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Prince Harry wants to be 'more important' than Prince William, claims royal biographer

Kate Rafferty

Prince Harry is loving the chance to "show off" and be a bit "naughty" — especially if it means he can one-up his brother, says a royal biographer.

Since stepping down from royal duties, Prince Harry and wife Meghan Markle have been circling the spotlight, and royal biographer Angela Levin believes the prince is loving it.

From news of their new Archewell Foundation, to their megawatt production deals with Netflix and Harry's now highly awaited upcoming memoir, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been making headlines in waves.

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Harry has always had a 'cheeky streak' but Levin says it is showing its face more and more of late. Getty Images for Global Citizen

But Levin claims some recent acts by Harry indicate a grab for attention.

"I think he is ... looking to be more important than William, and so he has got the ability now to do and say things that probably he couldn't do before," she told TalkRadio.

Levin used Harry's cameo in Meghan's recent 40th birthday video as an example of the prince wanting some time in the spotlight.

RELATED: Prince Harry working on 'intimate and heartfelt memoir'

"He can enjoy being naughty, like when he was playing with balls outside [during Meghan's video]" she said.

A divisive sibling rivalry between Harry and William has been widely reported over the years.

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While his partnership to Meghan is considered a factor in the breakdown of their relationship, Harry's 'cheeky streak' has been well-known for years.

Prince William and Prince Harry statue unveiling

A breakdown between Harry and William's relationship has been observed keenly by royal experts, with Harry's relationship to Meghan Markle thought to be a catalyst. AP

As Levin points out, "When he was at Eton he hated being there and he decided he was going to be with the bad boys... I think Harry has got this streak, a lot of us have, but we put it to one side."

With the decision to exit from royal life and move to the US, Harry wholely pursued a life away from his family, and his brother.

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And while he and Meghan have certainly set themselves up as a new force on the market, much of their charity work and new projects have been criticised as self-promotion.

Levin says the couple's recent antics aren't sitting well with royal fans.

"It shows A) they are out of touch and B) that they are huge hypocrites," she said.

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Meghan Markle in her 40th birthday video

Harry was spotted juggling balls in the background of Meghan's 40th birthday video, launching her '40x40' initiative for the Archewell Foundation. Archewell

"They tell all the world what we have to do, it is very important we must do it, but they don't think they are involved in that, they have an exception because they are so grand and they are so important."

Levin notes that people "are beginning to see all the hypocrisy" behind Harry and Meghan. The couple have reportedly lost almost 700,000 followers on their Instagram account in the past year.

The effect is reportedly stretching to close friendships, with Barack and Michelle Obama believed to be keeping a distance from the Sussexes.

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In August, it was reported Harry and Meghan were not invited to Barack Obama's major 60th birthday bash, which saw hundreds of close celebrity friends attend, including John Legend and Chrissy Teigen, as well as Gayle King, Jay-Z and Beyonce.

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