The headlines are basically screaming. If you’ve scrolled through any news feed lately, you’ve probably seen the phrase "Meghan Markle reputation expert warning" popping up more than a targeted ad for shoes you already bought. It’s everywhere.
PR pros are lining up to tell the Duchess of Sussex that 2026 is her "make or break" year. Honestly, we’ve heard that before, right? Every year since 2020 has supposedly been the "pivotal" one. But this time, the vibe feels different. The advice isn't just coming from the usual royal commentators who have an axe to grind; it’s coming from brand strategists who actually look at the math.
The 12-Word Warning That Should Be a Wake-Up Call
Renae Smith, a big-deal PR founder at The Atticism, recently dropped a bombshell that basically sums up the entire problem. She said: "A lifestyle brand without a lifestyle point of view doesn't go far." That’s it. That’s the tweet.
It’s a brutal assessment of Meghan’s newest venture, As Ever (the brand formerly known as American Riviera Orchard). If you’re keeping track, the rebrand happened because of trademark headaches and a need to pivot away from a name that felt too geographically locked to a specific part of California. But Smith’s point is deeper than a name change. She’s essentially saying that Meghan is "scatter-gunning."
One day it’s a high-end jam. The next it’s a Netflix show called With Love, Meghan. Then it’s a podcast titled Confessions of a Female Founder. It’s a lot. And when you do everything, you kinda end up standing for nothing.
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Why "Scatter-Gunning" is Killing the Sussex Brand
Most people think Meghan’s biggest problem is the British tabloids or the royal rift. PR experts like Nick Ede argue it’s actually much simpler: consistency.
Ede recently pointed out that the public appetite isn't necessarily for more Meghan, but for clarity. You’ve got to wonder: Who is she actually trying to be?
- Is she the Martha Stewart of Montecito?
- Is she a serious philanthropist tackling global issues?
- Is she a Hollywood producer?
- Is she a "relatable" mom-influencer?
Trying to be all four at once is exhausting for an audience. It creates what experts call "weird visibility." You see her everywhere, but you don't really know why she’s there. Ede’s warning for 2026 is pretty blunt: she needs to pick a lane and stay in it. If the work doesn't start speaking louder than the "story" (the royal drama), the brand is just going to keep spinning its wheels.
The Netflix Performance Gap
We have to talk about the numbers. They don't lie. While the Harry & Meghan docuseries was a juggernaut, the more recent stuff hasn't hit the same way.
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Reports indicate that With Love, Meghan—her lifestyle series—ranked way down at No. 389 among Netflix’s most-watched titles in the first half of 2025. That’s a tough pill to swallow for a $100 million deal. When your viewership starts to dip, your leverage as a "lifestyle expert" dips with it. This is exactly why the reputation experts are waving red flags. You can't sell $30 jam and $200 tablecloths if the audience isn't tuning in to see the lifestyle they’re supposed to be buying into.
The "PR Nightmare" of Early 2026
There’s also the issue of the "revolving door" at Archewell. Losing senior staff is never a good look, but losing your 11th publicist and your longtime aide, James Holt, in a short span? That’s a siren-blaring emergency.
Doug Eldridge from Achilles PR noted that losing five senior comms advisors in a year is "abnormal." It suggests a lack of a cohesive plan. Some insiders are even claiming that major US PR agencies are becoming hesitant to take on the Sussex account. Why? Because it’s high-risk and, frankly, expensive. Market rates for this kind of representation can run up to $300,000 a year, and there are whispers that the couple isn't keen on those price tags given the current "PR nightmare" of staff turnover and shifting strategies.
Can a Cookbook Actually Save Her Reputation?
Believe it or not, a lot of experts think the answer might be in the kitchen. Not in a "get back to the stove" way, but in a "humanize the brand" way.
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There are rumors of a 2026 cookbook launch. Renae Smith thinks this could actually work—if it’s done right. The warning here is to avoid the "influencer" vibe. Nobody wants a glossy book of recipes they can find on Pinterest. They want:
- Family history: Stories about her heritage and culinary rituals.
- Authentic warmth: Less "Duchess" and more "Meghan."
- Consistency: If she sells a lifestyle of "homemaking and comfort," she has to actually live that narrative in the public eye, not just drop a product and disappear for three months.
Think "Martha Stewart meets Eat Pray Love." If she can lean into a softer, more grounded image, she might finally find that long-term traction that has eluded her since moving to Montecito.
What This Means for You (and the Brand)
If you’re watching this play out, the "reputation expert warning" isn't just celebrity gossip. It’s a masterclass in what happens when a personal brand becomes untethered from its core values. Meghan is a polarizing figure, sure, but she’s also a case study in the dangers of over-diversification.
Actionable Insights for 2026:
- Clarity over volume: If you’re building a brand, stop trying to do ten things. Do two things perfectly.
- The "Lane" Principle: Experts say Meghan’s most impactful moments are when she focuses on female entrepreneurship or specific philanthropy. Moving away from that to sell jam feels like a step backward to many.
- Narrative Control: A potential UK visit for the Invictus Games in 2026 is being called "high risk." For Meghan, any move that looks "performative" or "brand-heavy" in the UK tends to backfire. The lesson? Know your audience. The US loves the "monarchy meets Hollywood" vibe; the UK prefers "purpose-driven and low-key."
The clock is ticking on the As Ever launch and the 2026 reset. If she listens to the pros, we might see a more streamlined, focused version of the Duchess. If she doesn't, we’re probably looking at another year of "rebranding" and "pivoting."
The real test will be the first major product drop of 2026. If the website holds up (unlike that recent glitch that supposedly revealed unsold inventory) and the messaging stays consistent, the experts might finally have something positive to report. For now, the warning remains: stop thinking in moments and start building a narrative.