Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's 'professional split' could 'work in their favour over the long term'

Prince Harry visited New York, London and Southern Africa to undertake solo engagements.

Meanwhile, Meghan attended events such as independently supporting the LA Children's Hospital Gala and planning to launch her lifestyle brand.

Renae Smith, a PR expert and founder of Atticism, believes that this strategy "could indeed work in their favour over the long term, although it's bound to spark a fair amount of public speculation in the short term."

She added: "From a PR perspective, this shift might allow each of them to create distinct brands that better reflect their different priorities and resonate more coherently with their individual audiences."

"The Sussex brand has certainly faced challenges in maintaining both momentum and a cohesive identity.

“A big part of this difficulty likely stems from their differing interests, which don't naturally mesh into one unified Sussex narrative.

Smith continued: "With the Sussex brand likely not having reached the impact they'd envisioned, this step toward individual brands may reflect a natural evolution.

“In some ways, that broader brand may even have become a burden, diluting the clarity and focus they both might need to connect more authentically with the public.

The Sussexes' debut Netflix series, Harry & Meghan, was a massive hit on the streaming platform and broke several records.

However, it has been nearly two years since its release in December 2022, and the couple have yet to produce another joint project for Netflix.

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Smith said: “By going solo, they can build brands that feel genuinely reflective of their own values, without the need to constantly align with each other's interests.

"Public perception will be a critical factor in this shift, and I anticipate they'll both face a lot of scrutiny in the near term.

"However, this approach could also offer them the pivot they need to build long-term, sustainable brands with real impact, brands that are more precise and authentic, which today's audiences tend to respond to."

The couple are thought to be working on separate Netflix documentary reported to be dropping at the start of next year.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have also taken their "first step in investing their Netflix millions in property portfolio" with their new Portugal property.

The royal couple of Sussex stepped down as official working royals in January 2020.