Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, who have retired from royal duties and are residing in California, did not attend Prince Philip’s memorial service earlier this week. Since Megxit, Harry has only visited the UK twice, while Meghan has remained in Montecito with their children.

Professor of Marketing and Consumer Research at Royal Holloway, Pauline Maclaran, warned that the Sussexes’ brand is built on their royal connections.

She said: “I think they need to really top up their associations with royalty.

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“Because without their royal connections they really are nobodies in the US, which is where they’re trying to establish themselves.

“I do think their unique selling point to put it in marketing speak is that they have the sort of humanitarian aim and of course that high profile.

“But the high profile is really because of their titles and their associations with British royalty.

“They’re developing a kind of rival brand, or court, or however you like to describe it.

“But I do think the longer they stay away they lose that royal magic.”

Prof. Maclaran, co-author of Royal Fever: The British Monarchy in Consumer Culture, noted that “some type of reconciliation” would benefit both the Sussexes and the Royal Family.

She said: “Harry and Megan really need to have these royal connections and maintain them.

“The royals also need the diversity that the two of them bring, specifically Megan, it was pretty sad they lost that.”

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