The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s return to the UK could backfire if they fail to come up with a different script as to how they conduct their lives, a PR expert has warned.
Mark Borkowski branded Harry and Meghan’s bombshell news “extraordinary”, and suggested the royal family will not want them “back in the camp”.
He also said the U-turn raised a raft of questions as to how the couple would pay for their lifestyle, how their security will operate and be funded, and what Meghan will do in the UK.
The Sussexes on the Palace balcony in the years before Megxit (Paul Grover/Daily Telegraph/PA)PA ArchiveThe public relations and crisis expert told the Press Association: “If we’re going to see the typical Harry and Meghan three-ring circus, then we know what happens when that is played out.
“That leads to massive disruption, and ultimately if they’re going to use the same tools in the same way – they’ve got to come up with a different play and a different script – that’s just repeating the sins of the past.”
He added: “If they’re bringing that whole spin machine with them, then it is going to backfire.”
The couple, who have already enrolled their children in British schools to start in September, are set to remain private individuals and non-working members of the royal family when they move back to the UK six years on from the Megxit crisis.
Mr Borkowski said the Windsors will want to keep the Sussexes outside of the institution of the monarchy.
“The royal family will push against this big time. They will not want them back in the camp,” he said.
“They’ve got to do this by themselves. I don’t believe this is reconciliation with the royal household at all.”
The PR guru said it was natural for Harry to want to see his father the King and make sure his children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet have a relationship with their grandfather, who is living with cancer and still undergoing treatment.
The King, who was only told of the decision to return on Sunday, is said to be glad to be able to spend more time with the Sussexes, but remains adamant they will not be working royals and there is no half-in, half-out option.
William, Harry and Meghan with Charles in 2019 (Richard Pohle/The Times/PA)PA WireMr Borkowski suggested the gulf between estranged brothers Harry and the Prince of Wales would be a challenge to fix.
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“From people I’ve spoken to who do know something about it, that’s a very wide chasm. I think William will be rattled,” he said.
“It’s disruptive having the Cain and Abel story, isn’t it? You’ve got the errant brother back again and that’s not going to be easy for William, particularly if Harry whips up a huge amount of support.”
The public may still retain a “soft spot” for Harry and he could be “fantastic” for many different charities, Mr Borkowski said.
And he praised Meghan for giving up her life in California for the sake of her children and her marriage.
“She’s giving up her life to be back in the UK. She has always been seen as that pantomime villain in some ways, but it’s not her culture that she’s coming to so it’s a massive sacrifice for the family and the kids to be here, away from what she knows, to be thrown into a very critical world of her,” he said.
“So big respect to her for doing that for the sake of the kids, I assume, and also the sake of the marriage.”
Meghan is expected to run her lifestyle brand As Ever from the UK, but it is not yet known whether she will begin undertaking charity visits as a non-working royal or embark on other ventures.