Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s inner circle — which has included some notable A-listers — is continually shrinking, according to former royal butler Paul Burrell.
Burrell — who worked for Harry’s mother, Princess Diana, until her death in 1997 — noted that Hollywood stars used to want to be associated with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, but things have changed in recent months.
“Meghan and Harry have divorced themselves from the brand, which is the royal family. They’ve downgraded themselves,” Burrell said.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s inner circle is shrinking, according to former royal butler Paul Burrell.ZUMAPRESS.com
“They are disassociating themselves with them because it ruins their brand,” he said, adding that A-listers “would rather be associated with [Prince] William and [Princess] Kate.”
In her former life as an actress, Markle forged friendships with many Hollywood stars after landing a leading role in the hit legal series “Suits,” which she quit in 2017 prior to tying the knot with Harry.
The mom of two boasts friendships with celebs including Priyanka Chopra, Serena Williams and her former “Suits” co-stars Abigail Spencer and Patrick J. Adams.
The Sussexes are also pals with George and Amal Clooney, Oprah Winfrey, Ellen DeGeneres, Elton John, Idris Elba and Beyoncé, to name a few.
As a former actress, Markle has forged friendships with many Hollywood stars over the years.@Julesbytheseasb/Mega
For his part, Harry has embraced life in the US — so much so that earlier this year, he sensationally renounced his British residency and claimed America as his home in paperwork.
The move was backdated to June 29, 2023 — the day he and Markle officially handed over the keys to Frogmore Cottage, leaving them with no official UK residence.
The Sussexes boast a close friendship with tennis legend Serena Williams.Getty Images for W+P
The couple now reside in a plush $14 million mansion in Montecito, California, with their son, Archie, 5, and daughter, Lilibet, 3.
“The true A-listers, who move in those circles, realize that Harry and Meghan’s brand isn’t as popular or as valuable, to be associated with as the real royal brand, and I can see people dropping like flies around them,” Burrell said on behalf of Spin Genie.
Burrell claims that Hollywood stars used to want to be associated with the Sussexes, but things have changed in recent months.POOL/AFP via Getty Images
“You have to remember that Meghan and Harry aren’t royals anymore, they are celebrities, so they are in the celebrity world and they find it difficult to penetrate the royal world. Even though [Harry] was born a prince, it doesn’t mean a thing.”
Burrell also said that the falling-out between the Sussex camp and the Windsor clan is “very sad,” adding that there’s virtually “no room for any reconciliation now.”
“[The royals] just don’t trust him. He’s worn away all the trust that they had in him,” he said of Harry.
Harry and Meghan are also pals with Beyoncé and her husband, Jay-Z.REUTERS
“They can’t invite him back into the fold because they know that when he gets back to America, he’ll tell Meghan everything and then the rest of the world will know exactly what’s happening. I think it’s very sad, as he’s done it to himself.”
“It’s very sad. If his mother [Princess Diana] was alive, it just would not be happening,” he added.
