Prince Harry and Meghan Markle outdone by William and Kate Middleton’s ‘brat summer’ – expert

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s ‘time-consuming’ royal-style tour was in direct contrast to a summer ‘slam-dunk’ lasting just seconds by the Prince and Princess of Wales, according to a royal expert.

Both couples have spent their time very differently in recent weeks with the Sussexes embarking on a glitzy four-day trip to Colombia, for what was dubbed a DIY royal tour. Elsewhere, Prince William and Kate have largely stayed out of the limelight and the princess continues her recovery from cancer.

However, they did make a very brief appearance in an Instagram video praising Team GB’s performance at the Paris Olympics, which sent fans wild thanks to their laid-back style and William’s holiday beard.

And according to royal expert and historian Dr Tessa Dunlop, it has been a summer tale of two halves when it comes to the royal couples with one pair scoring a “clear ace” and another forced to toil away to keep “their brand on point”.

She told the Mirror: “Nowadays royalty’s summer story is a tale of two halves. On the one hand, there is the Sussexes’ recent visit to Columbia confirming what we already knew – Harry is most comfortable doing what he was trained for from birth: glad-handing, gushing, ribbon-cutting, dancing, and even trying his hand Spanish. (In 1981 when his mother Diana, delivered her first public speech in Cardiff City Hall, half was in Welsh.)

“Dubbed the DIY royal tour, the Sussexes have found their sweet spot visiting countries (Colombia, Nigeria) in need of an international uptick. So far so good. But let’s not pretend that this is easy work. Meghan wriggled in and out of 11 designer outfits in four days; previously the Duchess has been known to use Adele’s stylist and this trip’s wardrobe had all the hallmarks of a professional overhaul.

“The couple were guests of Columbia’s vice president and full security was provided but without support from the British monarchy planning trips like these is time-consuming and expensive. And to keep their brand on point the Sussexes need to keep delivering…

“Back in Britain meanwhile beyond a couple of glory monuments at Trooping the Colour and Wimbledon, William and Kate have had an understandably quiet summer. Yet all it took from the Prince and Princess of Wales was one brief Instagram appearance alongside the real star of the Olympics, USA’s Snoop Dog, for the couple to slam-dunk the season with a clear ace.