Meghan Markle was warned by an expert over shifting the focus away from her new project and “reigniting” tensions with the Royal Family after her latest “risky” move.

Meghan Markle was criticised after segments of her highly controversial Oprah Winfrey interview in 2021 were shown in her latest sit-down chat with Prince Harry for CBS.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex spoke on CBS’s Sunday Morning show with Jane Pauley and announced their latest project aimed at tackling child safety online and connecting families who have lost their children to suicide due to a lack of safeguarding online, The Parents’ Network (TPN).

During the interview, segments of the Oprah interview were shown to the viewers, while Meghan talked about opening up on her own thoughts of self-harm during her time as a working member of the Royal Family.

But a PR expert labelled the move “risky” as, while it could “reignite interest” in the couple’s new project. She was also concerned for the duchess’s own wellbeing, as it also risks “reopening old wounds” and “rekindling controversy”, so she suggested the duchess try a different approach.

Renae Smith, founder and director of The Atticism, told Express.co.uk that bringing back the original Oprah interview, which is thought to have contributed to the Sussexes’s rift with the royals heavily, would “most likely detract” attention from their current initiative, TPN.

Meghan Markle was urged to do one thing by a PR expert (Image: Getty)

She explained: “Revisiting segments of the Oprah interview is a risky move, and I certainly would not have advised it. While it can reignite interest and bring attention to their new project, it absolutely risks reopening old wounds and rekindling controversy.

“The original interview was polarising, and reintroducing it will most likely detract from the current initiative by shifting the focus back to their criticisms of the Royal Family.

“In saying that, we all exist in echo chambers, and perhaps, she and Harry still believe the interview was a resounding success—in which case, they might think that showing it again only reaffirms that success. It’s usually a good PR team’s job to ensure this doesn’t happen though!”

Ms Smith added that it’s essential for Harry and Meghan to “weigh the potential benefits of increased visibility against the possibility of negative backlash from a holistic viewpoint, considering the perception on a wide frame” and suggested the pair introduce fresh content which will not “underscore” their efforts.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced their latest project, the Parents’ Network (Image: CBS)

She concluded: “I think it would have been more prudent to introduce fresh, forward-looking content that underscores their current efforts and achievements without harking back to past controversies.

According to the Archwell Foundation, Harry and Meghan’s charitable organisation, the charity and the new network will “work to unite and uplift parents and caregivers and systematically change the social media platforms and devices that create a harmful and dangerous environment for young people around the world.”

During CBS’s interview, Ms Pauley compared the anti-bullying initiative and the duchess’s own struggles with suicidal ideation.

Meghan said that by sharing her own experience, she hopes that it might “save someone or encourage someone in their life to really, genuinely check in on them and not assume that the appearance is good.”

At the time of the Oprah interview, the Duchess was heaped with praise for being so open and honest about her experiences.

Zoë Clews, a trauma and anxiety specialist at Harley Street London, told Express.co.uk at the time: “I’m always humbled by the bravery of anyone who’s prepared to talk openly about their experiences, especially ones that are as negative as those Meghan has encountered.”