Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond has commented on the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's post-royal careers, noting the irony of Meghan Markle's reliance on social media for her brand while both she and Prince Harry have campaigned for safer online spaces.
Since stepping down as senior royals in 2020 and moving to the United States, Harry and Meghan have pursued separate professional paths. Meghan has focused on her lifestyle brand As Ever, recently rebranding her social media accounts and website with a fresh look. A video shared on Instagram showcased the brand, stating: 'Welcome to the World of As ever. What began with fruit from Meghan’s garden, simmered into preserves in her home kitchen, has inspired our curated collections to bring surprise and delight to your everyday.'
Bond told the Mirror that Meghan's online presence is crucial for her business success. 'I think she’s right to keep everything fresh and new. We all know that most people these days suffer from having the concentration of a gnat,' she said. 'Since being an influencer and entrepreneur through her social media now seems to be her chosen career path, Meghan needs to take it seriously and keep her followers engaged.' Bond noted that Meghan has more than four times the followers on her personal page than on the As Ever brand page, so she needs to continue producing content to attract more business.
Meanwhile, Prince Harry has focused on charitable engagements, including the Invictus Games and speaking out on issues such as mental health and anti-Semitism. Bond commented: 'I think it’s unlikely that we will see Harry doing much in the way of promoting Meghan’s business. To me, he seems much happier using his platform in much the same way he would have done when he was a working royal.'
Bond highlighted the contradiction between the couple's advocacy for safer online spaces and Meghan's commercial use of social media. 'I suppose it’s somewhat ironic that his wife now pretty much depends on the digital world for her commercial success. But it’s where we are all at, and you can’t put the genie back in the bottle,' she said.
