Meghan Markle advised to leave royal drama behind to build successful brand

As Meghan Markle expands her portfolio with lifestyle and media ventures, a leading PR strategist has advised the Duchess of Sussex to step back from royal commentary and concentrate on authentic storytelling that aligns with her values.

Joseph Hagan, publicist and founder of Streamline PR, said the Duchess is at a pivotal moment in her public career. 

“Meghan Markle is navigating a particularly complex media landscape,” he told the Express. 

“Her public image has been subject to intense scrutiny and polarising coverage, especially in the UK, where the tone of reporting has often been markedly different.”

According to Hagan, Markle’s next moves are “especially significant” and present an opportunity to redefine her narrative. 

“If Meghan is considering her future in the entertainment or media space, the most powerful move would be to pivot away from reactive narratives tied to the Royal Family and instead focus on purposeful, values-led storytelling,” he said.

“Audiences want to see depth, consistency and leadership, not commentary,” he said. 

“The strongest brand move Meghan can make now is to build a long-term narrative rooted in creativity and cultural relevance, rather than public explanation or rebuttal.”

Hagan’s remarks come as other branding experts have critiqued the strategy behind Meghan’s lifestyle label As Ever, which recently released its second batch of Napa Valley rosé wine. Nick Ede, a brand and culture expert, told Newsweek that Meghan’s marketing strategy needs more consistency.

“There hadn’t been a newsletter from As Ever for three or four weeks,” he noted. 

“That’s the biggest problem here - it feels like there keep on being these stop-starts. It’s not a consistent brand yet, it doesn’t have a story.”

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