At first glance, Prince Harry’s memoir might seem like a PR nightmare. TikTok users have taken the audio recording of his book and plastered the most intimate parts all over the site. Most videos are of people mocking the book or judging how personal the details are. I must admit, these are details I wouldn’t share myself. However, I think that was the point.
Making the book intimate might have been the intention. It was very plausible that the book would gain a lot of attention for its personal nature. Leaning on this hope, I believe he wanted to make his whole life open to the public. There would be no secrets. Therefore, no ties to home. There would be nothing his family knows that the public doesn’t. I believe this book was a way to free him from his family. It may be awkward to read, but all of these secrets are innocent. Nothing damaging or hurtful, especially because he was the one to write about them.
Had he not given us the most detailed version of his life, he may have secrets that could seem damaging or things that could be used against him by his family. It feels as if he shared everything with us to free himself from his family and his shame. This was a bold thing to do, but I believe it was perfect for his brand. His brand now feels untouchable. This was a decision that could have gone wrong, but ended with a secure brand that cannot be tainted for a long time.
This is my assessment of Prince Harry’s Memoir from a PR standpoint. I do not know the true intentions of the memoir; therefore, I cannot definitively say what his intentions were or what secrets he still has. I can share the attention it has received from the world and showcase his strong brand because of the book.
Maxwell Burton is a sophomore studying journalism – strategic communications and pursuing a minor in marketing at Ohio University. He serves as the Vice President of Public Relations for Scripps PRSSA. Connect with him on LinkedIn here.