Prince Harry and Meghan recently stepped out at a reality TV star Kris Jenner’s glitzy birthday bash – but photos of the couple at the party were swiftly removed from social media
Fans were thrilled by pictures of Prince Harry and Meghan at Kris Jenner’s 70th birthday party, but then the images mysteriously disappeared.
The former royals attended the celebrity-laden bash at billionaire Jeff Bezos’ megamansion in California last weekend. The 007 themed party saw Harry don a suave tuxedo, while Meghan stunned in a black fitted roll neck top, and a matching skirt – reportedly a custom Balenciaga look.
It was the second high-profile event the pair attended that day, first appearing at the Baby2Baby gala in West Hollywood, before making their way to celebrate Jenner’s landmark birthday. The couple was photographed going into the glitzy bash, where A-listers like Tyler Perry and Beyonce also reported to have been in attendance. However, when Kris Jenner and her daughter, Kim Kardashian, posted photos including the royals on their social media profiles, the images were swiftly removed, leaving royal fans confused.
Meghan’s close friend, tennis superstar Serena Williams, had been the honouree at the charity gala they had attended first, and the pair beamed in photos at that event – images that remain available to view.
According to People magazine, sources say they were deleted was due to a consent form the couple had signed on their arrival at the party, on which they indicated they didn’t want photos of themselves to be published. But why so shy?
PR and communications expert, Mayah Riaz, told the Mirror: “From a PR perspective, there are a few possible explanations for this. The Kardashians are extremely media-savvy and highly strategic when it comes to their public image. If the photos featuring Harry and Meghan have disappeared, it’s unlikely to be accidental.”
“One possibility is that the Kardashians’ team decided the images might draw unwanted attention or controversy, particularly given the timing around Remembrance events. They tend to be careful about association with any ongoing public criticism or political sensitivities, and distancing themselves could simply be a case of brand protection.
“Alternatively, it could have come from Harry and Meghan’s camp. Their team is known for carefully managing their public appearances and media narrative, so they might have requested the images be taken down if they felt the coverage didn’t align with their messaging or could be seen as inappropriate given the circumstances.
“Ultimately, both parties are very conscious of how their actions are perceived and will always prioritise controlling their image. This looks like a classic case of reputational management from one or both sides.”
A source speaking to the Daily Mail claimed that Kim Kardashian had been somewhat annoyed by the alleged request from Harry and Meghan’s team to take down any photos of them, quoted as saying: “Kim was like, ‘you’ve already been papped outside and you were at the Baby2Baby event the same night being photographed like Meghan Trainor and Paris Hilton so what’s the problem?’ …Kim is pi**ed off”
However, the communications expert explained that two events aren’t really comparable from a PR point of view, with one “bolstering” Harry and Meghan’s “public image,” and the other “risking tabloid scrutiny”.
“The Baby2Baby event is a charity gala that welcomes media coverage and photo opportunities. Attending a high-profile charitable event allows celebrities to be seen supporting a good cause and reinforces a positive public image,” the expert explained. “From a PR perspective, it’s a very different context as there’s more openness to media exposure, and it aligns with the values of public service and philanthropy that Harry and Meghan often promote.
“As for the reported quote about Kim’s frustration, it does sound plausible. From her point of view, the inconsistency might be confusing, especially if Meghan and Harry were photographed elsewhere the same evening. But for their PR team, the distinction is clear, one event bolsters their public image, the other risks tabloid scrutiny.
“Ultimately, it comes down to control. Their team will always prioritise where and how they’re seen, ensuring every appearance supports the narrative they want to project.”
Source: Mirror
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