There is growing talk about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s relationship, with some people wondering if they might be heading for a “professional separation,” according to a crisis management expert.
As rumors continue, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex seem to be focusing more on their projects, which has made people more curious.
Recently, Harry has been getting more involved in charity work and causes similar to his royal background, while Meghan is pursuing more business-related opportunities.
This change has caught the attention of their fans, many of whom are now wondering about the status of their relationship.
Although the couple has not officially talked about their different professional paths, Prince Harry recently addressed rumors about a personal split.
Speaking at the New York Times DealBook Summit, he denied claims about their supposed “split.”
In response to the rumors, Harry said: “Apparently we’ve bought or moved house 10, 12 times. We’ve apparently divorced maybe 10, 12 times as well. So it’s just like, what?”
He went on, talking about his experiences with media stories: “I’ve had a lived experience since I was a kid. I’ve seen stories written about myself that aren’t exactly based on reality. I’ve seen stories about members of my family, friends, strangers, all sorts of people.”
Harry said that growing up in this way taught him to question whether media reports are accurate. He also pointed out the danger these stories can cause, saying: “When you grow up within that environment, you do find yourself questioning the validity of the information but also what other people are thinking of that as well, and how dangerous it can be over the course of time.”
Even though Harry tried to clarify things, crisis management expert Drew Kerr has warned the couple about how their separate activities could be seen by others.
Speaking to The Daily Beast, Kerr said that if they keep appearing separately without explaining why, it could lead to more speculation from fans.
Kerr compared the Sussexes’ situation to that of Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez, whose relationship ended in a very public divorce earlier this year. He pointed out that staying silent about relationship rumors for too long can create more uncertainty among the public.
He explained: “One or two appearances apart is nothing. Adults are allowed to be independent in 2024. But if it happens regularly over a few weeks, with no explanation, then people might feel it’s okay to wonder if something else is going on.”
Kerr stressed that public figures need to carefully manage how they present their relationship and joint projects to avoid confusion.
He pointed out how Lopez and Affleck’s lack of communication on similar issues made the media pay more attention.
“‘Bennifer’ is the cautionary example here,” he said, adding that silence ‘does the talking’ for a couple and can make fans come up with their conclusions.
The expert also pointed out that not talking about their “joint brand” could make rumors worse.
With the Sussexes getting more attention for their separate projects, Kerr advised them to stay active in managing how the public sees them to avoid confusion about their relationship.
As Harry and Meghan continue to focus on their careers, people will likely keep a close eye on their actions.
Whether they choose to explain their decisions or let their separate paths speak for themselves, one thing is certain: rumors will continue unless they address them directly.
