Prince Harry's High Society Hustle: 'Man of the People' Duke 'Only Mixes With Upper Classes on Carefully Orchestrated' Visits

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have once again found themselves under the microscope.

A recent German documentary The Lost Prince, directed by award-winning filmmaker Ulrike Grunewald, delves into the couple's post-Megxit life in Montecito, Calif., casting a critical eye on the chasm between their philanthropic endeavors and opulent lifestyle.

The film reportedly doesn't shy away from highlighting perceived contradictions either. Meghan, in particular, faces criticism for donning high-end designer attire during visits to impoverished regions.

"If you're going to places like Nigeria, like Colombia, which have huge socio-economic problems, some of the world's poorest communities in these countries, and you're turning up wearing tens of thousands of pounds worth of designer clothes — it really doesn't send the right message," royal expert Russell Myers commented.

Adding to the scrutiny, Dai Davies, former Head of Royal Protection and a Divisional Commander in the Metropolitan Police, questions the authenticity of Harry's interactions during international tours.

He observed, "What I've noticed of these tours, [is] he mixes with the upper classes. He doesn't really, apart from carefully orchestrated areas where he mixes with so-called the 'normal people' — well, they're not."

Davies suggested these engagements are meticulously planned, asserting, "I look quite dispassionately at the evidence and the evidence I've seen is, it's all about Harry and Meghan. It's very little to do with an actual alleged rationale for going there."

The documentary further explores the couple's financial ventures, implying they leverage their former royal status to fund a lavish lifestyle. It reveals that donations to their charity, Archewell, plummeted from $13 million dollars (10.2 million pounds) in 2021 to a mere $2 million dollars (1.5 million pounds) in 2022. Moreover, it's alleged that Harry and Meghan dedicate just one hour a week to their charitable foundation.

Jack Royston, from the podcast "The Royal Report," touched on the couple's initial desire to be "half in and half out" of the royal family — a proposition the late Queen dismissed.

He explained, "If you have a situation where Harry and Meghan are earning huge amounts of money in Hollywood trading off their reputations, but then they're also bolstering their reputations by working for the Queen — they're able to present themselves on the world stage as being these working royals."

The Lost Prince is said to paint a complex portrait of Harry and Meghan, contrasting their noble intentions with actions that some perceive as contradictory or "Sussex word salad."

As the couple continues to navigate their roles beyond palace walls, "the world watches closely, eager to see how they balance their royal heritage with their new life in America, and if Harry truly is a 'man of the people,'" a Hollywood insider noted.

Daily Mirror reported on the expert comments.