Prince Harry will have the opportunity to turn the tide on brand Sussex’s PR after a series of setbacks in recent months.
In recent weeks, the Duke of Sussex and his wife Meghan Markle have seen their deal with Spotify come to an end, and their documentary Harry & Meghan was snubbed for an Emmy nomination.
The ongoing writers’s strike in the US has also forced the couple to momentarily pause their projects with Netflix.
But Harry’s upcoming solo visit to Asia could offer the perfect chance to foster more positive PR for the Duke.
Harry will be heading to Japan and Singapore to attend a polo match to help raise funds and promote the work of his Sentebale organization.
He will land in Tokyo on August 9 and will meet up with close pal Nacho Figueras before attending the ISPS Sports Values Summit-Special Edition.
The summit helps promote the importance of sports in bringing people together and raising awareness about special causes and will be attended by several international high-profile representatives from a variety of disciplines.
Harry and Figueras will then move on to Singapore on August 12 to attend the ISPS Handa Polo Cup at the Singapore Polo Club.
Royal editor Jack Royston suggested the Asian visit will help bring some positive publicity Harry’s way and highlight his pivotal role in fundraising.
Royston said: “It should be a good bit of positive publicity for Harry. And remind everybody of the good work he does.
“Sentebale is a great cause. They help support young people with HIV and it’s in southern Africa.”
The Newsweek royal editor noted Sentebale is “one of the best work” the Duke of Sussex ever contributed to alongside the creation of the Invictus Games.
He continued: “I think it’s probably one of the better charities [Harry is involved with], you know, Sentebale and Invictus are some of the best work that Harry has done in his time as a royal. There’ll be great pictures, I’m sure. They always are at the polo.”
Harry set up Sentebale with the help of his friend Prince Seeiso of Lesotho in 2006. The two royals picked the name, meaning forget-me-not in Sesotho, to pay tribute to the work of their mothers.
Both the late Princess Diana and Queen ‘Mamohato were heavily involved in raising awareness and funds to help people affected with HIV/AIDS.
The visit could help the royal regain some more popularity after his public support rate suffered a significant drop following the release of his memoir Spare earlier this year.
PR expert Mark Boardman had previously suggested following in the Royal Family’s footsteps when it comes to public events could help Harry, and his wife Meghan, better engage with their audience.
Boardman told Newsweek: “The next move will be a tough one as both Harry and Meghan need to redefine who they are individually and as a couple, and improve their ability to engage audiences.
“With Meghan having a career ahead of her in TV and film, Harry must become a royal again to reengage his waning loyal fan base and work with new people to help generate positive media attention.”
But despite some of the setbacks they have experienced in recent weeks, Harry and Meghan have also shown they are working on their future as details of their next project have emerged.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have reportedly bought the rights to the romance novel Meet Me at the Lake in the hope of turning it into a Hollywood blockbuster.
The book bears some similarities with the royal pair’s own love story as it focuses on a couple who meets in their thirties and tackles themes such as mental health challenges, losing a parent in a car crash and childhood trauma.
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