Prince Harry Uses 'Heart of Invictus' as a 'Priceless Opportunity to Talk About Himself'
Prince Harry was criticized for using his 'Heart of Invictus' doc to promote himself and disclose personal details about his time in the armed forces.
Prince Harry's Heart of Invictus docuseries followed the lives of wounded veterans and the emotional struggles of being in the armed forces, but despite the project's vulnerable message, royal commentator Richard Eden complained about the personal anecdotes the Duke of Sussex shared throughout the project.
Eden criticized Harry for focusing on his own struggles instead of highlighting others.
"The Invictus Games are one of the Duke of Sussex's lasting achievements, helping to provide injured former servicemen and women with a fresh focus and challenge, as well as creating new friendships and support networks," Eden wrote in an opinion piece.
"So his new documentary series for Netflix, Heart of Invictus, gave Prince Harry the opportunity to tell some of the inspiring stories of the competitors from around the world," the journalist added. "Sadly, from what I have seen of the series, which was released by the American streaming giant on Wednesday, Harry couldn't resist using this priceless opportunity to talk about himself, again."
Despite Eden's feelings, several public relations experts claimed the show was a step in the right direction for Harry and the Sussex brand. The Royal Observer previously reported Carla Speight thinks the Netflix original could even reshape the flailing Sussex brand.
"These powerful words over harrowing images of soldiers training, crying, focusing, celebrating and crowds cheering really drive home that this docuseries is about the Invictus Games and the stories within that only," the PR expert said.
After leaving the royal family in 2020, Meghan Markle and Harry signed several lucrative contracts including a multiyear deal with Netflix. Although Heart of Invictus was the first Archewell production to receive a green light from the platform, it was the couple's third release.
"In my opinion, from a personal brand perspective, it would have been more beneficial to Prince Harry and Meghan to have started their partnership with Netflix using this documentary rather than be sucked into the games of getting their side across in the mudslinging games via the press and media," the professional explained.
"In this docuseries, it’s clear that his mother’s kindness and care for those less fortunate has rubbed off on him. He found that in common with Meghan, who’s also been a keen campaigner for women and those less fortunate too," she added.
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Royal correspondent Cameron Walker applauded Harry's production and viewed it as a catalyst for the Sussexes' rebrand.
"This has been an incredibly successful initiative. Founded in 2014 and it happens every two years," Walker said during a GB News appearance of the Invictus Games. "It involves many different countries. If you remember, there was a lovely video involving the late Queen and the Obamas with the 'mic drop' moment which tried to pit the U.K. and the U.S. against each other."
Eden wrote for Daily Mail.
