Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Keep Being Accused of Pulling PR Stunts
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry have been receiving a lot of negative press ever since they moved to the U.S. back in March. Not only have the couple been criticized for the topics they discuss in their speeches, critics have also accused Meghan and Harry of pulling PR stunts. Recently, the Sussexes allegedly made a PR move that was dubbed “phoney” from some onlookers.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry were once accused of turning charity visits into PR opportunities for their image
After moving to California, Meghan and Harry continued to carry out work with various nonprofit organizations. They had Zoom meetings and even participated in charity work themselves by delivering meals during the pandemic and planting flowers with schoolchildren.
However, some of these charity visits have been called “self-serving PR opportunities” by observant fans. This is because the Sussexes often broadcast their visits to the world instead of simply doing them under the rader. Additionally, many of their photos were taken by the same photographer, Matt Styles, leading some people to believe their PR team was behind these outings.
One fan on Reddit wrote, “They are treating American charity the same way they would treat a charity as a working royal–that all they need to do is show up and be photographed and that visibility is beneficial enough to make a difference. Coupled with their brand building it comes off as disingenuous and just about boosting their own profiles by showing up and being photographed ‘being charitable.’”
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are accused of pulling more PR stunts
Recently, Meghan and Harry also received PR stunt accusations for something else they did.
On Nov. 8, the royal family laid wreaths for fallen soldiers of World War I, known as Remembrance Day in the U.K. and other Commonwealth nations. Harry, who is still in the U.S., allegedly wanted a wreath laid on his behalf, but his request was denied by the palace.
Meghan and Harry subsequently visited Los Angeles National Cemetery to have their own memorial service. However, their decision was met with criticism. Some onlookers even accused Meghan and Harry of trying to take attention away from Queen Elizabeth and the rest of the royal family.
“Working for The Sun, all of our focus that day was on the Queen, on Kate, on Charles, on William, on Camilla,” journalist Dan Wootton said, according to Express. “These pictures [that Meghan and Harry took] dropped at 8pm when all the papers are deciding what their front pages are. The direct result is that it pushed off, or reduced the photos of Queen and William.”
Wootton continued, “I know that is what Meghan and Harry like to do. They like to time these stunts. Why could they not go in private? There was absolutely no need to release these photos and overshadow the Queen on her big day.”
Meanwhile, Express shared that royal expert Angela Levin called Meghan and Harry’s event “incredibly phoney.”
She said, “To get a fashion photographer, it looked like a fashion shoot to me, and to go along with very, very high heels and to look very gloomy and sad… It looked as if you were using the concrete tombstones as props to create an impression.”
