and ‘s “changing power dynamic” was pinpointed by a royal commentator who criticised the couple over an “absurd” move back in 2021 that shifted away from the usual royal standards and allegedly showed
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who started dating in 2016, left the Royal Family in early 2020 and moved to the US.
The following year, the couple made a series of explosive claims about the royals, including a bombshell appearance with Oprah Winfrey in March, which seemed to fuel the .
In September of that year, , including its 100 Most Influential People of 2021 list.
Meghan wore a white shirt with matching high-waisted trousers, while Harry donned an all-black ensemble.
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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle made one move in 2021 that was ‘absurd’, says commentator (Image: Getty)
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Now, according to the ‘s Diary Editor Richard Eden, who analysed the couple’s body language, the Sussexes’s “carefully curated public displays of affection” since the early days of their relationship until the TIME’s cover show a shifting power dynamic “in Meghan’s favour”.
Mr Eden said on the latest episode of the YouTube series Reading The Royals: “Oh wow, I don’t think it is an exaggeration to say this is one of the most striking pictures ever taken of a royal couple.
“It is amazing that an image can say so much. It is also, I don’t think it is unfair to say, absolutely absurd.”
He added that Harry and Meghan still had a huge popularity and interest around them following the Oprah interview, which is the reason they were featured on the cover of the magazine but was critical of their move.
The royal commentator said: “That a royal couple would ever do a shoot like this is extraordinary in itself, what does it say about their changing power dynamic?
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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on TIME’s cover (Image: Pari Dukovic for TIME)
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at the Invictus Games in 2017 (Image: Getty)
“Meghan dominates the image with Harry positioned firmly in the background. A clear reversal of the roles we might have expected as he is the royal.
“Meghan stands unquestionably confident wearing bright white and splayed hair stands out, while Harry pops out behind her shoulder in what just looks a bit awkward, like a child appearing behind an adult’s knee or like he wants a piggyback.”
Meanwhile, at the time, the magazine’s picture editor, Dilys Ng, said the cover photograph captured “their powerful dynamics as equal partners”.
Elsewhere, Mr Eden commented on the Sussexes’s first-ever public appearance at the Invictus Games in Toronto in 2017.
He claimed Harry and Meghan’s “touchy-feely” display “set the tone” for the rest of their relationship and claimed it showed that they were “determined to do things their own way”.