Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are reportedly struggling to keep up with Prince William and Kate Middleton in the public relations arena. According to royal experts, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s current strategy feels “scattergun” and lacking in direction. While the Prince and Princess of Wales are successfully modernizing their image, Harry and his wife appear to be stuck in a cycle of grievance that may be damaging their global brand and family harmony.
Royal expert compares Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s exposure of kids as compared to the Sussexes
A major point of contention in the “PR game” is how Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, as well as Prince William and Kate Middleton, handle their children’s public image. On a recent episode of “The Royalist” podcast, host Tom Sykes highlighted the stark contrast between the two families.
The Palace recently released professional photos and videos of Princess Charlotte for her 11th birthday. These images show her playing cricket and enjoying a “normal” life. Sykes argues that by sharing these high-quality, controlled glimpses of their children, William and Middleton have effectively “removed the profit incentive” for paparazzi. Since the public already knows what the children look like through official channels, candid shots are worth much less to photographers.
In contrast, the Sussexes have kept Archie and Lilibet almost entirely out of the spotlight. Sykes suggests this approach might backfire. Meanwhile, NewsNation’s Paula Froelich noted that there is reported “tension over the children” because Harry is hesitant to use them in the media. However, she warns that if Markle begins “shilling them out” to sell products, such as scented candles on Instagram, it would look “desperate and clingy.”
Froelich also describes Markle’s current projects as having “momentum without direction.” While the duchess remains very busy, the lack of a clear strategy allegedly makes her appear to be “spiralling.” Meanwhile, the Prince and Princess of Wales are praised by Skyes for hiring people who are “naturally fluent” in social media. By being “all over Instagram,” they have been successfully connecting with a younger generation, leaving the Sussexes struggling to find their footing in the royal PR race.
