Royal | News - Prince Ricardo De La Cerda
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle has been blasted by a PR expert who claimed that their brief appearance in their new Netflix docuseries was a “missed opportunity” which failed to “reinforce their values”.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s fourth project for the streaming giant, POLO, was released earlier this month.
Harry and Meghan’s five-part show follows elite global polo players on and off the field, with the “sexy” sport billed in the trailer as showcasing “dirty, sweaty boys…riding”.
The Sussexes serve as executive producers of the show. However, they are mostly absent throughout the series and only make a brief appearance in episode five, which was filmed at the Royal Salute Polo Challenge staged in aid of Sentebale in Florida in April.
PR expert Renea Smith, founder and director of The Atticism, criticised how little Harry and Meghan appeared in the show and suggested it made their involvement come across as either ” an afterthought of a hesitant contribution”.
Ms Smith told Express.co.uk: “From a PR standpoint, a show about polo seems like a misstep, especially given the narrative they’ve built around connecting with the public on more relatable issues like mental health, family struggles, and social justice. Polo is a sport that, fair or not, carries connotations of elitism.
“For Harry and Meghan to make only a brief appearance in the final episode feels like a missed opportunity—or perhaps a calculated attempt to distance themselves from the elitist connotations of polo.
“But if that were the case, it raises the question: why do the show at all?
“They might have been able to generate more public interest by leaning into their personal connection to the story, offering a perspective that felt authentic and engaging.
“Instead, their involvement comes across as either an afterthought or a hesitant contribution, which doesn’t do much to reinforce their value as storytellers or position them as confident, visionary leaders.”
The PR expert went on to say that the Sussex couple could have done things differently in order to promote their core values and that Polo alone will not be enough to renew their Netflix contract which is nearing its end in 2025.
She explained: “A better approach might have been to focus on an issue tied to their core values—perhaps a story about resilience or community empowerment through sport.
“That would have not only aligned better with their personal brands but also resonated more deeply with their audience.”
“In short, this show alone is unlikely to save their Netflix deal. If Harry and Meghan want to renew it, they’ll need to deliver something compelling, innovative, and relevant in their remaining time. A single top 10 success isn’t enough to sustain an £80m deal, and Netflix will need assurance that they can consistently produce content with a significant cultural impact.”