to the existing pressure.
Meghan’s behavior at the Royal Salute Polo Challenge event garnered significant attention from royal experts.
During an episode of Palace Confidential on YouTube, Charlotte Griffiths, editor-at-large of the Mail on Sunday, discussed an incident where Meghan’s mask slipped, revealing what Griffiths called her true colors.
This incident involved Meghan intervening in a photo opportunity with Dr. Sophie Shanda MBE, chair of CentiBale, positioning herself next to Prince Harry in what was labeled as ”bossy” behavior.
Richard Eden, diary editor at the Daily Mail, contextualized the incident by highlighting Dr. Shanda’s role in Prince Harry’s charity.
Eden criticized Meghan’s dismissive tone towards Dr. Shanda, questioning the impact on her position within the charity.
An industry insider revealed that while Prince Harry was focusing on a TV series about Polo, Netflix was interested in gaining deeper insights from him.
The podcast host Schofield explained how Polo was a subject Prince Harry was comfortable discussing, potentially leading to discussions on other topics of public interest.
For Prince Harry, the Netflix project offered not only a substantial payday but also a chance to reshape public perception after declining popularity.
Schofield noted that Netflix sought content exuding luxury, glamour, and aspiration, with Polo fitting this criteria perfectly.
The pressure of filming their upcoming series seemed to be taking a toll on Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, manifesting as tension and unease at public events.
The strain was evident at the Centebale Polo Cup, making it challenging for Prince Harry to even smile for photographs.
As they navigate these challenges, the success of their Netflix projects remains crucial for their future endeavors.