Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Brand Is ‘Toxic,’ Expert Says, as the Two Try to Rebuild Without Each Other
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s marriage might be rock-solid, but the couple’s reputation has suffered a bit ever since the two stepped back from their senior royal roles in 2020. Since then, they have been trying to rebuild their brand name, but for so many years, the two have been tied to each other.
Now, Harry and Meghan have started making solo appearances. No, it doesn’t mean anything is wrong in their relationship, but one expert said the two as a unit were a “toxic” brand — and that’s why they’ve made the business decision to appear more often without each other.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s brand power as ‘the Sussexes’ has dropped, expert says
The names “Harry” and “Meghan” go hand-in-hand. And that’s fair, considering the two are in a very high-profile marriage. But the downside is that when they left the royal family and began telling their own story, both names were tied to drama. Harry and Meghan did an interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021, then a Netflix documentary in 2023, and Harry even released a memoir in 2024. But the choice to tell their own stories has resulted in a difficult reputation for the two.
“Since the famous Oprah interview, in which they took a simmering disagreement between themselves and the rest of the royal family and essentially declared all-out-war, that brand has been steadily becoming more toxic and thus commercially untenable,” PR expert Ed Coram James told GB News, according to Express. Coram was referring to the “Harry and Meghan” brand that ties the two so close together. Coram said that Harry and Meghan’s brand value as a couple has dropped, which has essentially forced them to reconsider doing things as one unit and instead approach their businesses independently.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle haven’t made public appearances together recently
When Harry and Meghan first moved to California, they were often appearing together at various public events. And while they still have a good marriage, they seem to have chosen to distance themselves from one another in terms of branding. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been spotted at events without each other in recent weeks, which seemingly does help them establish growth as independent people.
Harry remains focused on his charity work, while Meghan is building up her lifestyle brand. Harry recently traveled around the globe to attend various charitable events, and Meghan is currently filming a cooking show with Netflix and preparing to launch American Riviera Orchard.
