Meghan Markle has been criticised by a PR expert after her latest interview revealed that she was formally announced by a member of staff to her guest, who visited her at a friend’s home for the chat. The Duchess of Sussex is featured on the front cover of the December 2025 issue of Harper’s Bazaar, with the interview being released online last week.
But Meghan’s interview raised eyebrows for all the wrong reasons, including her being announced when welcoming her guest. The magazine’s Kaitlyn Greenidge wrote: “We’re in a grand brownstone on the Upper East Side that belongs to one of Meghan’s friends. When I enter, the house manager announces, ‘Meghan, Duchess of Sussex,’ even though we appear to be the only other two people in the house.”
The incident has been savaged by royal watchers and fans alike, but now a PR specialist dubbed it “messy” and “cringeworthy,” adding that it damages her brand greatly, as well as her reputation.
Renae Smith, founder and director of The Atticism, told the Express: “The announcement is the part that made my stomach drop. Being formally announced as ‘Meghan, Duchess of Sussex’ in a private home is so painfully performative.
“That would have been planned. There is no universe in which something like that happens spontaneously. She either agreed to it or requested it. Either way, it is tone deaf.”
She added: “This is the stuff that shapes public opinion of her. Not the cover. From a PR perspective, it is messy (and the cringiest of cringe). And she is consistently messy. She desperately needs a proper brand strategist who has the authority to say no.
“Right now she looks confused, reactive and completely disconnected from what actually works for her.”
Ms Smith claimed that the overall photoshoot and interview was “self-centred” and dubbed the announcement “embarrassing”.
She said: “The inconsistency is what hurts her the most. Another Meghan mess….”
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.express.co.uk ’
