Edward Coram James, the CEO of PR agency Go Up, spoke to Newsweek and revealed that the Duke of Sussex's ongoing legal battles might backfire in his home country due to his unfavorable standing.
According to James, Harry's phone hacking case could potentially generate sympathy for the press, primarily because the prince is "deeply, deeply unpopular in the U.K."
Data collected by YouGov in April suggests that 63 percent of Brits have a negative opinion of Harry, while only 29 percent view him positively, resulting in a net approval rating of minus 34.
James highlighted the potential impact of a massive public backlash against the U.K. press, explaining that such a scenario might compel politicians to intervene. However, he argued that Harry is not the ideal figure to bring about change in the media landscape, citing his lack of popularity among the British public.
By currently "attacking the press," Harry has garnered a substantial number of detractors who desire to see him and Meghan face setbacks. James expressed concern that Harry's actions might undermine an important message regarding privacy invasion and the need to strike a better balance between the public's right to know and an individual's right to a private life.
To effectively shift public perception, James suggested that Harry needed to have the support of the British public, which he believes has been lost. Paradoxically, Harry's actions may inadvertently evoke sympathy for the U.K. press among a significant portion of the population. James acknowledged the unfortunate reality that many people in the U.K. might take the opposing side when observing Harry's actions, despite the moral complexities involved.
The British public's desire to witness setbacks for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle is driven by their perceived unpopularity, which, in turn, impacts the reception of their legal battles and efforts to influence media reform.
