Meghan and Harry's Europe visit 'own goal' as Sussexes struggle with PR strategy

EXCLUSIVE: Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have been struggling to settle on a successful strategy to promote themselves and their brand since quitting the British Royal Family.

Meghan and Harry hand in hand at Invictus Games

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's strategy for their visit to Europe earlier this month was a "foreseeable own goal", a public relations expert has claimed.

The Duchess of Sussex joined her husband to attend the latest edition of the Invictus Games a few days after the Duke arrived in Düsseldorf, Germany to open the Games.

Meghan apologized to the contestants upon her arrival, citing her desire to spend more time with their two children Archie and Lilibet.

Her delayed arrival sparked comparisons with sister-in-law Kate, the Princess of Wales – who skipped the Earthshot Prize summit in New York altogether to be around for her three children.

But public management expert Edward Coram-James told Daily Express US the couple's Germany visit is the latest in a series of other "missteps" they took over the past year, noting it sparked a reaction the couple could have predicted and prepared for.

Invictus Games Düsseldorf 2023 - Day 4

Harry and Meghan's popularity took a hit after the release of their docuseries and his memoir (Image: GETTY)

Coram-James said: "This was an entirely foreseeable own goal from the Sussexes. It may well be that they do not expect, at this stage, the same benefit-of-the-doubt-based leeway given to the Cambridges.

"But, in the past year, I’ve learned never to be surprised by the Sussexes inability to coherently navigate the media landscape (although they’re doing a much better job of it now than they were eight months ago).

"To be fair to the Sussexes, putting some professional distance between themselves is absolutely the right move."

He argued Harry and Meghan's apparent attempt to focus on causes they care about independently could ultimately help them revive their brand – and reclaim public support.

Invictus Games Düsseldorf 2023 - Day 4

Harry and Meghan have shown their support for each other's work (Image: GETTY)

2022 Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Ripple Of Hope Gala

Meghan and Harry have been trying to win back public support (Image: GETTY)

While Harry has spent the past month traveling to Asia and Europe to support his charities, Meghan has been tipped to be working on the relaunch of social media profiles and her blog.

The  GoUp founder claimed: "By reducing their professional co-dependency, they will be hoping for a brand reset.

"This is a wise move, and it may well work. No matter what their biggest online detractors say, for the majority of people, brand reputations can almost always be revived given time, space and the right strategy."

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