The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have kept silent on Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s arrest, with a PR expert claiming that the couple have been put in an impossible situation
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been ‘navigating a minefield’ amid Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s arrest, according to a PR expert. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have stayed silent on the arrest and the turmoil surrounding the Royal Family, with Harry dodging a question about his disgraced uncle during his whirlwind trip to Jordan.
Harry and Meghan travelled to the Middle East in February, to learn more about the tireless humanitarian effort to support the health and wellbeing of displaced Syrians and Palestinians who have sought sanctuary in Jordan over many decades. As their trip came to a close, Harry was quizzed about his uncle during an interview.
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Harry spoke to Channel 4 news to issue a plea for the aid corridors into Gaza to be opened, but before he could issue his message, Harry was asked about his uncle, Mr Mountbatten-Windsor, but declined to respond.
He told Channel 4 News he did not want to answer questions on the subject during the interview, instead keeping the focus on Jordan’s humanitarian efforts and the need for aid support in the region.
According to PR expert Lynn Carratt, the decision not to comment appeared intentional, as the Sussexes have been placed in an impossible position, given their own turbulent history with the Royal Family.
Lynn told GB News : “By choosing silence on the Andrew situation, Harry and Meghan are navigating a minefield. Their own experiences with intense media scrutiny make commentary a risky business; one offhand remark could be sensationalised or politicised.”
Ms Carratt said the choice to say nothing had allowed them to avoid becoming part of the controversy, as she said: “Silence here is a deliberate, strategic choice, allowing them to maintain distance while avoiding unnecessary conflict.”
“From a PR perspective, it’s arguably the smartest move: they avoid fueling controversy, and instead allow the conversation to remain centred on constitutional and familial matters rather than personal opinion. Sometimes, saying nothing is the most powerful statement.”
Harry and Meghan have continued to distance themselves from the scandal surrounding the Royal Family and are pressing forward with their philanthropic work, recently announcing their plans to travel to Australia in just a few weeks.
Earlier in March, a spokesman for the couple said: “ Prince Harry and Meghan, Duke and Duchess of Sussex, will visit Australia in mid-April to take part in a number of private, business and philanthropic engagements. Further details will be shared in due course.” It is believed that their children, Archie and Lilibet, will not be joining them for the visit.
While their full itinerary has yet to be confirmed, Harry and Meghan will be undertaking major solo engagements, with Meghan set to be the guest of honour at a ‘girls weekend’ retreat in Sydney. The Duchess of Sussex will speak over the course of the “weekend like no other,” including at a grand dinner, with VIP ticket holders able to then snap a picture with the Duchess.
With tickets starting at an eye-watering £1,439, attendees will have accommodation at a beach-side Sydney hotel and access to three days of events, including a gala dinner, yoga and meditation sessions, and a disco celebration.
Harry will also be speaking at the InterEdge Summit in Melbourne, which is described as a “professional development summit designed to equip leaders, practitioners, and changemakers with the knowledge and tools to create mentally healthy, safe, and high-performing workplaces,” with tickets for the mental health summit starting at £1,054.
