People told Prince Harry and Meghan Markle that combining their royal ties with their activism as celebrities without a clear story could hurt the Sussex brand.
After updating their brand earlier this year, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have started a “PR blitz” in 2024. They have been busy with a number of engagements and projects, such as Meghan Markle’s lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard, their two new Netflix shows about polo and cooking, and their most recent “unofficial royal tour” in Nigeria.
However, their “unique hybrid brand” material was looked at by a public relations professional who told the Sussex couple that they need to have a strong and consistent story so they don’t confuse their audience, which could lessen the impact of their brand.
What a hybrid brand can’t do
When talking about well-known brands like Harry and Meghan’s, Renae Smith, founder and head of Atticism, said, “consistency is key.”
According to what she told the Express, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s current plan to combine royal authority with celebrity activism creates a unique hybrid brand, but it also has challenges as well as possibilities.
Their wide range of activities, such as making films, starting lifestyle brands, and helping people in need around the world, shows that they want to use their fame in a number of different areas.
“But from a public relations point of view, the fact that they don’t have a single story could confuse their audience and make their brand less powerful.” In this case, they might be “jack of all trades, master of none,” which could hurt their business.
“Consistency is key for brands, especially ones as well-known as Harry and Meghan’s,” Ms. Smith said. A message that is clear and stays the same helps build a strong brand that people can trust.
“When the message gets broken up, it can make people lose interest.” By focusing on a core set of related projects, they might be able to strengthen their brand and make a bigger impact.
Possible “Unofficial Royal Tours”
The PR expert also talked about the Montecito couple’s possible future “unofficial royal tours” abroad and said that they could improve their image overall, but they needed to pay attention to one important thing.
Her words: “About the idea of ‘unofficial royal tours,’ these could help them become seen as more caring and involved leaders on the world stage.”
“It is clear that these tours are part of a plan for them to stay involved in royal duties that fit with their personal goals of charity and advocacy.”
However, these tours would only be successful if they had real, measurable effects on the towns they visited, rather than just being high-profile events. It might help their credibility and authenticity with the public and the media if they can make sure that each tour leads to an ongoing good result.
Why do we need a clear mission statement?
According to Ms. Smith, Harry and Meghan’s “diverse initiatives” show that they have a lot of different interests, but they still need to connect them to a “central mission statement or cause.” This would help them keep their “brand strength and clarity.”
She said that they should focus on “fewer, more aligned projects” to make their brand story better and more logical.
“This focused approach will not only help in building a stronger connection with their audience but also in achieving more substantial, lasting change in their areas of interest.”
Harry and Meghan’s Future
It will be very important for Harry and Meghan to be able to keep their brand story consistent as they go through life after becoming royals. From media to charity work, the couple is involved in many things, and each has its own set of challenges and demands. To keep their royal background and their new roles as activists and media stars in balance, they need a plan to make sure they don’t lose their power.
The next few months will be important as Harry and Meghan work to improve their plan. They can improve their brand and solidify their position as important people on the world stage by making sure that all of their projects are focused on the same goal and that their public messages are consistent.
