Harry & Meghan: A PR perspective on the big royal interview

Credits: Joe Pugliese/Harpo Productions/AP/dpa

Harry & Meghan: A PR perspective on the big royal interview

Month: March

Year: 2021

The interview of the year is still on everyone’s lips: When US talk show host Oprah Winfrey sat down with Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan for some explosive revelations about the royal family’s treatment of the former actress – from harassment to accusations of racism – the world watched in shock.

The publics’ reaction: mixed. Malicious tongues claim that Meghan in particular can’t let go of fame and does everything she can to stay in the limelight and earn a penny or two.

Those who are of this opinion, however, get new fodder with the latest news, as: The Sussexes are said to have signed huge deals with giant tech companies shortly before the big interview. These include Netflix with a triple-digit deal and Spotify with a double-digit million deal.

There is no doubt that the allegations from the interview are troubling to say the least. What is doubtful, however, is the timing. One might even argue that the royal couple’s accusations should have been made public immediately – so why wait?

As “old hands” in the business, Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan know exactly how to deal with the media and what information to use best, when and how. So it doesn’t come as a shock that the couple would use the momentum to cash in. For Meghan in particular, as a former actress, a deal with the steaming giant Netflix is more than beneficial – with it, documentary series and various other TV formats are virtually in the pipeline.

After the general debate on whether the royals intentions were pure or purely money driven, all eyes turned to Buckingham Palace. Would the Queen issue a statement in response or keep quiet over the allegations?

It is said Queen Elizabeth at first refused to sign an official statement. But on Tuesday evening (March 9), Buckingham Palace did release a message from the British royal family. A statement that was to the point, straightforward and yet laced with one or two digs.

From a PR perspective, we don’t think the Palace could have reacted any differently. Though brief, the couple’s accusations were addressed with earnestness and further rumors of a divided family were quashed with the final words, “Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much loved members of my family”.

Click here for the Queen’s statement: https://edition.cnn.com/2021/03/09/uk/buckingham-palace-response-harry-meghan-gbr-intl/index.html

Time will tell how and if the royal family will overcome this current crisis and whether Harry & Meghan will exploit the power of the media in the future. In any case, we think both parties have played their parts well in terms of PR.

The world is a very serious place right now, but this made us laugh in context of the Royal Interview: