Prince Harry's guest spot on ex-rugby legend Joe Marler's podcast last week raised eyebrows, especially after it emerged that the Duke of Sussex contacted the show about collaborating, not the other way around. The revelation has led to accusations that his PR strategy is calculated and designed to copy his brother, Prince William.
Harry's podcast follows William's NFL appearance
Harry's appearance came shortly after Prince William's interview on NFL player Travis Kelce's podcast, released on July 3. While William focused on sports chat and playfully corrected Kelce's use of "soccer," Harry's episode was more personal, revealing his favourite reality show, his grooming routine, and advice for dealing with trauma.
Critics argue that Harry's move was aimed at damage control following a trip to the UK that was marred by negativity, including a row over accommodation at Buckingham Palace and the loss of a major lawsuit against the Daily Mail. Despite hopes that the podcast would invite positive comparisons with William, coverage has centred on Harry's on-air blunder and accusations that the episode was "cringeworthy."
PR strategy backfires
Eleanor Burleigh, writing for Express, said: "Harry might have hoped his podcast debut would invite positive comparisons with his brother - two progressive royals, adapting to a new media landscape and showing they can have a laugh, despite their ongoing estrangement. Instead, the antagonistic role the duke has cast himself in since stepping down as a senior royal... means rehabilitating his reputation is much easier said than done."
The duke can claim to be genuinely passionate about his family's security, rebuilding bridges with King Charles, and the Invictus Games, but he just can't escape the narrative that the most important thing to him is courting as much attention as possible.
