Duke of Sussex urged to focus on meaningful work amid efforts to restore reputation
Prince Harry has been cautioned against relying on "PR spin" as he seeks to regain public trust, according to royal commentator Phil Dampier. The Duke of Sussex recently attended the WellChild Awards in London, where he paid tribute to children and teenagers, and soon after embarked on a charity trip to Lesotho for his Sentebale foundation.
While Harry’s recent public appearances have been well-received, particularly following his critical remarks about the Royal Family in his Netflix documentary and memoir Spare, Dampier expressed doubts about whether these actions mark a lasting change. He noted that while Harry "showed his best side" at the WellChild event, it is still "too early to say he has turned over a new leaf."
Dampier added that Harry’s new PR team likely advised him to move away from criticising the Royal Family, as public sentiment has shifted both in the UK and globally. He also hinted that Harry’s decision to take on more solo charitable work, possibly distancing himself from Meghan Markle’s business ventures, could be a positive step.
However, Dampier warned that performing charitable duties solely for publicity will not be enough to regain the public's trust. "It will take more than a few headline-catching weeks to win back the trust of his family and the public," he said.
