Following the underperformance of their documentary "Cookie Queens" at the box office, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been advised by royal commentator Kinsey Schofield to significantly scale back their public business activities. Schofield suggests that the couple needs to focus on executing a few compelling projects with experienced guidance rather than making frequent announcements.
"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 emphasized that reputation recovery requires substantive success rather than glossy publicity campaigns.
Schofield noted that the couple, despite significant name recognition, has struggled to translate this into consistent consumer revenue. Markle, in particular, has pursued various ventures, including the podcast "Archetypes" for Spotify, which concluded after one season despite a reported $20 million deal, and a Netflix cooking show. The partnership with Netflix also ended in March.
"When you try to establish authority in every category simultaneously, you can end up establishing authority in none of them," Schofield stated. "Pick a lane, become good at it and allow success to rebuild credibility."
The documentary "Cookie Queens," which chronicles the experiences of four Girl Scouts during their cookie-selling season, premiered at Sundance in January and opened in select theaters on August 7. It reportedly made $735 per screen during its opening weekend and has grossed a total of $513,148 domestically, according to Boxoffice Pro and The Numbers.
Schofield advises that the couple should "get out of the way" and allow professionals to handle project decisions. She also suggested that their future projects should steer clear of narratives related to their grievances with the royal family. "There are only so many times you can tell audiences why you left the royal family," she explained. "If they want longevity in entertainment, they have to prove people are interested in their taste, ideas and storytelling when the monarchy isn’t the hook."
Schofield suggested that renewed efforts toward reconciliation with King Charles might be linked to the couple's need to rebuild their professional credibility, noting that their strained relationship with the royal family has become a "professional liability."
Despite the recent box-office disappointment, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have continued with public appearances. They recently attended a gala celebrating the 40th anniversary of David Foster's foundation in Canada, where Markle wore earrings once belonging to Princess Diana.