Opinion: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's brand faced 'unsussexful' year, but it's not over yet
The past 12 months has been a wild rollercoaster for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, to the point you could say it’s been quite unsussexful...The past 12 months has been a wild rollercoaster for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, to the point you could say it’s been quite unsussexful – pardon the pun. While they’ve seen highs and lows, I don’t think it’s the end of Meghan and Harry’s brand, as their future patiently awaits.
The year began with royal fans still engrossed with the Sussexes’ docuseries, which was released in December 2022. They didn’t have to wait too long for the next bombshell to drop from the pair. Days into the New Year and Prince Harry released his highly-anticipated memoir, Spare. It stayed true to the countless expectations we expected, from the feud with his brother Prince William to every gritty detail about his childhood. (We have tried to block out the frostbite passage, but nothing works).
As the couple stumble around trying to cement their place in the world with the Archewell Foundation and after leaving The Firm, they are signs they’ve managed to find their feet in some areas. The real question is whether 2024 will provide much-needed evidence on how lessons have been learned.
Prince Harry’s victory as he continues his fight
The Duke of Sussex was involved in six lawsuits this year. It was the time to fight back, it seems. The Duke of Sussex still has five cases ongoing, three against publishers and two in relation to the UK’s Home Office.
Last week, the dad-of-two won one of the sixth cases. He accused Mirror Group Publishers (MGN) of phone hacking in a bid to obtain stories published on him in the past. A High Court judge found he was the victim in 15 cases out of 33 submitted, and he was awarded £140,000 ($178,000). The court ruled his personal phone had been targeted between 2003 and 2009, and he was awarded damages for the distress caused.
His battle against publishers made him the first royal in 130 years to take to the witness stand earlier in the summer. He was joined by other claimants accusing MGN of obtaining information through unlawful means. Other celebrities came forward as part of the case, including TV star Michael Turner, actress Nikki Sanderson and Fiona Wightman.
Pal Omid Scobie, who recently published bombshell book Endgame, submitted evidence to the court which helped the celebrities’ case, Mr Justice Fancourt said. The former journalist worked as an intern on the entertainment desk.
After the win, his lawyer told the press while “slaying dragons will get you burned”, he will continue with his mission of an honest press.
Harry has been battling this fight for some time. Even his wife Meghan Markle took Associated Newspapers previously (publisher of the Mail Online) over a private letter she wrote to her dad.
Spotify axe and Meghan accepting podcast fate
A low point for the couple though came in the summer. Spotify announced they had come to an end of their reported $20 million deal mutually. Although, Scobie wrote in his book last month they fought over what they wanted to bring to the platform. He also claimed Meghan and Harry didn’t receive the full payout after the TV star’s podcast series, Archetypes, was axed after one short season.
It would have been a blow for the mom-of-two, who has been fighting for equality and women’s rights for several years. It seems the positive spin of discussing stereotypes and prejudice celebrities faced towards the path of fame didn’t reside with the average listener.
During the summer, she withdrew a copyright claim for the podcast name, appearing to accept that it was really coming to an end.
‘Toxic brand’ and distance between Harry and Meghan – experts
Another difficult time for the pair was when a PR expert called the Meghan and Harry’s brand ‘toxic’. This was down to the numerous TV appearances slamming the royal family after they left the firm. Harry and Meghan joined Oprah to discuss their hardship in The Firm in 2021, and the Duke did so again in a mental health series for Apple TV months later. Then their Netflix docuseries ripped open more wounds the following December, before his memoir Spare refused to let the cuts heal further. For the press tour for his upcoming memoir, Harry also spoke to ITV and a CBS Primetime special where he dived into issues again.
Due to the consistent digs at the royals across the Atlantic, according to experts, the PR consultant advised Harry and Meghan working separately was their best plan.
We did see that during the fall, with Harry opening the Invictus Games solo, with Meghan Markle’s absence well-known. Despite being billed to be there for the full Games, she arrived halfway through, but as supportive as ever.
The future of Meghan and Harry’s brand shouldn’t hang on The Firm
I do think the couple is heading in the right direction. The Sussexes airing the royal family’s ‘dirty laundry’ – according to experts – has calmed down. The latest official word from the pair on The Firm, came at the beginning of this year.
There, of course, has been instances of small hiccups. Say, their representative coming out to say they never received an invitation to King Charles birthday. This was branded as a dig by royal commentators for putting the blame on the palace for not sending an invite.
However, as Meghan said herself on a recent Red Carpet appearance, the duo have exciting projects coming up. And hopefully, they’re not connected to the royals. The couple, who say they are devoted to a better world and charity work, need the opportunity to prove what they’re able to do. They left the palace three years ago, and it’s time they found their own path.
