Meghan Markle is facing a new challenge as she prepares to return to the UK for the first time in four years, a PR expert has claimed. The Duchess of Sussex is expected to join Prince Harry on his five-day trip to mark the one-year countdown to the Invictus Games in Birmingham next week.
First UK Visit Since 2020
While their full schedule has not been announced, Meghan is expected to accompany the duke on visits to the Royal Hospital Chelsea in London and an Invictus event at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham. This would be the first time in four years that Meghan has been seen publicly in Britain and the first time in six that she has carried out an official engagement. Her last official engagement as a working royal was in March 2020, when the Sussexes attended the Commonwealth Day service in London.
PR Expert Warns of Risks
Renae Smith, founder of PR and branding agency The Atticism, told the Daily Express: 'From what I can tell, unlike some of their previous appearances, this trip isn’t at all about Meghan. It’s about Harry, Invictus, and the work he’s spent years building.'
Smith added: 'Could Meghan humiliate herself? Absolutely. But equally, she has a real opportunity here to do something we haven’t seen very often, which is simply support her husband without becoming part of the story.'
Advice: Follow the Princess of Wales Approach
'If I were advising her, my advice would be very simple: take the Princess of Wales approach for this trip. Show up, support your husband, be warm, gracious and present, but don’t try to own the narrative,' Smith said.
Security Concerns
It is understood that Prince Harry and his security detail are working behind the scenes to try to ensure the visit can take place safely. A spokesman for the duke said: 'The duke continues to explore every available option to enable the visit to proceed safely and to give his children the opportunity to enjoy the UK.'
