According to the rumor mill, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have gone through a split. Not a romanic split, you understand, but rather a professional one. The couple have been going solo to several events recently, and some experts claim this is a good thing.
While Harry and Meghan both appear to be very happy, speculation regarding their marriage ending has surfaced in recent months. The Duke decided to address these rumors in early December, but his behavior still suggests something is awry. Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond now claims that Harry is acting ‘strange.’ Sadly, the expert explains that there is a very tragic reason behind it.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been surrounded by rumors about a potential divorce in recent months. That they began undertaking solo appearances – rather than being glued at the hip, as previously – didn’t little to make those rumors go away. Of course, the fact that they’ve started branching out and aren’t always making tandem appearances could have a very reasonable explanation.
PR expert Ed Coram James believes that Harry and Meghan’s decision not to work together could be conscious. Speaking to the Mirror, Coram James explained that the Sussexes have had a “distinct brand as a duo for many years. But since the infamous Oprah interview–which basically was the start of the feud with the royals–their brand has become “more toxic” and “commercially untenable.”
The PR expert stated that big brands are most likely to be cautious about paying Harry and Meghan to work with them because of this.
“This is because the ongoing confrontation with the rest of the Royal Family, as well as much of Meghan’s family, have made them appear confrontational and combative, their string of commercial projects that haven’t worked out and have led to a sense that they aren’t the best producers. And their worldwide publicity tour made them look whiney, ungrateful, and unconscious to the enormous privilege that they have enjoyed,” Coram James told the Mirror.
“To overcome the obstacles of appearing spoiled, arrogant, immature, attention-seeking, aggressive, fight-picking, hypocritical, and incompetent is very tricky. But, it is achievable. To do it, they need to lean into the exact opposites of these labels. The first step in this always had to be to dissociate themselves from the brand that had achieved such labels in the first place.”
Expert says Prince Harry made “smart” move to appear without Meghan
Coram James continued: “When combined, the Sussexes brand is, from a PR perspective, toxic. But, when separate, they have a genuine chance of creating an entirely separate brand with completely different labels. If they manage to achieve this, then one day they could again reunite brands, and create a new combined brand that works.”
While Meghan Markle has focused on her lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard, Harry puts much of his energy into the project closest to his heart, The Invictus Games. In late November, the estranged prince was in Vancouver to promote the games, which will be held in the Canadian city next year, and he did so without Meghan. Although the Sussexes have had a very successful year with trips to Nigeria and Colombia together, PR expert Riley Gardiner states that Harry did better when appearing alone.
“It’s a smart move for Prince Harry to promote the Invictus Games on his own this year,” Gardiner told the Express. “It means the spotlight can stay on the games and away from every little thing Meghan does.”
“He’s showing respect for the athletes and the cause without any distractions. With the launch of the school programme, Harry is helping teach kids about heroism and resilience,” the PR expert concluded. “He’s fostering empathy and understanding from a young age, like the charitable work his mum championed.
“Happy, confident, and comfortable”
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have shown a united front when appearing together in the past, smiling at each other, and even dancing in front of the locals and the world press when they were in Colombia. Still, during his Vancouver outing, there was a noticeable change in Harry’s dynamic. Harry appeared “happy, confident, and comfortable” despite spending time apart from his wife, body language expert Judi James claimed.
“Harry’s body language in Canada shows him in his element: relaxed, excited, cheerful and apparently adoring the approval of the large crowd. Gazing up at the crowd in the stadium signals a happy desire to bask in their attention and to register his own popularity,” she told the Mirror.
James not only studied Harry’s Vancouver outing, but also how Meghan Markle acted while appearing solo. The former Suits star has been rumored to want back in front of the camera, though nothing has been officially confirmed at the time of writing. Nonetheless, over the years, several sources close to the Sussexes have painted a picture that the Sussexes are aiming to be a part of the Hollywood elite.
Sadly, it’s also claimed that they lose friends because of how they handed their departure from the Royal Family. For example, David and Victoria Beckham have been rumored not to want anything to do with the estranged royal couple anymore. In recent weeks, Meghan Markle has been seen on the red carpet several times, and the Duchess has appeared solo at glamorous events.
Meghan Markle ‘puts on a different smile’ when appearing solo, expert claims
On December 4, she attended the Paley Center for Media Gala at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, to honor her friend — and godfather to Princess Lilibet — Tyler Perry. Meghan smiled and posed for the cameras, and according to Judi James, the red carpet events marked a new era for her. She has now left the Royal Family connection and activated her “celebrity mode.”
“Meghan’s red carpet body language behavior without Harry at her side to pose with seems to be taking on a signature shape,” James told the Mirror. “[Meghan] presents primarily in celebrity mode rather than royal. Her solo poses like this one tend to be sideways on, with a tentative-looking hand-to-hand touch but then there is the ‘money shot’ where she looks at the cameras over her shoulder in a rather more flirtatious glance.”
Harry and Meghan have always put on their best smiles for the cameras, both during their time as members of the Royal Family and, of course, after their exit. However, according to Judi James, the Duchess puts on a different grin when she is alone compared to when with her husband.
“[Meghan] smile is constant, but this smile is less gleeful than Harry’s are recently,” Judi stated. “Where he tends to project a sense of fun and a desire to showboat for the cameras, Meghan’s chin is very slightly ducked and her smile is a social smile with a hint of vulnerability.”
Prince Harry addresses divorce rumors from Meghan
She added: “There is also an air of vulnerability in [Meghan’s] limpet behaviors when she spots a friend to pose with,” she shared. “She does the crouching walk and hand-hold building up to a hug and gives the impression of being grateful to have someone to show off her warmth and the strength of her friendship relationships with them.”
And while Harry and Meghan might have gone through something of a separation when it comes to their professional careers, their getting a divorce will not be happening anytime soon. The Duke appeared at the The New York Times DealBook Summit on December 4, answering questions about his and his wife’s professional “separation.”
Interviewer and columnist Andrew Ross Sorkin stated that the media is very interested in Harry and Meghan and that people are “fascinated by everything you’re doing, all the time.” Sorkin continued by asking why the Sussexes aren’t appearing together anymore.
“Is that normal for you?,” Sorkin asked. “The second there’s an article – she’s in California, you’re in New York – they say, ‘Well, what is happening with these two, right?’ Is that a good thing for you, in a way, that there’s so much interest in you?”
Harry replied, “No, that’s definitely not a good thing,” and continued to refer to the gossip about them.
“I’ve had a lived experience since I was a kid”
“Apparently, we’ve bought or moved house 10, 12 times. We’ve apparently divorced maybe 10, 12 times as well. So, it’s just like, what? It’s hard to keep up with, but that’s why you just sort of ignore it. The people I feel most sorry about are the trolls.”
Harry continued by reflecting on the enormous media attention he’s gotten since his early days. When he was only a child, the papers were full of stories about his mother, Princess Diana. Moreover, Harry could read about how his parents’ marriage was struggling, and even though not everything written was true, it was still there for him to take in.
“I’ve had a lived experience since I was a kid,” Harry explained. “I’ve seen stories written about myself that aren’t exactly based on reality. I’ve seen stories about members of my family, friends, strangers, all sorts of people.”
“And I think when you grow up within that environment, you do find yourself questioning the validity of the information but also what other people are thinking of that as well, and how dangerous it can be over the course of time.”
The fact that Prince Harry had lived his whole life in the spotlight, as well as getting to read all about his family members and experiencing extreme tragedy with the loss of his mother, has “damaged” him, one royal expert says.
Prince Harry shows ‘inconsistencies in behaviour’ after divorce rumors, expert claims
In an interview with OK!, former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond stated that Harry has a few personality traits that have made his public life quite tricky, especially when keeping his family safe. The Sussexes have been denied extra protection in the UK, which is why Harry has decided not to return to his home country with his children.
“Harry is stubborn,” Bond said. “And he is also understandably damaged by what happened to his mother. Who can blame him for being so protective about his wife and children?”
“Especially when he is also an ex-serviceman who served in Afghanistan,” she continued. “Yes, there are glaring inconsistencies in his behaviour…..living in a gun toting culture; going with Meghan to Nigeria and Colombia. But he has picked a fight with the Home Office….and he has the balls to see it through. He will have to live with the consequences. But the case is jeopardizing his relationship with his father.”
Bond concluded: “I have some sympathy with his despair about the media…and social media in particular, with the trolls who peddle unsourced nonsensical rubbish about his marriage,” she said. “He says he is happy. I believe him. Let’s stop trying to make trouble in a marriage we know nothing about.”
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