05 March 2024 , 22:58
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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle could "restore their public image" with the help of Princess Diana’s legacy, a PR expert has claimed.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have suffered a blow to their popularity in recent years after relocating to the US following their controversial exit from the Royal Family in January 2020. Since quitting the UK, Harry and Meghan have further distanced themselves from the monarchy after making a series of allegations in an tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021, as well as Harry’s explosive memoir Spare, which was released in January last year.
However, PR expert Tamara Colbert from MTG Media believes the couple can boost their popularity if they aligned their public image closely to Harry’s late mother Diana, who tragically died in 1997. "If I were Harry and Megan's publicity agent, I would advise them to focus on rebuilding and nurturing relationships with both their personal connections and the wider public," she began.
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Princess Diana left behind a incredible and inspiring legacy (Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images)
Even decades after her death in 1997, she's still considered an international icon (Getty Images)"Reconnecting with the public on a more humble and relatable level could help restore their lustre and align their public image more closely with the legacy of Princess Diana's compassion and humanity," Tamara told Daily Express US. Their popularity has suffered a serious blow, and in January a poll by Ipsos revealed that 47 percent of adults in the UK had an unfavourable opinion of the prince, with only 23 percent still supporting him. Meanwhile, Diana’s ratings are almost always positive across all age groups, thanks to her incredible legacy.
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The late Princess of Wales remains a beloved figure, 27 years after her death in Paris, and she became an international icon thanks to her dedicated charity work. Diana raised awareness for causes such as domestic violence, AIDS and leprosy, as well as supporting an international treaty to ban landmines. Tamara believes that if Harry and Meghan focus on their charity work, that it could work to boost their public profile.
Harry and Meghan have been urged to align themselves with Diana's legacy (Getty Images)“Aligning with causes close to their hearts and demonstrating a commitment to making a difference, without the overt pursuit of publicity, can reflect their values and dedication to positive change,” she explained, as she insisted there was still “potential” for the couple to “turn the tide” of public opinion. However, she warned it was a “delicate balance” and urged Harry and Meghan to focus on “honouring their personal truth” rather than just popularity.