Prince Harry goes ‘back to basics’ with ‘Royal Family formula’ as ‘star power’ with Meghan Markle dwindles, says PR pro
PRINCE Harry and Meghan Markle’s ‘star power’ as a couple is dwindling, according to a PR expert.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have undertaken a number of solo engagements lately, and Mark Borkowski claims Harry is going back to his “Royal Family formula”.
At the start of this month, solo Prince Harry jetted to Lesotho in Africa in honour of his charity, Sentebale.
This followed a brief visit to the UK to hail a group of “little legends” honoured at an awards ceremony.
During the trip he did not see his father the King, or have any contact with his brother, Prince William.
Harry also recently attended a string of events in New York unaccompanied by his wife, and also did a surprise TV stint and tour of a haunted maze on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.
Meanwhile, the Duchess of Sussex stunned at the LA Children’s Hospital gala in early October, sporting a red gown she had upcycled from a previous event.
PR guru Mark Borkowski told Best magazine: “There has been a separation [of their work] for a while.
“Harry is ‘going back to basics’ with a formula that worked well for him as a Royal Family member, but there’s also the realisation that the couple’s ‘star power’ wasn’t as successful as they hoped.
“They had to change the narrative.”
Post-royal ventures
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped back from royal duties in 2020, and relocated to California, where they now live with their kids Archie, four, and Lilibet, two.
While they no longer do official royal visits, they have kept busy with a number of ventures, including a £82million Netflix deal and a now-defunct £15million Spotify deal.
The couple underwent a joint tour to Colombia in August and we also pictured together the day before Prince Harry’s birthday at the George Zajfen Tennis Tournament in Los Angeles.
However, Harry celebrated the night of his milestone 40th birthday without Meghan.
The duke went on a hiking trip with pals to celebrate his big day, leaving his wife and their kids at home.
Sources close to the couple insist it was Meghan who organised the lads’ trip.
Their separate plans, followed by Harry’s solo trips across the past few weeks, has sparked speculation surrounding their relationship.
However, a Sussex confidante addressed rumours, insisting: “It is normal for couples to not do everything together.”
Why did Prince Harry and Meghan Markle step back as senior working royals?
PRINCE Harry has always wanted out of the Royal Family and the repercussions will be felt for years, an expert has claimed.
The Duke of Sussex has lived in California with his wife Meghan Markle since 2020 after they dramatically quit their jobs as working royals and moved across the pond.
Katie Nicholl, who is Vanity Fair’s royal correspondent, told The Sun’s Royal Exclusive show that Megxit did not come as a surprise to her.
Speaking to The Sun’s Royal Editor Matt Wilkinson, the commentator explained: “Anyone who knows Harry is aware he’s always wanted a way out of the Royal Family.
“He’s said multiple times on the record that he wished he’d never been born a prince.
“I think he really is living the life he wants to now. It’s very, very sad that it’s played out the way it has.”
In a statement made on the Sussexes’ Instagram account as they stepped back in 2020, the pair wrote: “After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution.
“We intend to step back as ‘senior’ members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen.
“It is with your encouragement, particularly over the last few years, that we feel prepared to make this adjustment.
“We now plan to balance our time between the United Kingdom and North America, continuing to honour our duty to The Queen, the Commonwealth, and our patronages.
“This geographic balance will enable us to raise our son with an appreciation for the royal tradition into which he was born, while also providing our family with the space to focus on the next chapter, including the launch of our new charitable entity.”