In recent weeks, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have notably refrained from making joint public appearances, fueling speculation about the state of their marriage. However, PR experts suggest that the couple's decision to operate individually is a calculated move to rebrand themselves after their joint image has become "toxic" in the public eye.
"Since their marriage, Harry and Meghan have had a distinct brand based on being a duo," said Ed Coram James, CEO of PR firm Go Up, in an interview with GB News. "But since the famous Oprah interview, where they essentially declared all-out war with the rest of the Royal Family, that brand has been steadily becoming more toxic and thus commercially untenable."
Prince Harry recently embarked on solo engagements, including public appearances in New York, London, and Southern Africa, spending at least two weeks away from Meghan and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. During his travels, Meghan attended events independently, such as a gala for the Children's Hospital Los Angeles and a solo visit to a girls' leadership organization to mark International Day of the Girl.
Their separate activities have led to rumors about marital strife. An insider told GB News that the couple is "stronger than ever" and that Meghan finds the speculation draining. "They haven't done themselves any favors by doing so many separate events, but this is what they have decided to do as it works best for them at the moment as a couple," the source said. "They both feel they can shine at events that are close to their hearts."
Mr. Coram James believes that the move to individual projects is a deliberate attempt to salvage their personal brands. "When combined, the Sussexes' brand is, from a PR perspective, toxic," he explained. "But when separate, they have a genuine chance of creating entirely separate brands with completely different labels."
He attributes the toxicity to their ongoing confrontations with the Royal Family and issues with Meghan's own family. "Their worldwide publicity tour made them look whiny, ungrateful, and unconscious of the enormous privilege that they have enjoyed," he noted.
The PR expert suggests that by pursuing separate endeavors, they can overcome negative perceptions. "To overcome the obstacles of appearing spoiled, arrogant, immature, attention-seeking, aggressive, fight-picking, hypocritical, and incompetent is very tricky," Mr. Coram James said. "But it is achievable. The first step always had to be to dissociate themselves from the brand that had achieved such labels in the first place."
Even local media in their Montecito neighborhood have commented on their increasingly separate lives. The Montecito Journal recently picked up on gossip about the couple's divergent paths.
Meanwhile, speculation persists that Meghan may have a personal memoir "in her back pocket" for potential future use. Royal correspondent Jennie Bond told OK! magazine, "It's more than two years since she gave that interview, and she has steered clear of controversy about the Royal Family since. Obviously, the journal she mentioned will remain a potential weapon in her back pocket if she ever feels the need to seek some sort of revenge."
Despite the rumors, sources close to the couple insist that their relationship remains strong. "She has really felt the strain in recent weeks," the insider told GB News regarding Meghan. "They both feel they can shine at events that are close to their hearts."
As they navigate their post-royal careers, Prince Harry and Meghan appear to be strategically redefining their public images. By focusing on individual projects, they may be aiming to distance themselves from past controversies and rebuild their reputations in the eyes of the public and potential commercial partners.
Mr. Coram James concludes that this approach could eventually allow them to reunite their brands. "If they manage to achieve this, then one day they could again reunite brands and create a new combined brand that works," he said.
