When Prince Harry and Meghan Markle flocked to the charred scenes of last January’s California wildfires, angry locals branded them “disaster tourists” hunting a PR boost. In scenes from Dante’s inferno, the blaze that sparked on January 7, 2025, tore through Los Angeles killing up to 440 people, destroying thousands of homes and reducing entire neighbourhoods to rubble.
Within days the face-masked Duke and Duchess of Sussex were on the scene speaking to local volunteers and emergency responders at the Pasadena Community Centre. In a Fox News broadcast, Meghan was filmed wearing a protective mask and baseball cap as she handed out food parcels at a kiosk, and hugged a victim of the wildfires.
But it provoked fury from some with the couple branded “ambulance chasers” by Hollywood actress Justine Bateman among others.
In a post shared on X (Twitter), Bateman took issue with the pair’s appearance in Pasadena, writing: “Meghan Markle and Harry are no better than ambulance chasers. What a repulsive ‘photo op’ they achieved. They are ‘touring the damage’? Are they politicians now? They don’t live here; they are tourists. Disaster tourists.”
The Sussexes hit back at the “offensive” photo opportunity claim but mud sticks, especially mud charred by the hellish fires of misery and destruction.
To their credit Harry and Meghan later made donations to relief efforts through their Archewell Foundation and opened up their $14.5million Montecito mansion to loved ones who were forced to evacuate.
Now Harry and Meghan could soon be spending more time on our shores, with rumours they have won their right to have taxpayer-funded police protection – despite not being working royals – for future UK visits.
So could that mean at the next major UK flood or – if they start to get desperate – burst river bank, M25 closure, rained-off cricket test match or Premier League end-of-season relegation we could hear the ‘whop whop’ of the helicopter as the Sussexes swoop down.
Imagine the possible scene – out comes the ‘Archewell’-branded trestle tables, as crates of ‘Archie’s-Well’ lightly-sparkled mineral water (still is also available) are lugged out and opened.
Confused Wolverhampton Wanderers fans outside their Molineux stadium watch on – I mean it was no surprise they were relegated after just one win in their first 21 games.
But what they were not expecting was the sight of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex pitching up in Car Park A with emergency hampers of ‘As Ever’ raspberry jam and fruit scones to thrust into the baffled locals’ hands.
One Wolves fan wonders how he is going to explain this to his missus, as before he can say ‘Billy Wright’ Meghan has darted over and is giving him an emotional ‘we’ll get through this’ hug … just in front of a passing TV camera.
Meghan is then swiftly swept away with Harry in tow – amid breaking reports of a jack-knifed milk float three miles north of Bradford.
A daft, fairytale fiction? With the Sussexes you never really know. Things could get interesting in 2026!
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.express.co.uk ’
