Following the 44th President’s state visit to the United Kingdom in 2009, the Obamas forged a close relationship with the British Royal Family. However, little over a year after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex left Frogmore Cottage for California, the New York Post has reported the estranged couple were “not planning to attend” Barack Obama’s 60th birthday party.

One royal expert has decided to ask whether Harry and Meghan were in fact invited and if they still “have what it takes to cut it as global power players”.

Writing for the Australian website, news.com.au, Daniela Elser argued the Sussexes “baggage” has ensured they may not be as important as they once hoped.

She claimed: “The couple no longer simply bring with them the magic stardust of royalty but more baggage than a Louis Vuitton warehouse.

“Therefore, having transformed themselves into polarising, divisive public figures, are they still the prize invitees they might have been?,” Elser asked.

The royal expert explained how following Megxit, “Harry and Meghan have been popping up on TV screens and headlines with such regularity that they have a quotidian presence thanks to their bombshell interviews, myriad lawsuits, business deals and ongoing family feuds.

“It is enough to make even the most ardent royal obsessive fancy a long lie down.”

Looking back at when the Sussexes were content members of the Firm, Elser said: “In July 2019, Harry and Meghan walked the red carpet at the London premiere of the Lion King movie and everyone from Beyonce to Disney supremo Bob Iger patiently, nearly nervously, waited to touch the hem of the Sussexes.

“There was no equivocation or sliver of a doubt about who precisely sat at the very apex of the social hierarchy that night.”

READ MORE: Growing US backlash against Meghan and Harry on Fox News 

But now, and with Royal tensions rising following Harry’s Megxit memoir announcement, Elser is “not so sure”.

She cited many examples of the Sussexes fall from grace, including how the couple could only draw 1.3million viewers to Vax Live: The Concert to Reunite the World.

“The Sussexes”, Elser said, “might have signed a reported $180 million in business deals but as yet have not produced, released or made anything that puts them on anywhere near a professional par with the sort of names who get invitations to the Obamas’ potluck’n’pinot nights.”

While the royal expert also said Harry and Meghan “might be pretty big fish”, Elser added “they are now swimming in a pond stuffed full of a lot of other big fish.”

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The royal expert warned the Sussexes this is not the final test of their relevancy.

“There will be more and more of these sorts of moments that will test just how high or low their social and professional stock is after the past very rocky six months of revelations,” she said.