Prince Harry And Meghan ‘At A Crossroads,’ Expert Warns

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle may be approaching a pivotal moment in their careers as they balance philanthropy with entertainment and business ventures.

A PR expert revealed that the royal couple appears to be at a “crossroads,” needing to decide whether to focus fully on global charitable work or lean into lifestyle entrepreneurship.

This report comes on the heels of Meghan Markle’s brand, As Ever, ending its partnership with Netflix, and several projects from Archewell Productions remaining in development limbo.

According to PR expert Mayah Riaz, Harry and Meghan may be approaching a pivotal moment in their professional lives as they now face an important decision about how they want to position themselves publicly.

Speaking to The Mirror, Riaz suggested the couple are at a “crossroads” and must choose whether to focus entirely on global philanthropy with “measurable impact, or fully embrace lifestyle entrepreneurship and own it unapologetically.”

Since stepping back from royal duties and relocating to the United States, Harry and Meghan have attempted to balance charitable work with projects in the media and entertainment world.

However, Riaz believes straddling both areas may have created confusion about their overall brand. “In the current media climate, confusion is the quickest route to indifference,” she explained.

Riaz also pointed out that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex no longer benefit from the institutional support of the British monarchy.

“Without that framework,” she said, “they are competing in a very crowded celebrity marketplace.”

The expert added, “In today’s world, star power alone is not enough. You need a clear lane and a compelling reason for people to keep watching.”

Although Harry and Meghan remain internationally recognized figures, Riaz suggested that titles alone cannot guarantee long-term influence or relevance.

She added that while the couple previously drew attention through revelations about royal life, “controversy within the royal family does not automatically translate into opportunity for those outside it.”

The PR expert also noted that Harry and Meghan “initially generated empathy” by sharing their story; however, it has now lost its luster as their story has been “told from many angles.”

“To reignite that spark, they need a chapter that feels fresh and forward-looking. This should be about less commentary on what went wrong, more clarity on what they are building next,” Riaz added.

Meanwhile, Meghan’s lifestyle brand As Ever recently ended its partnership with Netflix, marking another shift in the couple’s professional trajectory.

The brand confirmed the decision in a statement shared with ABC News, and Netflix also acknowledged the end of the collaboration, praising Meghan’s vision.

In addition to the duchess’s brand’s separation from Netflix, Harry and Meghan are reportedly facing uncertainty surrounding several other projects with the streaming platform through their company Archewell Productions.

In August 2023, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced they would produce a film adaptation of “Meet Me at the Lake” by author Carley Fortune, after Netflix reportedly paid about $3 million for the rights to the bestselling novel.

However, nearly three years later, the project is still considered to be in development and has yet to secure a director or cast, according to sources who spoke with Page Six.

One Hollywood insider suggested the lengthy development timeline has raised eyebrows in the industry, noting: “Three years in development for a movie like this at Netflix isn’t good.”

Another planned project by Harry and Meghan, an adaptation of “The Wedding Date” by Jasmine Guillory, is said to remain in development at Netflix with little visible progress so far.

The couple also presented a documentary titled “Cookie Queen,” which recently premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.

The film, centered on the world of Girl Scout cookies, reportedly received positive feedback at the festival but has yet to secure a distributor or streaming platform.