The carefully curated public image of Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, has once again sparked intrigue after photographs of the couple at a star-studded birthday celebration for Kris Jenner were abruptly removed from social media.
The Disappearing Act at a Glitzy Affair
Prince Harry and Meghan were among the A-list guests at reality TV matriarch Kris Jenner's 70th birthday party, held at the luxurious California megamansion of billionaire Jeff Bezos. The event, which took place last weekend, featured a 007 theme. Harry looked the part in a suave tuxedo, while Meghan turned heads in a custom-fitted black roll neck top and matching skirt, reportedly a bespoke Balenciaga creation.
This high-profile appearance marked their second event of the day, following their attendance at the Baby2Baby charity gala in West Hollywood, where they supported Meghan's close friend, tennis legend Serena Williams. Photos from the charity event, showing the couple beaming, remain publicly available.
A Strategic Removal or a Simple Request?
The mystery began when both Kris Jenner and her daughter, Kim Kardashian, initially posted images from the birthday bash that included Harry and Meghan. However, these photos were swiftly deleted from their social media profiles, leaving royal watchers puzzled.
According to sources cited by People magazine, the deletion was due to a consent form the couple had signed upon arrival at the party. The form explicitly stated that they did not want photographs of themselves to be published. This explanation, however, raises questions about their public strategy, given their willingness to be photographed at the charity gala earlier the same evening.
The PR Perspective on Image Control
Mayah Riaz, a PR and communications expert, provided insight into the likely reasoning behind the photo removal. She suggested the decision was far from accidental, given the media-savvy nature of both the Kardashian-Jenner family and the Sussexes' own team.
"One possibility is that the Kardashians’ team decided the images might draw unwanted attention or controversy," Riaz explained, noting the potential sensitivity around the timing of Remembrance events. "Distancing themselves could simply be a case of brand protection."
Alternatively, the request may have originated from Harry and Meghan's camp. Their team is known for meticulously managing their public narrative. "They might have requested the images be taken down if they felt the coverage didn’t align with their messaging or could be seen as inappropriate given the circumstances," Riaz stated.
The expert drew a clear distinction between the two events the couple attended. The Baby2Baby gala, a charitable function, "bolsters their public image" by aligning with their promoted values of philanthropy. In contrast, a lavish private party hosted by a billionaire poses a greater risk of "tabloid scrutiny."
Reports from the Daily Mail indicated that Kim Kardashian was frustrated by the request, questioning the inconsistency after the couple had been photographed elsewhere. Despite this, the PR perspective remains clear: it all comes down to control and ensuring every public appearance supports the specific narrative the Sussexes wish to project.
