Hollywood stars are distancing themselves from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to support the King and Prince William, a royal expert has claimed.
Josh Rom has claimed that while the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are trying to further their careers in Hollywood, they are falling out with celebrities “left, right and centre” – and that A-listers are opting to back King Charles and the Prince of Wales instead. The royal commentator highlighted while the Sussexes are “trying to retain relevance” in Hollywood with the likes of Netflix and Spotify, it was actually William who attended the BAFTAs last week.
The Prince of Wales was at the 77th British Academy Film and Television Arts Awards on Sunday last week where he was seen chatting with Cate Blanchett and David Beckham. And as Harry and Meghan recently launched a new website while they go through a “rebrand”, Mr Rom said it is “ironic” that William and Charles seem to be getting more support.
Speaking to Sky News Australia the day after the BAFTAs, he said: “I find it almost ironic that Prince Harry and Meghan are trying to make it in Hollywood, but yet it’s the King and Prince William that are receiving more support from the stage and screen.” The commentator also claimed that while Meghan had success as a “Suits” actress, she was “elevated” to the world stage since joining the Royal Family.
He said: “She was hardly Angelina Jolie, she wasn’t at the top of the A-list circuit. Certain sources have told me, before she was a royal, that she and her former press representative would be meeting the tabloids to get Meghan into the press to further her career.” He added: “She’s only been elevated to the world stage because of Prince Harry.”
But Mr Rom’s comments were played down by a PR expert who said the Sussexes seem to be “regaining their lost popularity” in Hollywood. From glamorous galas in Los Angeles to movie premieres in Jamaica, the couple is getting more and more comfortable with being in the spotlight again – and they are developing “Brand Sussex” in a new, positive light.
Meghan began easing her way back into the Hollywood scene back in November when she walked the red carpet at a Variety Magazine gala in Los Angeles. At the time, she even spoke to a reporter on the red carpet when she hinted that she and Harry “have so many exciting things on the slate”.
Lynn Carratt from Press Box PR has said that following Meghan’s appearance at the gala last November, and her defiant hint at exciting things on the way, “it sounds as if they are focussed on building their brand in 2024”. The Hollywood guru went on: “It has also been claimed the couple are planning on moving from their Montecito mansion to LA, to be closer to Hollywood.”
She noted that the couple’s popularity “is back on the up and they have lots of work offers on the table, but the couple is said to be picking quality over quantity.” She added that Meghan is on the books of talent agency WME, saying: “I’m sure they’ll be advising her on the type of work to take, but I firmly believe they need some strong PR support to ensure they doing to right things to enhance their popularity and change public perception.”
