Meghan Markle and Prince Harry could have made Royal Family exit ‘less controversial’

Meghan and Harry could have made move to America ‘less controversial’

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Dorothy Reddin

By Dorothy Reddin


Published: 31/10/2023

- 21:31

Updated: 31/10/2023

- 22:27

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex quit as working royals in 2020

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry could have made their exit from the Royal Family "less controversial", a royal commentator has claimed.

In 2020, the former Suits actress left the Royal Family to go to the United States with her husband, the Duke of Sussex.


Andy Barr, a PR commentator, argued that "better communication would have made the move less controversial and removed the tinge of sadness that many across the globe now feel".

Prince Harry has always maintained that leaving the Royal Family was the right thing to do to "protect [his] family".

WATCH NOW: Meghan Markle and Prince Harry told 'move to Canada'

But the PR commentator suggested the duke's decisions did not "resonate well with the Royal Family".

He explained: "Airing your family grievances via a globally best-selling book and a ground-breaking documentary was never going to resonate well with the Royal Family let alone their team of advisors.

"The real power play here was between the armies of communications and brand advisors that both sides employ.

"If the Royal Family and Harry had been more stern in their ruling that neither side should brief negative messages about each other to the press then much of the discussion could have been done behind closed doors, directly and with more dignity."

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry announced their intentions to 'step back' in January 2020

PA

He added that the Royal Family themselves "are clearly not blameless in this either and possibly took the mantra of 'never complain, never explain' too far".

Barr told The Mirror: "Whilst they garnered worldwide respect for not responding to every new sordid revelation, they could have better handled some of the more inflammatory elements such as the accusations of a physical altercation between Harry and William."

According to royal analyst Bonnie Brownlee, if the Duke and Duchess of Sussex had stayed in the UK, they might have helped the Royal Family rise in popularity among younger people.

Royal Family

Meghan and Harry's move abroad was 'controversial'

PA

Meghan Markle

Meghan 'could have brought a great deal of openness' to Royal Family

PA

Brownlee said: "Meghan could have been extremely helpful (to the Royal Family), especially in the Commonwealth… there are a lot of millennials around the world in the Commonwealth nations.

"I think Harry and Meghan would have been highly successful, and sometimes I think they didn’t realise how powerful they already were before they moved to Los Angeles."

Brownlee told True Royalty TV's The Royal Beat: "They could have brought a great deal of openness, fairness and change."

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