The accusation that Harry and Meghan "wanted privacy" but then made documentaries, gave interviews, and published a memoir is based on a misunderstanding of what they actually said.
First, Harry and Meghan never said they were leaving royal life to disappear from public view. In December 2022, their global press secretary explicitly stated that they had "never cited privacy as the reason for stepping back" and that this narrative had been distorted.
Their argument was about control, safety, and freedom from intrusive media practices not about becoming private citizens.
Second, privacy is not the same as secrecy. Every public figure draws boundaries between what they choose to share and what others are entitled to access. Meghan explained this clearly in her Oprah interview using the analogy of showing someone a single photo of your child without handing over your entire phone. Choosing to share some aspects of your life does not mean surrendering your right to keep everything else private.
The strongest proof that this principle is widely accepted comes from William and Catherine themselves.
In 2015, Kensington Palace formally thanked the media for agreeing not to publish unauthorized photographs of Prince George and Princess Charlotte. In return, William and Catherine would continue releasing official photographs of their children. This arrangement was explicitly described as a way to protect the children's private lives while still satisfying legitimate public interest.
Nobody argues that William and Catherine forfeited all privacy because they release birthday photographs. In fact, most people recognize the distinction: they voluntarily share selected images while rejecting paparazzi harassment and unauthorized surveillance.
Harry and Meghan are applying the same principle. They have chosen to tell their story through interviews, documentaries, podcasts, and books while objecting to invasive practices such as paparazzi pursuits, long-lens photography, drone surveillance, and unauthorized intrusion into their family life.
The real issue is not whether information is shared. Both couples share information. The issue is who decides what gets shared.
William and Catherine believe they should choose which photographs of their children become public rather than leaving that decision to paparazzi.
Harry and Meghan believe they should choose how and when to tell their story rather than allowing tabloids, anonymous sources, or intrusive photographers to define it for them.
Therefore, the claim that Harry and Meghan are hypocrites collapses because it relies on a false definition of privacy.
Privacy does not mean never speaking publicly. Privacy means retaining the agency to decide what parts of your life are public and what parts remain personal.
By that standard, Harry and Meghan's actions are entirely consistent with a principle that William and Catherine also practice.
Sharing a few pictures on their own terms is the exact type of privacy they want and have, both families. That is something that at least we should all be glad can happen given how badly the media have behaved in the past with Royal Family members. Finally something has changed and who here can say they don't agree with both of being able to draw the line on their own terms.
Just like we all do individually, some people like total privacy, some like to share some images of their lives including their children privately, some leave their accounts open for anyone to see. No one aize fits all when it comes to privacy.
If you habe a quote from H&M that says they wanted a private life that meant never sharing pictures or being seen feel free to quote it but from the interview to that statement that was released its clear what their version of private it and its similar to Williams and Kate (not many of you would argue they are wrong with their version of privacy).