Meghan Markle’s public image makeover is facing a setback as bullying allegations resurface.
A recent Vanity Fair The profile marking five years since Meghan and Prince Harry left royal life reignited allegations of bullying, putting her attempted rebranding in jeopardy.
Former staffers claim their experiences working with the Duchess of Sussex were so distressing they required “therapy”, echoing past accusations of her time at Kensington Palace.
Royal expert Tom Bower called the new revelations “devastating”, highlighting how they undermine Meghan’s efforts to present herself as a loving and approachable figure.
“The revival of her image as a difficult duchess tormenting her staff into seeking therapy to alleviate the misery of working for Meghan is a disaster,” Bower said.
Meghan’s next lifestyle show on Netflix, With love, Meghan — scheduled to launch in March — was supposed to “rebrand” her “as a loving and caring California mother and wife.” However, initial reactions to the project were lukewarm, with some critics calling it “sweet and silly.”
To further complicate matters, Prince Harry was depicted in the Vanity Fair article as “lost, outdated and naive”, which further damaged their shared public persona.
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams warned their brand was struggling to gain traction. “Allegations of bullying overshadow their philanthropic efforts, making it harder for them to rebuild public trust,” he said.
As their deal with Netflix comes to an end, experts believe the streaming giant could reconsider its partnership with the Sussexes, according to Fitzwilliams.
