I’m a royal expert – Prince Harry’s decision to quit Royal Family came at a bitter cost

Five years ago, Megxit, one of the most extraordinary events in British royal history occurred.

, the fifth in line to the throne, and his wife Meghan, stepped down as senior working royals, blindsiding Queen Elizabeth. Subsequently, they settled in California.

They complained about press intrusion and protested that they had not been permitted to develop their “Sussex Royal” brand.

At the time it was considered a disaster for the Royal Family. Meghan and Harry were its contemporary face, especially with the young and in the Commonwealth, where they held special patronages bestowed by the Queen.

They subsequently launched a series of bitter attacks on the Royal Family, the accusations of racism and callousness being the most damaging. This led to vast global media coverage which is undoubtedly what they intended.

Yet the royal rift and betrayal of trust their accusations have caused has led to them being excoriated in Britain, where Harry was once loved. In the United States, their popularity has also waned.

When Harry unwisely accepted the Pat Tillman Award becoming a “Living Legend of Aviation” in January, despite the opposition of Tillman’s mother, over 75,000 people signed a petition opposing it.

The high-profile journalist Tina Brown attacked them, claiming that both, particularly Meghan, had dreadful judgement.

The premature launch of her lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard, which is linked to , but has been delayed by trademark issues, is one example.

There was another when their charitable Foundation Archewell, was temporarily listed as “delinquent” owing to a lost cheque.

It is reportedly solvent, but donations are very scarce which is a bad sign. The decision to make the series “Polo” for , about an elitist sport, was always a mistake, compounded by the couple only appearing towards its end.

Harry’s ill-advised memoir Spare mentions drug taking, which he elaborated on in interviews. This led to efforts to discover if he had included this on his visa application form, especially as he now considers America his home.

It is conceivable, though extremely unlikely, that the Trump Administration will take this further and release details which could lead to legal problems and even, theoretically, deportation. At least the paperback of Spare was released without any additional material being added.

Allegations of bullying staff, which she strongly denies, were made when Meghan was a senior working royal. They were given more credence by recent pieces in The Reporter. The turnover of their staff continues to be enormous.

There is absolutely no sign of the Sussexes splitting as the rumours, after their numerous solo appearances, have been claiming. However, their purchase of a property in Portugal, means they will be close to , their friendliest royal cousin, and her husband Jack Brooksbank, who works there.

Harry had an anniversary to be proud of when the Invictus Games commemorated a decade with a Service at St Paul’s Cathedral in May, where he was supported by his Spencer cousins.

The way he interacted with the children at the WellChild Awards, brought back fond memories of him in past years.

However, his failure to see his father and his apparent preference for a hotel rather than Buckingham Palace despite his obsession with security, remains unexplained. At its heart is the issue of trust.

He was most unwise to give an interview on Good Morning America discussing how illness could bring families together, just after seeing his father, as soon as he knew he had cancer, in February.

He is soon to be back in the witness box, reportedly for as long as four days, in the case against News Group Newspapers this month for allegedly unlawfully obtaining information about him. He is one of only two of the original 41 complainants in the case who have not settled.

The Sussexes may well continue their solo appearances as well as periodic “faux royal” tours such as those to Nigeria and Colombia. They do show their brand attracts the media and give a boost to causes they support.

Much rests on the success of Meghan’s eight-part series With Love, Meghan, about cookery, as their deal with , worth $100 million is up for renewal this year. The trailer looked so artificial, the colours were garish, the script was cliched and the music overloud.

Although their fans will watch, I wonder if enough viewers will stay with the series for it to succeed. , which no longer produces The Crown, badly needs the royal couple’s success.

The Sussexes still have the power to attract attention, but at a bitter cost. Exile brings regrets and Harry must have a great many. The brutal way they monetised their royal connections, their sole claim to fame, was shocking.

Harry and William were at the Memorial Service for their uncle Lord Fellowes in August and did not speak. That may not change for a very long time, if ever.

The Sussexes are also visibly struggling in . They cannot continue attacking the royal family and claim to be charitable figures too, as two of its senior members are so ill. Also, save for her mother, Meghan is also estranged from her family.

The New Year finds them at the crossroads, losing popularity and without the celebrity support they need, but still in the news, though often for the wrong reasons.

Richard Fitzwilliams is a royal commentator, film critic and public relations consultant. He has given over 1,500 interviews on television. He was Editor of The International Who’s Who, the standard source of its type, from 1975 to 2001.