Meghan Markle could end up winning the British public's affection back if she continued her recent low-key approach during UK visits, a PR expert has claimed. The Duchess of Sussex made a quiet return to Britain last week, meeting King Charles and Queen Camilla privately with her children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
Low-Key Visit Avoids Controversy
Meghan's visit to Gloucester followed weeks of conflicting statements from her spokesperson about her travel plans. Prince Harry had initially expected his wife to join his five-day UK trip, but plans changed at the last minute due to security concerns, and Meghan made no public appearances.
PR expert Renae Smith, founder of The Atticism agency, told the Daily Express: “There were no explosive interviews, no bizarre side stories, no distracting controversies. Harry remained focused on Invictus and his charitable work, and perhaps most importantly, Meghan didn’t become the centre of the public-facing narrative in the way we’ve often seen before.”
Consistency Key to Winning Public Over
Smith said that while the trip was far from a PR disaster, it would not immediately fix the couple's image. “Will it ‘fix’ anything? I don't think so, not yet… If Meghan repeated this approach, say another ten times, then yes, I genuinely think people would slowly begin to soften towards her - even just slightly. People might eventually start saying, ‘Actually, she’s not making everything about herself anymore,’ or ‘Perhaps she’s just supporting her husband.’ But that’s the keyword: consistency.”
Royal Reconciliation Still Distant
Meanwhile, Harry's reconciliation with the Royal Family appears unlikely in the near future. Sources indicate his relationship with his brother, Prince William, remains deeply strained. The rift widened after a series of accusations from the Sussex camp and revelations in Harry's memoir, Spare, which the palace has never commented on.
During Harry's recent UK trip, the brothers were just 12 miles apart but did not meet. A source told People magazine: “It [their bond] is so broken. I thought it would have perhaps eased a little bit by now, to be honest. But there has been no movement, especially on William’s side. There is no contact.”
Expert: Healing Will Take Years
Smith noted that even with a more disciplined PR approach, a full reconciliation is still years away. The expert emphasised that the Sussexes need to maintain a consistent, non-controversial presence to slowly rebuild trust with both the British public and the royal family.
