Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have “hit turbulence” as the couple cannot shed their royal image. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped down from their royal duties in 2020 and have since embarked on a life in Montecito, California. One of the conditions when they forged their independent lives was they could retain their HRH titles, otherwise known as His or Her Royal Highness, but not for commercial purposes.
There was much discussion after it came to light that Meghan sent a gift to Jamie Kern Lima, with a card reading “With the Compliments of HRH The Duchess of Sussex.” The present and card were shown on camera in a podcast interview Meghan gave with the entrepreneur about her life and work. A source has since clarified that the Sussexes do not use their HRH title commercially. PR expert Edward Coram James, founder of GoUp, suggested the couple may have hit a “tricky” road bump with their celebrity image compared to being a royal.
When asked whether PR strategies differ between royals and celebrities when projecting an image to the public, Edward said, “Definitely, and that difference becomes glaringly obvious when someone tries to cross from one world into the other.” He explained that despite no longer being working royals, they can not be considered celebrities either.
He continued: “Royal PR is about tradition. It’s about quiet dignity and a sense of service that transcends personality. Royals don’t need to go viral. They just need to show up, shake hands, cut ribbons, and let the institution speak for itself.
“Celebrity PR, on the other hand, is a different beast. It’s built on visibility, personality and emotional connection. You’re not just selling a message; you are selling yourself over and over again.”
Meghan, 43, recently launched a rebrand with the release of her Netflix series, With Love, her As Ever range, and her podcast, Confessions of a Female Founder with Lemonada.
It comes after the pair were spotted at Beyonce’s Cowboy Carter Tour and earlier this week attended a James Taylor concert.
Edward has suggested the couple has “hit turbulence” and is currently on “messy ground”, trying to retain their royal prestige while attempting a rebrand.
“That’s where, in my opinion, Meghan and Harry hit turbulence. They’ve stepped away from royal duties but still carry the royal shine (and the scrutiny). They’re not fully celebrities, not quite royals anymore, and that middle ground is messy,” he explained.
Edward went on: “Think back to 2021 and the Oprah interview. It marked a shift from service to storytelling, duty to personal narrative. That’s fine, in theory. But if you’re constantly reshaping your image, people start to wonder which version of you is real.”
However, it’s not all bad news for the couple as their non-profit organisation, The Archewell Foundation, could prove vital.
Edward explained: “I think their focus on their Archewell Foundation is a key part of their strategy. It allows them to project an image of purpose and impact, which is crucial for long-term brand building, especially when you’re in a sphere where authenticity and values are increasingly important to audiences.
In the end, Meghan and Harry are trying to balance being both celebrities and royals, and it’s a tricky situation. Their big move to Hollywood was meant to be a fresh start, a clean break from the royal spotlight. But when they continue to use the HRH title in their private lives, it hints that maybe they’re not quite ready to completely shed that royal image just yet.”
