Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, is reportedly preparing for a major relaunch in the United Kingdom, four years after she and her husband, Prince Harry, stepped back from their roles as senior working royals and moved to Montecito, California. According to insiders, the Duchess is actively seeking a UK-based PR guru to help the couple rebuild their brand and improve their public image in Britain.
A senior PR executive based in London told Mail Online, "This is a s**t sandwich that many senior PR people will not be willing to eat. Many will turn it down. Representing the couple in the UK is a tantalising thought but they don't have a reputation for listening to advice. What would be the point?"
The search for a UK PR specialist comes amid reports that the Sussexes are eyeing a return to the UK and looking to make more public appearances this year as they work to rebrand themselves. Hollywood and public relations guru Lynn Carratt, from Press Box PR, recently predicted that Harry and Meghan will start attending more events, associating themselves with the right brands and charities, and working to build bridges with the Royal Family.
Meghan's quest for positive publicity in Britain coincides with her announcement of a new initiative to raise awareness about the portrayal of mothers on television. The Duchess has teamed up with actress Geena Davis and Moms First, a charity partner of the Archewell Foundation, for the project. In a statement, Meghan emphasized the importance of supporting women and mothers both behind and in front of the camera, drawing on her past experience as an actress and her current roles as a producer and mother.
The Duchess is also set to lead a discussion on "how women lead on and off screen" at the South by Southwest Festival on March 8, alongside actress Brooke Shields and journalist Katie Couric. The panel, titled "Breaking Barriers, Shaping Narratives: How Women Lead On and Off the Screen," will take place on International Women's Day in Austin, Texas.
Despite these recent moves, some PR experts remain skeptical about the Sussexes' ability to successfully relaunch their brand in the UK. One senior PR executive told MailOnline, "American stars also often expect their PRs to spend their time shouting at people - that's not going to appeal either in the UK where things are done rather differently."
The insider also noted that the Royal Family appears "short-staffed and quite elderly," suggesting that the Sussexes may see an opportunity to fill a vacuum in the UK with their own work. However, the source cautioned that PR specialists might be wary of taking on the couple as clients, given their reputation for not always heeding advice and their past attacks on the Royal Family and Palace staff.
Brand and culture expert Nick Ede told Mail Online that Meghan's recent online appearance in the UK, where she opened a new wing of an animal charity, revealed her continued desire to work in the country. "I think that the UK is still a very important place for Meghan to have a presence and to have strong positive PR. She genuinely likes the UK and British people," Ede said.
As the Sussexes navigate their potential return to the UK and work to improve their public image, the success of their relaunch will depend heavily on their ability to find the right PR representation and to heed the advice of industry experts. With persistent rumors of Meghan's lifestyle blog, The Tig, making a comeback and the couple's continued philanthropic efforts through their Archewell Foundation, the coming months will be crucial in determining the future of the Sussexes' brand on both sides of the Atlantic.
