Silence from Montecito as Trump state visit dominates royal week

During a week of high ceremony in Britain, a historic state visit by President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump drew wide attention to the royal family. King Charles, Queen Camilla, and the Prince and Princess of Wales hosted the guests, while Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, offered no public remarks, remaining out of the spotlight as the diplomatic pageantry unfolded.

Observers noted the political dynamics surrounding the couple remain unsettled. A 54-minute meeting between King Charles and Harry at Windsor last week underscored ongoing questions about Harry's next move and his willingness to engage with his family on public matters. The trip to Britain covered roughly 11,000 miles, culminating in a state visit many experts described as a showcase for the monarchy amid shifting traditions and expectations. The Sussexes’ camp framed the royal private moments as private, a stance that kept public dialogue at a distance during the week’s headline events.

Meghan's television project With Love, Meghan, drew intensified scrutiny as Season 2 received a mixed critical reception and failed to crack Netflix’s Top 10 in its debut days. Reviewers across major outlets described the season with sharply negative terms, ranging from 'sour' to 'painfully contrived' and 'gaslit' to 'Montecito Marie Antoinette.' While Netflix has signaled a continuing interest in the series, the reception added to a broader sense that the couple’s media footprint faces headwinds despite ongoing business interests. In parallel, Meghan did not attend this year’s Emmy Awards, and attendance at New York Fashion Week was limited, underscoring a more restrained public schedule for the couple.

Harry has also spoken publicly in a Guardian interview about his Spare memoir, saying his conscience is clear and acknowledging ongoing stress from lawsuits and intense media scrutiny. He described his happiness with his life while acknowledging the pressures of a public spotlight and a long-running media cycle around his family. Separately, President Trump used the state banquet to praise King Charles and to describe the visit as one of the highest honors of his life, a line that reinforced the ceremonial grandeur and political theater surrounding the week.

Analysts and royal-watchers have framed the week as part of a broader shift in how the Sussexes balance public appearances with private life and commercial interests. Some view the quiet from Montecito as a deliberate choice to avoid overshadowing the royal agenda during a pivotal moment on the world stage, while others see it as evidence of a recalibrated strategy in a crowded media landscape. The week thus left observers with questions about the boundaries of the couple’s public engagement and the direction of their broader ambitions.