There was much goodwill for Harry and Meghan but their conduct during a health crisis has seemed self centred and self pitying

First, there was embarrassing way in which Harry and Meghan made such a tortuous drama of their future royal role.

Their public deliberations seemed indulgent, and culminated in a puffed up statement earlier this year, which was self important from its very first line: “After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution.”

Since then they have been unsure where they are living, from renting a luxurious home in a wealthy part of Canada (Vancouver Island) to renting luxury in a wealthy part of the United States (a gated community in Los Angeles).

The couple have only themselves to blame for having had to go through the mortifying experience of both Canada and the US making clear that those nations’ taxpayers will not pay for the couple’s security (which some estimates put at several million pounds a year).

This was after Frogmore Cottage in England had been revamped for them as newlyweds, at a reputed cost of £2.4 million.

All of this was unpalatable behaviour even before Covid-19. Amidst a crisis is repugnant.

Their latest statement (see page 18), that they are “ceasing all co-operation” with the tabloid press has made it much worse.

They are two of the most fortunate people on Earth: young, privileged, attractive and famous. There was huge public goodwill towards them when they married.

Much of the Sussex’s good fortune is due to they huge publicity they get, without which they would be unknown and unable to speak on the issues about which they profess to care.

Somehow they still don’t realise that if you keep making ostentatious charitable gestures, it does not excuse colossal self centredness and unseemly self pitying behaviour.