Prince Harry and Meghan Face Fresh ‘Toxic Brand’ Warning
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are facing renewed scrutiny over their post-royal Hollywood prospects after a US report said PR and royal commentators believe the couple’s appeal to entertainment partners is weakening. The claims come as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex prepare to travel to Australia for a privately organised four-day programme of engagements.
Fox News reported that Netflix last month said it was parting ways with Meghan’s “As Ever” lifestyle brand, after the streamer had already downgraded the couple’s wider deal to a first-look arrangement in 2025.
Speaking to Fox News Digital, PR adviser Dr Doug Eldridge, founder of Achilles PR, argued that “interest and eyeballs” drive investment decisions in Hollywood and suggested the Sussexes’ public “temperature” has cooled following a series of high-profile moves. He also described the couple as being on an “endless treadmill” of rebrands, adding that repeated reinventions can make it harder for audiences to understand how to categorise them.
The discussion comes as the pair prepare to begin a trip to Australia, which royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams described as a “huge gamble” and not officially sanctioned by the Royal Family; Britpop News has also reported details of Prince Harry and Meghan’s planned four-day Australia trip.
According to the report, Prince Harry is due to deliver a keynote speech at the InterEdge Psychosocial Safety Summit in Melbourne, while Meghan is scheduled to headline a luxury women’s retreat in Sydney, events that have drawn attention for their ticket prices and the balance between charitable work and commercial appearances. The couple’s Australia plans, and the questions raised about future deals, are likely to keep their brand strategy under the spotlight in the weeks ahead.
