Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were left off the 2024 TIME100 list, marking a notable shift in their public influence amid stalled media projects and ongoing royal tensions.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have long been at the center of global attention, commanding headlines and sparking endless debate.

But their absence from the 2024 TIME100 list of the world’s most influential people is raising fresh questions about the current state of their relevance—and what it may signal for the future of the once-powerful royal renegades.

It wasn’t long ago that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex graced the cover of *TIME* magazine’s coveted issue, named among the most influential figures of 2021.

That cover, now iconic (and often mocked), featured Harry standing behind Meghan in a striking pose that some critics found overly staged and others saw as a statement of shared power and equality.

At the time, it marked their triumphant arrival as a couple who had, by choice, walked away from royal life and successfully rebranded themselves as global changemakers.

Fast-forward just a few years, and the picture looks starkly different. Not only are they absent from this year’s TIME100 list, but their media momentum also appears to be stalling—at least in the eyes of many industry observers.

Their omission comes amid a series of mixed public reactions to their recent projects. Their multi-million-dollar deals with Netflix and Spotify made headlines when announced, but the results have been uneven.

While their Netflix docuseries *Harry & Meghan* sparked significant attention, it also drew criticism for its tone and content. Meanwhile, their Spotify partnership ended prematurely, with just one season of Meghan’s *Archetypes* podcast released before the deal was quietly terminated in 2023.

Some experts see the TIME100 snub as symbolic of a broader cooling of public and industry interest.

The couple’s brand, once defined by bold moves and high-profile interviews—most notably their bombshell sit-down with Oprah Winfrey in 2021—now faces the challenge of sustaining long-term influence in a crowded, fast-moving media landscape.

Adding to their uphill battle is the lingering fallout from their very public split with the British royal family. Although they’ve built a life in Montecito, California, complete with two young children and their Archewell Foundation, the couple remains polarizing.

To supporters, they are brave truth-tellers carving out a new path on their own terms. To critics, they are opportunists who have struggled to define their identity outside of royal controversy.

It doesn’t help that recent public appearances by the pair have received far less fanfare than in previous years.

Their presence at key events—such as Invictus Games engagements and mental health summits—while still meaningful, hasn’t commanded the same global attention as before. The buzz surrounding their brand has undeniably cooled.

Still, it’s important not to mistake omission from the TIME100 list as a death knell. These lists are fluid and reflective of the moment, often favoring figures making major headlines or shaping urgent cultural movements in real time. It’s possible that Harry and Meghan are simply in a quieter phase, recalibrating and planning their next big moves.

Indeed, there are signs that the couple is working to shift gears. Meghan has reportedly launched new ventures under her lifestyle brand, and the Archewell Foundation continues its philanthropic work behind the scenes.

There’s also ongoing speculation about upcoming creative projects, potentially involving scripted content or even a new podcast series—this time, perhaps with a different platform or vision.

What’s clear is that Harry and Meghan’s journey is far from over. Their absence from this year’s TIME100 list is a moment worth noting, but it may also be an opportunity—a pause that allows for reinvention rather than retreat.

For Prince Harry in particular, the year has been marked by complex emotions and public attention. His memoir *Spare*, released in early 2023, laid bare his personal struggles, family tensions, and inner turmoil in raw and sometimes shocking detail.

It became a bestseller but also reignited fierce debate about the merits—and risks—of such radical transparency.

Meanwhile, their relationships with other members of the royal family remain strained. Despite brief reunions for major events such as King Charles III’s coronation and Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral, the long-standing rift with Prince William and other senior royals has shown few signs of healing.

These dynamics continue to color public perception and influence how the couple is viewed on the world stage.

Still, if there’s one thing Harry and Meghan have proven, it’s that they are resilient. Every setback has so far been met with a counter-effort—a new project, a fresh initiative, or a carefully planned public appearance. They’ve managed to stay relevant through savvy media strategies and the strength of their personal narrative.

But sustaining influence is different from generating headlines. The TIME100 list is a cultural temperature check, a moment-in-time measurement of who’s shaping the world right now.

That Harry and Meghan aren’t on it in 2024 doesn’t erase their impact—but it does suggest they may need to evolve to remain central to global conversations.

As their next chapter unfolds, the world will be watching. Will they return to the spotlight with a reimagined approach? Or will they continue down a path of lower-profile activism and content creation? Either way, the TIME100 absence is a reminder: even the most powerful stories need new chapters to stay alive.