Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, are returning to live in the UK, a move that has surprised many. Experts suggest the couple's brand is at a crossroads, as their projects since leaving the Royal Family in 2020 have largely struggled to attract significant audiences.
Andrew Stephen, L'Oréal professor of marketing at the University of Oxford's Saïd Business School, noted that while the Sussexes initially monetised attention effectively, they have not converted this into an enduring brand. He described their current portfolio as fragmented, spanning social impact, entertainment, and lifestyle, making their brand's core unclear.
Meghan's lifestyle range, As ever, launched a blackberry spread in late July. The Duchess is also reportedly in talks for a role in the Netflix series The Gentlemen, which would mark her first significant acting role since her marriage to Prince Harry.
Branding expert Susan Fournier highlighted the risks of the couple's shifts between projects, stating that frequent changes can undermine brand consistency. Stephen suggested that focusing on a coherent portfolio of businesses and credible causes could be a solution for the couple.