Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been told that if they distance themselves from the royal image, their popularity would plummet.

Pauline Maclaran, Professor of Marketing and Consumer Research at Royal Holloway says: “I think they need to really top up their associations with royalty.

“Because without their royal connections they really are nobodies in the US, which is where they’re trying to establish themselves.

“I do think their unique selling point to put it in marketing speak is that they have the sort of humanitarian aim and of course that high profile.

“But the high profile is really because of their titles and their associations with British royalty.

“They’re developing a kind of rival brand, or court, or however you like to describe it.

“But I do think the longer they stay away they lose that royal magic.”

She added: “Harry and Megan really need to have these royal connections and maintain them.

“The royals also need the diversity that the two of them bring, specifically Megan, it was pretty sad they lost that.”

The suggestion comes after both Prince Harry and Meghan Markle chose to skip Prince Philip’s memorial service due to security concerns.