The Duke and Duchess of Sussex may be facing a "seismic" year ahead as their brand and Hollywood ambitions are threatened by the backlash from Omid Scobie's explosive book Endgame, a crisis manager has warned.
Mark Borkowski, a leading PR expert, told MailOnline that he believes the couple are at the "beginning of the end" of their popularity and influence, as Scobie's book exposes the rifts and scandals within the royal family.
Endgame, which was released last month, claims to reveal the truth behind "an unpopular king, a power-hungry heir to the throne, a queen willing to go to great lengths to preserve her image, and a prince forced to start a new life after being betrayed by his own family".
Scobie, who co-authored the previous bestseller Finding Freedom about the Sussexes' departure from the monarchy, caused a stir when he named King Charles and the Princess of Wales as the two senior royals who allegedly raised "concerns" and had "conversations" about the colour of Prince Archie's skin before he was born.
Scobie initially denied naming the royals in his book, but later admitted that he did so in an "early" version of the manuscript, which was leaked in a Dutch translation.
Borkowski said that Scobie's book has "backfired spectacularly" for Meghan and Harry, who have tried to distance themselves from the author and his claims.
He said that Meghan's Hollywood relaunch is "clearly not working", and that her talent agency William Morris Endeavor (WME) could be considering dropping her.
"Something is beginning to unwind at the heart of Meghan and Harry. I think 2024 is going to be seismic, either because they're going to do something to recover and find a new positive tactic or it's going to be the undoing of the brand. It can only go one or two ways. It can't stay where it is at the moment. Because it's clearly not working," he said.
The couple, who moved to California in 2020 after announcing their decision to step back as senior royals, have signed lucrative deals with Netflix, Spotify and Apple, and have launched their own foundation, Archewell.
However, they have also faced criticism and lawsuits for their privacy breaches, media interviews and political interventions.
Borkowski said that the couple need to rethink their strategy and focus on their social causes, rather than their personal grievances.
"They need to find a way to reconnect with the public, to show that they are not just self-obsessed celebrities, but that they have a genuine interest and passion for the issues they care about," he said.
"They need to stop playing the victim card, and start showing some humility and gratitude for the opportunities they have. They need to stop alienating their family and their fans, and start building bridges and trust."
He added that the couple may also face challenges from the changing media landscape, as traditional outlets lose their influence and new platforms emerge.
"They need to be aware of the risks and opportunities of the digital age, where anyone can have a voice and a platform, and where the truth can be distorted and manipulated. They need to be careful about who they associate with, and what they endorse. They need to be authentic and transparent, and not rely on spin and hype," he said
