Meghan Markle should return to the red carpet and support Prince Harry as he accepts a high-profile award next month, as doing so could prove “beneficial” to her overall public image, an entertainment expert has told Newsweek.
Harry will be presented with the Pat Tillman Award for Service at the 2024 ESPY Awards on July 11 in Los Angeles, California.
The royal is being recognized for his military service and for his commitment to the world’s veteran communities through sport with his Invictus Games tournament.
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images Ms. Foundation for Women
Though Harry’s attendance at the event has yet to be confirmed, an in-person appearance with Meghan could add some extra glamor and interest to proceedings.
Entertainment expert and founder of MarkMeets Mark Boardman told Newsweek that the positive development for Harry could also work in Meghan’s favor, presenting the couple with the opportunity to reap the benefits of an uncontroversial outing to celebrate a good cause.
“It could be beneficial for the Duchess of Sussex to accompany Harry and to show solidarity,” he said.
“Given the positive context of the event, her presence would not only show her commitment to be at Harry’s side, but also potentially shift some public focus towards their shared philanthropic efforts. From a media perspective, another red carpet photography opportunity would secure more press coverage for the Duchess of Sussex and potentially some interview snippets to promote her latest ventures.”
Meghan last attended a red carpet event in January, where she was present at the world premiere of the Bob Marley: One Love biopic in Jamaica. The duchess did not partake in interviews alongside Harry and the couple’s friends, movie boss Brian Robbins and his wife Tracy.
Jason Koerner/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures
Since then, Meghan has soft-launched her lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard, teasing a collection of jams and filing trademark applications covering a range of household products, including dog biscuits and yoga mats.
The duchess is also working on a new podcast series with partners Lemonada Media and a new lifestyle show with Netflix, meaning she has a number of projects now that would benefit from promotion. It would also be beneficial for Meghan to maintain a strong public presence for marketing purposes.
“The high-profile nature of the ESPYs, combined with the positive narrative around the award, makes it an ideal opportunity for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle‘s to be seen together in a favorable light,” Boardman noted. “Which could lead to further opportunities and collaborations.”
Newsweek approached representatives of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle via email for comment.
James Crawford-Smith is Newsweek‘s royal reporter, based in London. You can find him on X, formerly Twitter, at @jrcrawfordsmith and read his stories on Newsweek‘s The Royals Facebook page.
Do you have a question about King Charles III and Queen Camilla, William and Princess Kate, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, or their family that you would like our experienced royal correspondents to answer? Email royals@newsweek.com. We’d love to hear from you.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
