Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been named among the most controversial figures in the Bad Manners Awards 2025, a critical annual list highlighting celebrities accused of poor public behaviour, according to etiquette expert Laura Windsor.
In her assessment, Windsor singled out the Duke and Duchess of Sussex as the most contentious royal-linked figures on the list, citing what she described as a recurring sense of “entitlement” in their public conduct.
According to Windsor, one of the key contradictions lies in the couple’s repeated calls for privacy while continuing to maintain a high public profile.
Over the past year, Meghan launched a new Netflix programme under her own name, while Harry appeared frequently in interviews and attended numerous high-profile events. Despite this visibility, the couple have continued to insist on strict control over how and when they are photographed.
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“This contradiction is difficult to ignore,” Windsor noted, adding that public figures cannot simultaneously court attention and reject its consequences.
The Beverly Hills party controversy
The most talked-about incident cited in the report involved Harry and Meghan’s appearance at a James Bond–themed 70th birthday party for Kris Jenner, held at the Beverly Hills home of Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez.
Following the event, photographs showing the Sussexes alongside members of the Kardashian family briefly appeared on social media — only to be swiftly removed.
According to People magazine, Harry and Meghan had allegedly asked the hosts not to share any images taken inside the party.
Laura Windsor described the request as a breach of social etiquette.
“You cannot accept an invitation from one of the most famous families in the world, enjoy the hospitality and the media prestige of the event, and then demand that your presence be erased,” she said.
Accusations of “entitlement”
Windsor argued that such behaviour suggests a belief that personal privacy should override the experience and rights of everyone else at the event.
“In situations like this, insisting on special treatment places one’s own comfort above collective courtesy,” she wrote.
“That is the very definition of entitlement.”
Other celebrities on the list
Harry and Meghan were not the only public figures named in the Bad Manners Awards 2025.
The list also included:
- Millie Bobby Brown, criticised for an aggressive response toward photographers on the red carpet
- Lily Allen, accused of oversharing personal details in her latest album
- Mohamed Salah, whose public complaints about work were viewed by some commentators as lacking humility
Etiquette as reputation
Windsor concluded that fame is sustained not only by achievement, but by conduct.
“Public figures are judged not just by what they do, but by how they behave,” she said.
“For those who once represented the Royal Family, expectations of courtesy and restraint are naturally higher.”
The Bad Manners Awards is an annual list compiled by Laura Windsor, based on her professional observation of celebrity behaviour throughout the year. While not an official academic award, it has become a widely cited reference in British and American media due to its focus on etiquette, public conduct and social norms.
Each year, the list sparks debate — particularly when it includes figures as polarising as Harry and Meghan.