PRINCE HARRY’S PRIVACY BATTLE FACES A NEW PROBLEM — MEGHAN’S £112 AS EVER CALENDAR PUTS ‘BRAND SUSSEX’ UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT

There is an awkward contradiction at the heart of “Brand Sussex”, argues Chris Riches, and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle may find it increasingly difficult to avoid.

For years, Harry has spoken openly about his desire for privacy, including taking his battle over security and personal protection to the High Court. Yet since stepping back from royal duties, he and Meghan have also built a highly visible commercial brand around their lives, relationships and carefully presented family image.

That creates a difficult balancing act.

Now that the couple are back in the UK, Riches argues that they face an even bigger question: how can they continue turning aspects of their private lives into commercial opportunities while simultaneously demanding greater protection from public scrutiny?

MEGHAN’S £112 CHRISTMAS PRODUCT

The debate has resurfaced around Meghan’s latest As Ever launch — a limited-edition luxury advent calendar costing £112.

The product, which went on pre-order on Thursday, contains 24 handcrafted chocolates and features an illustration of Harry and Meghan’s former Californian home.

Inside, the packaging describes the chocolates as a “magical celebration of the season” and says they were “thoughtfully inspired by our Montecito garden”.

The price has already attracted criticism from some social media users, particularly when broken down to the cost of each individual chocolate.

Meghan also appeared on As Ever’s Instagram opening one of the numbered doors while sitting on a window seat in a neutrally decorated room.

The launch has once again placed her carefully curated lifestyle at the centre of her commercial brand.

THE PRIVATE LIFE THAT BECAME PART OF THE BRAND

That lifestyle is also visible across the couple’s social media presence.

Harry and Meghan have frequently shared glimpses of their life with their dogs, Pula and Mia, as well as moments involving Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet in the Cotswolds countryside.

For Riches, this is where the Sussexes’ privacy argument becomes particularly complicated.

The couple have previously indicated that they would prefer to be regarded as “public figures”, rather than simply “private citizens”, after King Charles made clear that they were no longer working royals.

At the same time, they continue to market elements of their personal lives through social media and Meghan’s businesses.

Riches argues that there is nothing inherently wrong with choosing a celebrity-style commercial model. The difficulty, in his view, comes when that visibility exists alongside demands for privacy and protection.

THE SECURITY QUESTION

The issue becomes even more complicated when security enters the picture.

The Sussexes are currently seeking taxpayer-funded armed protection from Metropolitan Police officers — a level of security normally associated with working royals.

That creates another tension at the centre of the debate.

If Harry and Meghan want to operate primarily as private commercial figures, Riches asks where the line should be drawn when public resources and royal-style protection are involved.

And there is another potential consequence.

If Harry ultimately succeeds in surrounding the couple with a much tighter security operation, how might that affect Meghan’s ability to promote As Ever — or pursue opportunities in the entertainment industry?

A highly protected celebrity lifestyle could make the kind of intimate access that helps sell a personal brand considerably harder to maintain.

A CHOICE ‘BRAND SUSSEX’ CANNOT AVOID

That, ultimately, is the dilemma Riches believes now confronts the Sussexes.

Harry and Meghan have built a public identity that depends heavily on visibility — from Meghan’s products and social-media presence to their carefully controlled glimpses of family life.

But Harry has simultaneously fought for greater privacy and security.

The two positions can coexist to a degree, but Riches argues that the Sussexes may eventually have to decide which identity they want to emphasise.

Are they private citizens seeking distance from royal life, public figures building a celebrity brand, or something in between?

For now, they appear to be trying to occupy both worlds.

The question is whether “Brand Sussex” can continue doing that indefinitely.