Prince Harry’s Sussex brand was described as being seen as “toxic” in Montecito by a TV insider, as sources claimed the duke allegedly feels “lonely and isolated” in California. The Duke of Sussex has been living in Montecito since 2020, when he quit his royal duties for a new life in the US with his wife, Meghan Markle and their family.
But those once close to him insisted the duke must feel “lonely” in Montecito, while they added that he has cut all ties with his “dozens of friends” in the UK would “love to hear from him”. Meanwhile, a Los Angeles-based TV executive who has been involved with Harry and his team in the past few years painted a dark picture for the duke’s prospects in California. They told the Daily Beast: “This [Montecito] is a very transactional town, and when you are perceived as toxic, people run a mile from you.
“So, no, I haven’t seen Harry at any dinners lately. His brand is a busted flush, and no one wants to be associated with failure.
“The fact is that Harry started with one of the best brands in the world, ‘Prince Harry,’ and trashed it.”
Meanwhile, a friend who grew up with the prince told the outlet: “It’s absolutely tragic. He has dozens of friends here who would love to hear from him, but he has completely severed contact with us. No-one ever hears from him.”
They added: “I know he feels lonely and isolated. Who wouldn’t if they had moved to another country where they don’t know anyone, and then their whole professional life and their beloved charity had collapsed?”
The claims were denied by sources close to the duke, who is reportedly “happy with his family” in Montecito.
It comes as the Duke of Sussex resigned from an African charity he co-founded in 2006 following a controversy regarding its chairwoman.
Prince Harry, along with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, stepped down from Sentebale last week – both princes were patrons of the organisation and weren’t on the board of trustees.
They said they were quitting in support of the trustees, who left after a dispute with chairperson Sophie Chandauka.
