In a notable shift, Hollywood’s elite, including Tom Cruise and Julia Roberts, have openly shown their support for the British royal family, leaving Prince Harry and Meghan Markle seemingly out in the cold.
Tom Cruise, famous for his starring roles and ageless charm, has taken a supportive role for the royals multiple times. At the London premiere of “Top Gun: Maverick,” Cruise played second fiddle to Kate, the Princess of Wales, and again at the Royal Windsor Horse Show in 2022, where the late Queen was the star. Recently, Cruise was spotted in the third row of the royal box at Wimbledon’s men’s finals, applauding Kate’s return to the public eye alongside Julia Roberts and Benedict Cumberbatch.
“I’ve always admired the royal family,” Cruise said in a recent interview. “Their dedication to public service and the way they carry themselves is truly inspiring.”
Roberts and Cruise, alongside Gwyneth Paltrow, Idris Elba, former British Vogue editor Edward Enninful, and Kate Moss, are part of a growing list of celebrities publicly supporting the royal family. Roberts beamed with delight, and Cruise seemed happier than ever during these royal events. “Kate is just wonderful,” Roberts commented. “Her grace and poise are something to behold.”
While Hollywood’s affection for the royals grows, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s popularity appears to be waning. An observer from Hollywood told The Times, “The tide has turned. People in America have been welcoming, but they don’t like the way they’ve treated the late Queen and now the King. Mostly, people I speak to say they either don’t like the Sussexes or don’t care.”
Idris Elba, a former close ally of the Sussexes who attended their wedding and DJed the reception, recently co-hosted a youth crime summit with King Charles at St James’s Palace. Elba’s Elba Hope Foundation is also working with the King’s Trust on various charity initiatives, continuing a relationship that began when Elba received a grant from the Trust to train as an actor.
“It’s about giving back and making a positive impact,” Elba said. “The King has always been supportive, and it’s an honor to work alongside him.”
Gwyneth Paltrow, who dined with the Sussexes last year, showed public support for Kate on Instagram after her Trooping the Colour comeback. “So happy to see you looking so happy and well,” Paltrow wrote under an official shot of the princess. Meanwhile, Leonardo DiCaprio, Drew Barrymore, John Legend, Chrissy Teigen, Emily Ratajkowski, and Kate Moss attended a New York charity event for the King’s Trust, raising over $2 million.
Even Oprah Winfrey, once a staunch ally of the Sussexes, has been notably silent. Winfrey, who featured the couple in a bombshell interview, has not publicly connected with them since a charity event in October last year. Similarly, David and Victoria Beckham, George and Amal Clooney, Carey Mulligan, Tom Hardy, and Priyanka Chopra have not been seen publicly associating with the Sussexes.
Despite these shifts, it’s worth noting that public absence doesn’t necessarily equate to personal estrangement. Hollywood connections are complex and multifaceted. However, the lack of public support from previous allies is telling.
“Hollywood is a town of shifting alliances,” said a celebrity publicist who asked to remain anonymous. “What’s in vogue one year can be out the next. The Sussexes had a moment, but it seems the shine has worn off.”
As Harry and Meghan face this cooling of relationships, their future in the public eye remains uncertain. Their recent endeavors, including the launch of Meghan’s lifestyle brand American Riviera Orchard (ARO) and a new Netflix series, suggest they are gearing up for a potential resurgence.
“Every great Hollywood movie tends to follow a three-act structure,” a Hollywood producer commented. “Harry and Meghan could very well be about to springboard into their dazzling, resurgent third act.”
Hollywood’s fickle nature, as Somerset Maugham once suggested, might indeed be ‘a sunny place for changeable people.’ Whether the Sussexes can turn this around remains to be seen, but for now, it’s clear that the royals are basking in the spotlight, supported by Tinseltown’s finest.
