The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have become ‘disaster tourists’ while Harry ‘misses being a prince because he was good at it’, the former editor of Vanity Fair and friend of the late Princess Diana has said.

New York-based Tina Brown, 71, claimed that Prince Harry, 40, took pleasure in his previous position and that he was once successful at adding a ‘sizzle’ into the royal family.

In conversation with The Telegraph, Brown explained: ‘He really knows how to play the role of the prince.’

‘I think he really likes it. That’s what’s so ironic. For a bit he thought he didn’t because the Palace is boring and oppressive and so on. 

‘Now he’s had a few years doing it without them, I think he really misses being a prince because he was good at it.’

The 71-year-old, who previously undertook the role of editor in chief of Tatler, added that the impact of Harry’s philanthropic pursuits is now limited due to his celebrity-like status.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s public appearances are no longer groundbreaking, and they’ve become ‘disaster tourists,’ Brown claimed.

She gave the example of the couple visiting victims of the Los Angeles fires in January, when they handed out food parcels at the Pasadena Convention Centre to those affected by the devastating blaze.

Brown claimed that Harry is aware of becoming a ‘disaster tourist’, adding ‘I think Harry feels it keenly. But he’s obviously loyal to his wife.’

The Duke of Sussex (pictured with the Duchess of Sussex last year in Colombia) ‘misses being a prince’, Tina Brown has claimed

New York-based Tina Brown, 71, claimed that Prince Harry, 40, took pleasure in his previous position and that he was once successful at adding a ‘sizzle’ into the Royal Family 

Elsewhere in the interview, Brown gave her thoughts on whether a royal reconciliation could ever be on the cards.

While she believes that Harry might be open to rekindling his familial relationships, the same can’t be said for the Prince of Wales, she said.

Brown claimed that Harry’s book Spare, which she believes was driven by the Montecito-based couple’s ‘appetite for money’, has ruled out any chances of a reunion from Prince William’s side due to the book’s bombshell claims about the Royal Family.

It comes after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle unveiled a memorial in New York City on Wednesday, which is dedicated to ‘honouring the lives of children lost to online harm’.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex also called for more protections for children from the dangers of social media, claiming that ‘enough is not being done’.

Called the ‘Lost Screen Memorial’, the installation features 50 large, illuminated smartphones, each displaying the lock screen photo of a child who died after being exposed to bullying behaviour online.

The images of the children were shared by parents who are members of The Archewell Foundation Parents’ Network.

They donated the pictures to ‘honour their children’s memories and to call attention to the urgent need for safer online spaces’.

The former Vanity Fair editor Tina Brown said Prince Harry’s philanthropic pursuits are no longer as impactful compared to when he was a working member of the Royal Family

Meghan volunteering with Baby2Baby at Dr Owen Lloyd Knox Elementary School in Los Angeles in 2020

As the monument was unveiled, the parents were invited to New York to lay flowers at each handset.

There is also virtual version of the installation, which will include information about each child. In addition, some of the parents have recorded a personal voice message for people to listen to.

Harry and Meghan attended a private vigil at the site with families of the children as part of the Archewell Foundation’s ‘No Child Lost to Social Media’ campaign.

And Harry told BBC Breakfast: ‘We want to make sure that things are changed so that… no more kids are lost to social media. Life is better off social media.’

The 40-year-old Duke added that he was ‘grateful’ that his children Prince Archie, five, and three-year-old Princess Lilibet were still too young to be online.

Speaking to journalists at an Archewell Foundation event, Harry also said: ‘The easiest thing to say is to keep your kids away from social media.

‘The sad reality is the kids who aren’t on social media normally get bullied at school because they can’t be part of the same conversation as everybody else.

‘Life is better off of social media. I say that as a parent, and I say that as someone who’s spoken to many of the kids here tonight who lost a brother or a sister to social media. But clearly, enough is not enough. Enough is not being done.’

He continued: ‘Some of the stories here are truly harrowing. You think you’ve heard the worst of it until nights like this, here in America. Some of these stories – they are crime scenes – and these companies are getting away with it by saying, “We don’t need to give you disclosure”.

Tina Brown pictured in March speaking at an International Women’s Day event in collaboration with Diane von Furstenberg in New York 

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are seen at the 2024 ESPY Awards at Dolby Theatre in California

‘For families, some of the arguments that are being made around privacy – you’re telling a parent, you’re telling a dad and a mum that they can’t have the details of what happened.’

The Duke also accused technology firms of ‘getting away with it’, saying they did not need to disclose information to families in Britain due to privacy considerations.

Prince Harry said: ‘These children were not sick. Their deaths were not inevitable – they were exposed to, and in many cases were pushed harmful content online, the kind any child could encounter.

‘No child should be exploited, groomed, or preyed upon in digital spaces.

‘To the platforms, they may be seen as statistics. To their families, they were cherished and irreplaceable.

‘While social media companies claim to be taking action, most still withhold critical data from grieving parents – data that could provide answers and accountability. This is a growing crisis.

‘Social media is quietly taking our children, and those with the power to make change are failing to act.’

The installation has been described as a continuation of The Archewell Foundation’s The Parents’ Network initiative, which ‘supports families navigating the digital world, working to safeguard them from online harms, and supporting their mental health recovery process’.

In a statement about the installation, James Holt and Shauna Nep, Executive Directors of The Archewell Foundation, said: ‘This memorial is a collective act of remembrance, and a call to action. Each photo represents not just a child lost, but a family forever changed.

‘These parents are sharing the most painful parts of their lives so that no other family must experience the same heartbreak.

‘We hope this memorial inspires all of us – tech leaders, policymakers, and community members alike – to listen to their stories, to learn from them, and most importantly, to act. Online spaces should be safe by design, not an afterthought.’

On Thursday, Meghan took to Instagram to discuss the installation unveiling. She shared a video of the event, which was accompanied by a long caption.

It said: ‘An important and emotional evening last night in NY as we unveiled #NoChildLostToSocialMedia with parents and families who have lost their children to online harms.

‘My husband and I have worked with many of these families for the last several years, and through The Archewell Foundation and our program The Parents’ Network, we support them in their grief and stand with them in their call for action.

‘No matter how divided the world may be, we can all agree that we want our children to be safe from harm. That is a universal truth.

‘If you choose to be on social media, let’s be the example for our youth, sharing goodness and kindness and positivity. Let’s tell our children that they are enough, and that this life is worth living.

‘And let’s ensure that no child is lost to social media. With your support, we can effect change.’