Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s team blasted for doing a ‘bad job’ after latest fury
As of Monday, March 23, 2026, PR and royal experts have delivererd a scathing verdict on Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s communications strategy, labeling their recent actions a "bad job" that has only served to "fuel the fire" of their current reputational crisis.
The criticism follows a "furious" statement issued by the Sussexes' spokesperson last weekend in response to bombshell claims from Tom Bower’s upcoming book, Betrayal: Power, Deceit and the Fight for the Future of the Royal Family.
1. The "Common Mistake" in Crisis Management
Renae Smith, founder and director of the PR agency The Atticism, told the Daily Express that the couple’s team made a "very common mistake" by engaging directly with the author's claims.
Amplification: By responding with a lengthy, "emotional" statement, the team inadvertently gave the book’s accusations "more life and, strangely, more credibility."
The "Thin-Skinned" Narrative: Experts argue the aggressive tone—which described Bower’s work as "deranged conspiracy"—reinforced the public perception that the couple is "thin-skinned" and unable to handle criticism.
The Expert Verdict: Smith suggested that the team should have either remained silent or issued a much shorter, more professional statement, rather than a "point-by-point" defense that essentially acted as free marketing for the book.
2. A "Nightmare" Pattern of Staff Turnover
The "bad job" labels are also being linked to the ongoing instability within the Sussexes' staff. Reports from early 2026 highlight a "crisis" at Archewell:
11th Publicist in 5 Years: The recent exit of Meredith Maines (Chief Communications Officer) and James Holt (the couple’s longest-serving aide) has left the team leaderless at a critical moment.
The "Impossible" Working Environment: Insiders have alleged that the team is often hindered by "frequent micromanagement" and a tendency to scrap professional strategies if they don't match "Meghan's instincts or Harry's mood."
Recruitment Struggle: Experts claim "top-tier talent won't touch the job" anymore, as potential hires are put off by the high turnover and the couple's habit of "quietly pushing out" staff when things go wrong.
3. The "Variety" Bombshell and Netflix Fallout
The timing of this "fury" is compounded by a devastating report in Variety on March 17, 2026, which detailed the "end of the road" for the Sussexes in Hollywood.
The "Flop" Label: The article claimed Netflix is "officially done" with the couple following the "ratings flop" of With Love, Meghan Season 2 and the $60M deal turning into a "nightmare."
PR Failure: Experts noted that the team failed to get ahead of the Variety story, leaving the couple looking "powerless" as the Hollywood trade press—once their strongest ally—turned against them.
"Reputation is Everything"
Brand expert Nick Ede warned that the couple’s authority is "visibly weakening" in 2026. He noted that in Hollywood, "reputation is everything," and the constant "messy" outbursts from their team are making them a "toxic association" for major brands and donors.
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