A royal expert recently criticized Prince Harry and Meghan Markle for the timing of their latest video release, calling the move a “quite extraordinary” choice, particularly as it coincided with a significant public appearance by Princess Kate.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex unveiled their Archewell Foundation’s annual impact report alongside a video showcasing their charitable efforts over the past year. Both were released on the same day that Princess Kate undertook a series of high-profile engagements with the Amir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and his wife, Sheikha Jawaher bint Hamad bin Suhaim Al Thani, during the state visit to the UK. This marked Princess Kate’s first major appearance since her cancer diagnosis was made public earlier this year.

Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams sharply criticized the Sussexes’ timing, saying it was “quite extraordinary” to release the video and report on the same day as Princess Kate’s engagements. Speaking to the Express, he remarked: “The Sussexes know perfectly well that there is intense media interest in everything they do.” He went on to say, “However, it is quite extraordinary that they chose [Tuesday] to make news and release this video together with the Archewell Foundation’s accounts.

“They are, after all, still members of the royal family, even though they caused the rift in it. At present, given that the King and Catherine are recovering from cancer, they cannot be critical. However, the timing of [the video]’s release sends a message which is far from friendly.”

The video accompanying the Archewell report featured some of Harry and Meghan’s most touching moments during their public and private engagements in 2024, set to Coldplay’s A Sky Full of Stars. In the footage, Harry expressed gratitude, saying: “Every single one of you inspire me and you inspire us every single day.” Meghan added: “When you show up in a community, you find that group that makes you feel like home, but oftentimes you also find yourself again.”

The video highlighted scenes from the couple’s tours to Nigeria and Colombia, their trip to Canada, and Meghan’s participation in a holiday dinner with The Welcome Project. Other clips showed Meghan speaking at the SXSW Conference in Austin, Texas, and Harry attending the Clinton Global Initiative in New York, where he raised awareness about the impact of social media on children.

Despite the uplifting message of the video, Fitzwilliams suggested the timing of its release was deliberately provocative, hinting at ongoing tensions between Harry, Meghan, and the royal family.