According to a PR expert, Meghan Markle has put the media in “hyperactivity” as her and Prince Harry’s recent decision to go their separate ways unwittingly helped them achieve their long-term goals.
Amid constant rumours and public scrutiny, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have taken steps to distance themselves from the “Sussex” brand, which has faced significant challenges over the past year. Public relations expert Ed Coram James believes that this measure is a strategic step to help them restore their public image.
“From a PR perspective, it makes sense for them to go their separate ways for a while,” James explained. “Their professional brand, like the Sussexes as a married couple, has become a bit toxic over the last year.”
She further noted that creating distance between their individual careers and the joint brand could be the key to rebuilding their reputations. “Each of them distancing themselves from that brand a little could help reduce their association with it and allow them to forge more reputationally stable careers as individuals, while giving the Sussex brand time to re-establish itself,” she continued.
James stressed that this professional split does not mean any personal space between the couple, but it has still fueled intense public speculation. However, James noted that Meghan’s decision not to attend Prince Harry’s Invictus Games opening may have been a misstep.
“If the idea is to put those rumours to rest, then the Duchess’s failure to attend the Invictus opening was another in a long line of PR blunders by Meghan,” He said“By not attending, he fed the sharks red meat. If you’re trying to prove to the world that you’re a strong couple, you make public appearances when they matter.”
The expert highlighted the significance of Harry’s participation in the Invictus Games, describing it as one of his most notable personal achievements. “What matters more than what is arguably your husband’s greatest personal achievement, his internationally famous and acclaimed Invictus Games?” James said. He also noted that Meghan’s absence represented a missed opportunity for positive publicity, even among critics.
“Even the Sussexes’ biggest detractors on the internet acknowledge that Harry did something truly special with the Invictus Games. Meghan would do well to partner with them.” Despite the media frenzy, James believes their decision to pursue separate projects could ultimately help the couple in the long run.
By temporarily stepping away from their joint professional projects, Meghan and Harry could give themselves the necessary breathing room to reestablish their careers, leaving the door open for a future resurgence of the Sussex brand. While rumours continue to swirl, it remains to be seen how the couple will navigate their individual paths, but for now, their professional split appears to be a strategic reset.
