Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Struggle as Public Loses Interest in Their Projects
0Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s attempts to establish their media presence post-royal exit may not be resonating as hoped, according to insights from PR professionals. Since stepping back from the Royal Family in 2020, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have ventured into various projects, including a memoir, a Netflix series, and a Spotify podcast.
Despite these efforts, they have faced criticism, particularly for their outspokenness about the Royal Family. Their Netflix series and Harry’s memoir, ‘Spare,’ have been scrutinized for this reason. Additionally, their deal with Spotify concluded after just one season of Meghan’s Archetypes podcast, amid comments from Spotify’s head of podcast innovation, Bill Griffiths, who referred to the Sussexes as “the grifters.” This sentiment was echoed by others, labeling them as Hollywood’s “biggest losers.”
PR expert Mark Borkowski, speaking to the Guardian, noted the Sussexes’ struggle to align their content with audience expectations. “Netflix hasn’t really worked, Spotify hasn’t really worked…the platforms don’t believe it has any value,” he said. He suggested that while Harry aims to create meaningful content, it may not align with the public interest, which leans towards more sensationalist material.
Regarding Meghan’s public appearances, Borkowski observed that while she seeks visibility in the entertainment industry, the couple’s high-minded approach hasn’t yielded the desired results financially.
Joe Little, managing editor of Majesty magazine, commented on the possibility of the couple ceasing to share personal insights into their royal life. He expressed concern over the damage done to the Royal Family’s image, whether intentional or not and suggested it might be time for them to move forward without dwelling on past grievances. “Perhaps he [Harry] feels that he’s said all that needs to be said,” Little added, hinting at a potential shift in their public narrative.