Meghan Markle and Prince Harry used to work full-time as royals. But in January, the couple announced that they were stepping back from their royal duties.
They flew to the United States and created their own non-profit charity. But many, including Graham Smith, felt that they were exploiting their royal status.
Republic CEO Graham Smith criticized the Duke and Duchess of Sussex for trying to exploit their titles and status. Republic is an organization that campaigns for the monarchy’s abolishment.
They wanted the monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, to be replaced with an elected head of state and they want the adoption of a new republican constitution.
For Smith, Prince Harry and Markle are not good examples.
“I would not suggest that anybody follows their example because they are trying to have it both ways. They are trying to exploit their status and titles for their own personal gain as far as I can see,” Smith told Express.
“They need to make a decision, break away from the Royal Family completely or don’t and stay with the Royal Family.”
Smith is convinced that Prince Harry and Markle were cashing in on their royal titles and status to have those lucrative deals, including their project with Netflix.
“The fact that they have got this deal, I can’t imagine why Netflix thinks it’s a good idea, but good for them if that’s what they are doing,” he added.
“The problem is that they haven’t made a clean break, they still want to cash in on their status and on their titles as Duke and Duchess.”
Meanwhile, Graham Smith also suggested that the royals should be abolished. In his personal views, the taxpayers don’t owe anything to the royals. So, the royals should separate themselves from the people.
“The royals should separate themselves from the taxpayer, we don’t owe any of them a living,” he said.
“So I think they need to follow the example led by most ordinary hard-working people in this country and pay their own way through life.”
Meanwhile, many people want Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to be stripped of their royal title including Congressman Jason Smith and Piers Morgan.
Smith was concerned about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s involvement in the U.S. election. He wrote a letter calling out the prime minister and the queen to stop Prince Harry and Markle’s interference in the election or strip them of their royal titles.