Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been urged to miss King Charles Coronation in May to avoid 'stealing the spotlight'.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have confirmed they have been invited to the Coronation but have not yet revealed whether they will be in attendance. Relations between the estranged royals are thought to be at an all time low following the Sussexes Netflix series and Prince Harry's bestselling memoir Spare.
One PR expert believes the Duke and Duchess are in a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" situation, but advises them to stay away. PR and Crisis Communications Specialist Patrick O'Kane told the Mirror that Harry and Meghan should take a step back from the spotlight in the lead up to the Coronation.
Patrick from Different Narrative told the publication: "With public opinion very much divided on whether the couple should attend King Charles II’s Coronation, there is a risk that Harry and Meghan’s attendance would steal the limelight on what should be a historical day not only for Royals but for the United Kingdom and the entire Commonwealth."
He did admit that while declining the invitation could seem like a "slap in the face" for the new King, he believes taking time out of the spotlight could help 'protect their brand'.
"A reset on their activities and re-evaluation of their objectives as they seek to rebuild a life of their own making would enable a fresh start," he said.
Patrick added that any return to attention down the line would require a "more tactical approach" to help win over people who are on the fence with their views.
"The key thing for Harry and Meghan is to minimise their impact on a moment in Royal history at the start of May, but whichever decision they take, they may face a rocky road back into the limelight," he said.
This comes after reports surfaced that Harry and Meghan were unlikely to bag an invitation to the prestigious Met Gala amid their royal feud. The Met Gala will be taking place just five days before King Charles' Coronation, with Harry and Meghan's rift with the royal family very likely leaving them off the guest list
Jordan James, CEO of Unlocked PR, told the Mirror: "It certainly wouldn't come as a major surprise if they were snubbed given their current status within the Royal Family and the ensuing drama."
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