Prince Harry finds himself caught between his devotion to wife Meghan Markle and the desire to redeem his reputation Via professional separation following controversial claims against the royal family in his memoir, documentaries, and the infamous Oprah interview. While these scathing onslaught on the royals appeared to work in their favor initially, stirring public sympathy their way, along with the accompanying attention, their popularity has dwindled in recent years. This seemingly forced the pair to seek means of redeeming themselves, especially as their attempts at showbiz success continued to fail.
Sources have claimed their latest approach to salvaging their reputation is to ditch their joint “Sussexes brand” in favor of individual pursuits, in an apparent professional separation. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s “professional separation” has seen them pursue different causes in the last few months, including releasing their individual shows on Netflix, embarking on solo trips, and attending public events separately. Although this approach has fueled divorce rumors, PR experts acknowledge that the move to distance themselves, albeit professionally, remains the best approach toward redemption.
Prince Harry Advised to Continue Professional Separation From Meghan
Speaking to GB News, Edward Coram James, CEO of the PR firm Go Up commended Harry and Meghan’s rebranding efforts as separate entities. According to him, separating professionally would pay off for the two as their joint brand had become tainted and can only be reinvigorated after attaining soaring individual popularities. He went on to take a jab at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s controversial Oprah interview, describing it as “terribly ill-advised.” The PR expert noted that by distancing themselves professionally, the world could gradually see beyond that interview and the impact it’s had on the reputation of Harry and his wife. He divulged,
“But right now, they need to be doing everything they can to professionally distance themselves from the past three years. When you think ‘Meghan and Harry,’ most will think of the rollercoaster since that terribly ill-advised Oprah interview. So, for now, they must rebrand themselves professionally as ‘Meghan’ and ‘Harry’. When the time is right, they can become ‘Meghan and Harry’ again.”
Another PR expert Caitlin Jardine also shared her take on Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s rollercoaster rides since the Oprah interview. Jardine suggested that being different individuals, Harry and Meghan would understandably appeal to their own unique audiences. Regardless of their chosen course in their professional separation, the couple’s personal brands should complement each other, reflecting their shared values. The social media expert divulged,
“They come from two very different backgrounds, they carry their own individual narratives separate from their marriage. They both have their own distinct voice that speaks directly their own audiences and Meghan must ensure that she continues to project this, all whilst keeping it aligned to their shared values.”
Harry and Meghan shocked the world in January 2020 when they announced their decision to step back from their duties as senior royals. At the time, their decision was met with mixed reactions, even as the royal family reportedly strived to have them rethink their stance. However, things quickly went downhill for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle when they granted an explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey, leaking compromising details about the British monarchy. That interview ultimately signified their declaration of war on The Firm, as they’ve remained estranged ever since, fueled by further revelations in subsequent exposés.
