Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's 'comeback' chances dismissed as new trip in doubt

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will unlikely be making any sort of "comeback" with their trip to Australia later this month, a PR expert has claimed. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are spending a number of days Down Under to carry out "private, business and philanthropic engagements".

The last time the Sussexes travelled to Australia was in 2018, but this new trip will be vastly different from the pomp and pageantry of their first. Harry and Meghan's two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, will not be joining them.

Now, a PR expert has claimed that even if the Australian trip is deemed "successful," it likely will not shift the public's perception of them.

Australian-born Renae Smith, founder of PR agency The Atticism, told the Daily Express: "So can the tour be a success? It depends entirely on what we're calling success.

"If success is a well-managed series of curated 'smile and wave' appearances, a supportive crowd in controlled environments, and strong imagery and headlines, then yes, absolutely. Their teams will be able to call that a success. "

But she added: "If the goal is a broader shift in public perception or some kind of 'revenge' moment, that's where it starts to feel slightly unrealistic."

Ms Smith said that the trip is not destined to be a "huge flop" and that it will be fine, adding that "'fine' and 'transformational' are very different things".

The PR expert concluded: "So yes, it can be a success in a controlled, curated sense.

"But if anyone is expecting this to be some kind of defining comeback moment, that feels a bit generous and I doubt it will move the dial for the general pop."