Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been doing everything they can to try and rebuild their reputation ever since leaving the royal family back in 2020. The two have been living in the United States for more than four years, and they have taken on all kinds of new business ventures since relocating.

However, some royal experts think the couple’s recent decision to do separate solo appearances isn’t doing them any favors and has put them “at war with themselves.”

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle | Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for Project Healthy Minds

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle performed an ‘act of desperation’ with recent appearances, expert says

Harry and Meghan have always had a strong relationship. They’ve stood the test of time, having been together for eight years when many people thought they wouldn’t last. But now, in an attempt to rebuild their popularity, the two are seemingly choosing to appear on solo outings for different causes in somewhat of a divide-and-conquer style of winning over the public.

However, royal experts Kevin O’Sullivan and Kinsey Schofield don’t think it will do the couple any favors. “I think professionally they are now at war with themselves. She’s trying to upstage him, he’s trying to upstage her, so it goes from bad to worse,” O’Sullivan said on TalkTV, according to Express.

“It’s almost an act of desperation,” Schofield added. “I understand what you’re talking about when you say it’s almost like they’re not in sync.

Harry has traveled around the world over the last few weeks to attend charitable events, including traveling to Lesotho and South Africa. Meghan recently appeared solo at a gala for Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

Some people think Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s approach will work for them

Although not everyone agrees with that divide-and-conquer idea that Harry and Meghan are running with, some do think it could benefit the couple. A source close to the couple described it as a “twin-track approach” to People, with another source adding that, “The Duke and Duchess have now hit their stride as individuals — not just as a couple. The Duke appears focused on his patronage work, and the Duchess focused on her entrepreneurial track.”

Harry is focusing on plenty of charitable initiatives, with his biggest being the Invictus Games Foundation. Meghan and Harry are both still in touch with their Archewell Foundation, but Meghan is also working on launching a lifestyle brand called American Riviera Orchard. The duchess has a cooking show with Netflix in the works as well.

For now, opinions are mixed on whether Harry and Meghan are making the right decision to take on separate public appearances, but time will tell if it works for them in the long run.