Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are facing fresh criticism over their business ventures after their latest project failed to perform well. Royal commentator Kinsey Schofield says the couple should step back from public projects for a while to help rebuild their image.
The advice comes after the couple’s documentary, Cookie Queens, did not do well in theaters. The film marked their first project as executive producers for a theatrical feature.
Schofield, who hosts the YouTube show Kinsey Schofield Unfiltered, shared her thoughts exclusively with Page Six on what the couple should do next.
Commentator says couple should focus on fewer, stronger projects
“I would tell them to disappear professionally for a little while, dramatically reduce the number of announcements, and identify one genuinely compelling project with experienced people around them who know how to execute it,” Schofield told Page Six.
She said rebuilding a reputation does not come from another rebrand or another big publicity push. Instead, she recommended the opposite approach. “I would recommend the opposite. Less talking, fewer announcements and more execution,” she said. Schofield also added that success is one of the best ways to manage a reputation in Hollywood. “Create something people cannot ignore, and suddenly the conversation changes,” she said.
Markle has worked on several business projects in recent years. These include a podcast deal, a Netflix cooking show called With Love, Meghan, and her food and lifestyle brand, As Ever. Her podcast deal with Spotify ended in 2023. That deal had earned the Duke and Duchess of Sussex $20 million, but it ended after only one season of her show, Archetypes. Netflix also ended its partnership with Markle in March.
Schofield said trying to do too many things at once can hurt a person’s credibility. “When you try to establish authority in every category simultaneously, you can end up establishing authority in none of them. Pick a lane, become good at it and allow success to rebuild credibility,” she said.
She also said the couple should let their work speak for itself rather than relying on their fame. “They need to stop treating their celebrity as the product and start creating products strong enough to survive without their celebrity,” she said.
Schofield advised the couple to step back from making every decision on their projects and instead let experienced professionals lead. She also said future projects should not focus on their past conflicts with the royal family.
“There are only so many times you can tell audiences why you left the royal family,” she said. She added that if the couple wants a lasting career in entertainment, they need to show that people are interested in their ideas and storytelling without the royal family being the main draw.
Schofield also linked the couple’s recent efforts to reconnect with King Charles to their current business troubles. “I also don’t think it’s a coincidence that we’re seeing renewed efforts toward reconciliation with King Charles at a moment when Harry and Meghan need to rebuild their credibility,” she said. This tension comes as King Charles has apparently roped in a ‘Mr Nice Guy’ to end Prince William and Prince Harry’s feud, a mission now described as his number one priority.
She said she believes the couple may understand that their strained relationship with the royal family has become a problem for their careers. “I suspect that they understand that their fractured relationship with the royal family has become a professional liability,” she said. The couple’s situation is not without precedent in the royal family, as a biographer once made claims about Sarah Ferguson’s past.
Cookie Queens follows four young Girl Scouts during cookie-selling season. The film was released in select theaters on August 7 and made just $735 per screen, opening at number 15 at the box office, reports Boxoffice Pro. The film has since made a total of $513,148 in domestic earnings, according to The Numbers.
Despite the film’s weak box office results, Markle and Harry made a public appearance together at a gala in Canada earlier this month. The event marked the 40th anniversary of David Foster’s foundation.
Published: Aug 16, 2026 10:30 am