Prince Harry must lean into his authenticity, a PR expert has advised, if the estranged royal ever wants to get back into the public’s good graces.
The Duke of Sussex has been routinely criticised following his decision to step down as an official working member of the royal family.
But after Harry’s recent appearance on the UK podcast Joe Marler Will See You Now, a PR expert has advised him to keep showing his personality outside of his dispute with his family.
“For Harry’s reputation, authenticity is his greatest asset,” Nick Ede told The Daily Express.
“This appearance moves him away from being viewed solely as someone caught up in royal drama and closer to being seen as a relatable husband, father and veteran with a good sense of humour.”
Ede said that Harry’s approach to talking about light-hearted events and steering clear of the past allowed viewers to see the royal in a different light.
“If he continues doing more conversations like this, rather than focusing on past grievances, it could be one of the smartest moves he’s made for rebuilding his public image,” Ede said.
“He has so often been seen through the lens of legal battles, family tensions and serious interviews, but here we saw a far more natural, relaxed and genuinely funny side of him.”
He added that if the 41-year-old continues opting for engagements in a less serious format, it would spark nostalgia for a young and lovable Prince Harry, as he was often depicted as a child.
“It reminded people of the Prince Harry many connected with years ago, someone warm, self-deprecating and able to laugh at himself, which is what Meghan saw in him too,” Ede added.
Despite legal battles and years-long brotherly rifts, royal commentator Tom Sykes also noted the Duke’s “happy and relaxed” demeanour during the appearance.
“Harry himself looks happy (relaxed, laughing, riffing) in a way we rarely see,” Sykes said on his YouTube show The Royalist with Tom Sykes.
Many fans also took to the comments section of the video to share their love for the interview.
“I love Harry! Solid, genuine, hilarious quick wit,” one fan said, while another wrote: “Harry is fantastic, it was hilarious”.
“I don’t know how y’all pulled this off, but bravo to everyone involved. Love to see this show do well,” a third user said.
The podcast was released just days after Harry and Meghan made a private visit to the UK with their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
The family reportedly reunited with King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Highgrove House in Gloucestershire on Friday in what sources described as a “private family occasion”, with no photographs released.
The meeting is understood to have taken place after Harry attended an Invictus Games event in Birmingham.
It marked the King’s first reported meeting with his grandchildren since 2022.