Their high-profile tour to Colombia last month divided opinion – even raising eyebrows about whether the repercussions of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s trip could prove ‘dangerous’ for the monarchy.
And as the Sussexes returned home to their Montecito mansion, they were hit by yet more drama when reports emerged suggesting that streaming giant Netflix is ‘not expected’ to renew the couple’s multimillion-dollar contract when it ends next year.
The news came after it was revealed how Meghan’s cookery show had been pushed back until 2025 amid copyright issues. And now, as Harry, 39, and Meghan, 43 – who lost their £15 million Spotify deal last June – are once again grappling to find new income streams as their Hollywood allies continue to fall by the wayside, a source reveals they have also been snubbed by A-list powerhouse and Kardashian matriarch, Kris Jenner.
An insider says, "Kris hasn’t exactly spat them out, but she’s certainly cooled off the plans that she had in the pipeline to work with the Sussexes – it seems Meghan is no longer in her tight-knit social circle.
"You don’t see Meghan and Harry making the invite list these days, and Kris has stopped bragging about the projects they have in the works. It’s a very obvious shift from just a few months ago."
Riding on the wave of their 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, during which the world heard Meghan and Harry’s take on the alleged bullying and isolation they experienced behind Palace walls, the couple found themselves welcomed with open arms into the most exclusive Hollywood circles.
Their friends at the time included A-listers Oprah, Gayle King, Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom, the Obamas, Ellen DeGeneres and Portia Rossi, Gwyneth Paltrow and Cameron Diaz.
However, when Meghan launched her new lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard, in April, sending out 50 jars of homemade strawberry jam, the only high-profile celebrities who publicly supported the Duchess by posting on social media were model Chrissy Teigen – who was ‘cancelled’ in 2021 over bullying claims – and Kris Jenner.
While fans raised eyebrows, with one accusing Meghan of ‘buttering up more successful people’, it was Meghan’s mum, Doria Ragland, who initially forged a connection with reality TV’s most famous family.
Yoga instructor Doria, 67, who has herself attracted legions of fans, including King Charles, for her gentle and kind persona and deep spirituality, was first pictured with Kris, 68, and daughter Kim Kardashian at a charity event in LA last August.
And earlier this year, when Doria was also spotted rubbing shoulders with Beyoncé’s mum, Tina Knowles, insiders revealed how the trio had formed ‘a new clique’ in recent months.
But while her mum has been happy to play high-profile matchmaker, the source says Kris – who is famed for being ruthless in business after building a Kardashian-Jenner empire estimated to be worth close to £2 billion – hasn’t failed to notice the Sussexes’ plummeting popularity.
The source says, "Kris has a lot on her plate, but ultimately people can’t help but wonder if she’s dropped them because she’s seen the disastrous opinion polls on the Sussexes.
"She enjoyed the jam and likes the fact that she’s got Meghan on speed-dial, so to speak, but she isn’t rushing to invite them out to Palm Springs."
Just last month, Meghan was said to be a step closer to achieving her reported political ambitions as a potential Democratic candidate when a past exchange between her and Kamala Harris, the current favourite to replace President Joe Biden, emerged.
While Meghan hailed Kamala as ‘an inspiration’, Kamala later addressed the Duchess on social media after she revealed her battles with mental health, writing, ‘Meghan, we are with you’.
And with Meghan said to have had ambitions for her and Harry to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Barack and Michelle Obama with their Archewell Foundation, the source says she has been ‘humiliated’ by Kris’ apparent snub, after having set her sights ‘a lot higher’ than reality TV.
"No doubt they felt they were lowering their standards a little by associating with the Kardashians, so to end up being rejected by them is a pretty big blow," the insider continues.
"Meghan and Harry had their sights set a lot higher with power players like the Obamas, the Clooneys and other A-listers. But Meghan had eventually come around to the idea and was excited to be working with the Kardashians as they have such a good track record of building brands.
"So it’s beyond humiliating for her to be tossed aside."
However, with their royal currency running dangerously low following reports that she and Harry, alongside their children – Archie, four, and Lilibet, three – had not been invited to the royal gathering at Balmoral this summer, our insider says Meghan is determined to swallow her pride and pursue her relationship with Kris.
They add, "She’s essentially hanging on to the idea that once things get rolling with the brand, the interest will be there from Kris again. Right now she’s playing it very cool, but friends know how let down she feels by Kris’ silence."
