Public relations is a messy, expensive game of chess. When you’re Meghan Markle, the stakes aren’t just about a "good" or "bad" headline; they are about legacy, survival, and a multi-million dollar contract with the very company that dramatized your in-laws' biggest failures.
People often ask why Meghan and Harry haven't blasted The Crown for its more creative liberties. It’s a valid question. The show has spent years digging into the most painful chapters of the Windsor family history. Yet, the Sussexes have remained largely diplomatic.
Honestly, the reality is a mix of business pragmatism and a very specific PR strategy that has been evolving behind the scenes for years.
💡 You might also like: Free Trial TV Apps: What Most People Get Wrong About 2026 Streaming
The $100 Million Elephant in the Room
You can’t talk about Meghan Markle PR The Crown without talking about the Netflix deal. Back in 2020, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex signed a massive production agreement with the streaming giant.
This created an immediate, glaring conflict of interest.
How do you publicly criticize a show that is the crown jewel—pun intended—of the platform paying your bills? You don't. At least, not if you want to keep the lights on at your Montecito estate.
Critics have often pointed out this irony. While Prince William was reportedly "heartsick" and furious over the portrayal of his parents in the later seasons, Harry took a much softer tone. During his 2021 interview with James Corden, Harry basically said he was "way more comfortable" with The Crown than with the tabloid stories written about his family.
A shift in the inner circle
The PR strategy took a fascinating turn recently. In mid-2025, the couple reportedly hired Emily Robinson as their new Director of Communications.
Why does that name matter? Because she was the global publicity lead for The Crown from seasons three through six.
Think about that for a second.
The person responsible for selling the world on a dramatized version of royal history is now the one managing the image of the most "anti-establishment" royals in history. It’s a genius move, if a bit cynical. Robinson knows exactly how Netflix operates. She knows how to spin a narrative that blurs the line between historical fact and "emotional truth."
Why Peter Morgan Refused to Write Meghan
There was a lot of buzz about whether the final season of the show would feature a young actress playing a Suits-era Meghan.
It didn't happen.
Showrunner Peter Morgan has been very vocal about his "20-year rule." He believes you need at least two decades of distance to truly understand the historical relevance of an event. He’s said that writing about Meghan now would feel too much like "journalism" and not enough like "art."
But there's a deeper PR layer here.
By staying out of the show, Meghan and Harry avoided being turned into caricatures while they were still trying to define their own "global brand." It gave them the space to tell their own story through their documentary series and Harry’s memoir, Spare.
The "Mirroring" Tactic
PR experts have noticed a weird trend lately. While Meghan often speaks out against the rigid, "cold" nature of the palace PR machine, her recent moves look surprisingly familiar.
- Controlled Direct Access: The launch of her lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard, and her return to Instagram in 2025 (under the handle @meghan) mimic the way the Royal Family uses social media to bypass traditional journalists.
- The Crisis Pivot: In early 2026, following the departure of high-level aides like Meredith Maines, Meghan reportedly returned to Sunshine Sachs. This is the New York firm she used during her acting days. It’s a "crisis mode" move.
- Selective Silence: Just as the Palace "never complains, never explains," Meghan has become increasingly selective about which rumors she addresses.
The narrative that she is "just like us" is being replaced by something more polished. More aspirational. More... royal?
It’s a paradox. She’s using the very tools of the institution she left to build a rival empire.
Is the Strategy Working?
Popularity polls are a rollercoaster. In the UK, the Sussexes are often at an all-time low. In the US, they are viewed more as celebrities than "royals."
But the Meghan Markle PR The Crown connection has served one major purpose: it kept them relevant during a period where they had no official roles. The Crown kept the "Royal" brand in the global zeitgeist, and the Sussexes were able to draft off that momentum without having to do the heavy lifting of public service.
Expert Amy Prenner recently noted that while Meghan is "smart about connecting with people," the highly orchestrated feel of her recent Netflix projects—like the 2025 series With Love, Meghan—can sometimes rub audiences the wrong way.
People want authenticity. Or at least the illusion of it.
The problem is that once you've seen the "behind the scenes" of royal life through a show like The Crown, you become hyper-aware of the machinery. You start looking for the strings.
Practical Takeaways for Navigating Your Own Brand
Whether you're a business owner or just someone managing a digital footprint, there are real lessons here.
- Own your narrative early. If you don't tell your story, someone else will (and they might hire a better scriptwriter).
- Watch your associations. Your "paycheck" can often dictate your "policy." If you're partnered with a brand, your public voice is no longer entirely your own.
- Consistency beats intensity. The most successful PR isn't a one-off "bombshell" interview; it's the slow, steady drip of a curated image over years.
- Know when to hire the experts. If you're facing a reputational dip, returning to the people who knew you before the "crisis" (like Meghan's return to Sunshine Sachs) can provide a much-needed grounded perspective.
The relationship between the Sussexes and the media is a cycle. It's a loop of exposure, backlash, and rebranding. As we head further into 2026, the "Hollywood Royal" experiment is entering a new phase.
One where the scripts are no longer written by Peter Morgan, but by the Duchess herself.
To stay ahead of the curve, keep a close eye on the upcoming launches from Archewell. The content they choose to produce now will be the "historical record" for the next generation's version of the show.
Keep an eye on the official @meghan Instagram account for the first signs of the next major image shift.