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The Duchess of Sussex is said to have told her new PR company that she wants to ‘break the internet’.
Meghan Markle reportedly made the statement during a meeting with the company, Sunshine Sachs.
This comes amid claims from royal sources that the former actress and mother-of-one is ‘more concerned about the U.S media than the British.’
From Hollywood star (left in 2016) to British royalty (right at her wedding to Prince Harry) Meghan Markle is said to be seeking out her own team so she can ‘break the internet;
The couple (pictured above with son Archie) are assembling a team which could look to focus more on U.S interests
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have embarked on a number of projects, seemingly away from the traditional Royal route, including Meghan’s guest editorial at the UK version of Vogue magazine.
Now senior sources have reportedly said she is looking to create a team which isn’t ‘bogged down’ by tradition.
She is said to ‘want her own team to help her and Harry work on projects they are passionate about.’
Speaking to The Sun a source said: ‘She had been seeking advice from the PR company Sunshine Sachs privately for weeks but decided to officially hire them for the launch of her Vogue Magazine guest edit.
‘Even thought it was the UK version of the mag, she wanted maximum coverage in America, which is the country she really cares about in terms of the media.
‘She was incredibly hands-on with the strategy and in one meeting told the staff: ‘I want to break the internet.’
The source added that it had been an ‘honest’ thing to say but that it was still ‘quite shocking for a royal to express it that way’.
Meghan (pictured above) is said to have implemented her new team to help with the publicity around her Vogue editorial, which she also received criticism for
Meghan (pictured above with Misha Nonoo in 2015) is said to have come across more like a celebrity than a member of the royal family
The PR company is now thought to be working exclusively in the U.S for the Sussex Royal charity foundation, which Harry and Meghan formed after their well-publicised split from the ‘fab four’.
This however might not be the right strategy for couple.
Advisers in the UK had previously urged Prince Harry to not fly to Amsterdam to do a talk on sustainable travel – as they suggested it may raise eyebrows, as the couple had previously flown by private jet.
Yesterday, Meghan took a last-minute flight to New York to watch her friend Serena Williams play in the U.S open.
Both Buckingham Palace — whose press chiefs weren’t consulted over the decision to bring in the New York company — and Sunshine Sachs are down-playing the company’s role in managing the royal couple’s public image.
The new PR initiative has also seen Prince Harry criticised for his talk in Amsterdam, which UK advisers are said to have warned agaisnt
The company guided Meghan’s publicity around UK Vogue, which was later criticised for its choice of ‘inspirational women’. Which was confined mainly to other celebrities.
The Sussexes already have an American, Sara Latham, running their Palace communications team, perhaps to exploit what one PR expert calls their ‘incredibly powerful brand in the U.S.’.
One advantage of this transatlantic profile is that they can enjoy the benefit of being celebrities over there, rather than — as in Britain — continually being held to a higher standard of behaviour as members of the Royal Family.
Others in the PR world are sceptical about the new U.S. deal, warning that a ‘thrusting company’ such as Sunshine Sachs won’t be content with overseeing only the couple’s charity work.
The Duchess is used to a celebrity lifestyle and insider seem concerned this may be challenging for her reputation. Pictured above with friends watching Wimbledon earlier this year
Just today Meghan was also criticised for taking a last-minute flight to New York to cheer on Serena Williams (pictured together with Hannah Davis in 2014)
‘It’ll be hard to keep them in that box once you’ve let them through the door,’ said one consultant.
‘It’s the industry’s business model to find as many areas in which to help out as possible.’
Those who work in PR in the UK have said the move is aggressive and added that the issue they may have, is a lack of understanding from American PRs.
British PR expert Mark Borkowski says it is clear that the Duchess is trying to ‘build a global brand’.
However, he contrasted Harry and Meghan’s rather more aggressive approach towards the media to that of Harry’s mother, Princess Diana, who achieved far more through ‘charming’ journalists over lunch at Kensington Palace.
‘American PRs don’t get charm. They get size and power,’ he said. ‘And they don’t understand the world outside America.’
Another prominent industry player in the UK said: ‘You can’t hire a PR company to represent the Royal Family. The relationship between the Royal Family and the public is something that is beyond spin.’
This is while another source claimed that this would be Meghan’s way of getting answers to a question if she doesn’t get the response she wants from the palace.
‘But that’s a dangerous precedent to set because there is a reason why courtiers and advisers treat members of the Royal Family differently — they are not celebrities, they are publicly funded official figures with a formal role.
‘And they need to hear the truth, even if it’s not the answer they want. That’s something Harry does not like and Meghan isn’t familiar with from her former career.
‘They appear tone-deaf to criticism at times, which was proven this week by Harry in Amsterdam and by Meghan going to New York and not Balmoral.’
It was also revealed yesterday that Meghan would be keeping on board three advisers from her days as an actor.
She is said to be using a Hollywood agent, lawyer and business manager, who are thought to be negotiating a children’s book deal for the 38-year-old.
Royal insiders claim these sorts of deals would usually be handled ‘exclusively’ by palace staff.
Meghan, who went from Hollywood royalty to actual royalty when she married Prince Harry, is being advised by agent Nick Collins, business manager Andrew Meyer and attorney Rick Genow.
Part of the team will include attorney Rick Genow (left) and agent Nick Collins (right with Amy Forsyth)
Business manager Andrew Meyer (pictured above) is said to be advising Meghan Markle
This along with the couple’s other projects, has made many in royal circles question where Meghan wants to spend her time, and some have come to the conclusion that it would be outside of the UK.
Palace staff are unsure about whether or not Meghan is focused on being a royal or if she wants to eventually go back to showbiz.
A source close to the Duchess highlighted that Meghan had spent her whole life using her talent and ambition to create a successful career.
‘She loves being busy and her intention was never to disappear because she became a mum.
‘She wants to prove herself and doesn’t want to let criticism or tradition change what she sees as her purpose in life.’
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