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In a realm where celebrity brands often shine brightly, the story of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry serves as a cautionary tale of ambition marred by missteps. Despite reportedly investing thousands, if not millions of pounds into building their brand, their efforts have devolved into what can only be called a monumental disaster.
Take for example their recent venture Archewell Audio which launched in March 2021 with high hopes of producing compelling podcasts. However, it has failed spectacularly at gaining meaningful audience attention. Only one episode of their Spotify podcast has been released so far, debuting on Christmas 2020 to lukewarm reviews. They have yet to deliver on the promised slate of programming, leaving listeners wondering if the venture will ever fulfill its potential.
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Some have argued that Meghan would have been better advised to brand herself independently as just "Meghan" or "Meghan Markle" initially. As a former actress, her name alone carried considerable recognition and goodwill prior to joining the royal family. However, her attempts since to forge an entirely new identity tied directly to royal ties and Prince Harry have proven problematic.
A prime example is the launch of her now infamous "Archetypes" podcast which made headlines last year for all the wrong reasons. The idea of Meghan exploring the labels that try to hold women back seems a worthwhile endeavor. However, the execution has been perplexing. No new episodes have materialized in the year since its announcement, leading audiences to question if it was more style over substance.
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Adding to the bizarre branding decisions was Meghan's promotion of her "Meghan's Homemade Jam." A seemingly quaint product that portrayed the Duchess casually puttering in the kitchen surrounded by wholesome jam-making references. However, no actual jam was produced or available for purchase. The event sparked ridicule as the public wondered what branding purpose it truly served beyond momentary positive press.
It raises important questions about who is advising Meghan and Harry in their efforts to establish independent brands. Some ventures like lucrative Netflix and Spotify deals show potential, but execution has so far been lacking. Meanwhile, others like the jam garner more mockery than genuine customer interest. It seems the projects attracting the most success and loyalty are often the lower-key, less hyped initiatives.
The efforts have not been aided by a string of underwhelming public appearances from both the Sussexes of late. Just as Prince Harry was spotted giving speeches in New York this year that lacked true substance or connection with audiences, Meghan too has been criticized for relying more on rhetoric than resonance.
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Unlike his brother Prince William who steadily builds respect and influence through compelling orations on issues of global importance, Harry often appears aimless; reading from auto-cued speeches that fail to ignite passionate responses. His limited ability to engage crowds only exacerbates the perception that both he and Meghan's brands struggle for a clear direction or significance.
Adding to questions around their identities is the peculiar emergence of a Sussex emblem pin recently spotted being worn by Prince Harry's staff members. While only a small symbol, it has triggered speculation that it could be monetized as branded merchandise. However, doing so may breach the former royals' agreements with the crown which restrict their ability to profit from associations with the monarchy. The very existence of the pin itself begs consideration about what message the Sussex brand is intending to portray.
At a much larger scale, Meghan and Harry find themselves at a critical crossroads as the holiday season fast approaches. Traditionally October marks the point for brands to gear up new offerings and activations for the busy Christmas period. Yet for the Sussexes, their ventures appear nowhere near ready to capitalize. Having pulled away abruptly from older endeavors like their Archewell foundation, they face uncertainty around crafting a clear new vision.
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According to reports, Meghan's team is pushing for her to retreat temporarily and let mounting controversies dissipate before re-emerging stronger in 2025. However, past behavior of abruptly dropping unfinished projects like her unfinished children's book "The Bench" gives fair reason to doubt her ability to regroup and rebuild in a credible way. After two years of apparent floundering, can the couple truly refocus their brands and reconnect with audiences through enterprises people genuinely want to support? Only time will tell if their ambitions can be salvaged or if missteps have caused damage beyond repair. For now, the road ahead remains shrouded in uncertainty and struggling to break through the noise surrounding their deflated celebrity brands.
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