Meghan Markle’s Former PR Strategist: “You Can’t Change People’s Minds”

If you ever find yourself endlessly explaining your side of the story, hoping the haters will finally get it, Ashley Hansen, former PR strategist for Meghan Markle, has some advice: Stop. Save your breath. People believe what they want to believe, and no amount of evidence, sincerity, or perfectly worded rebuttal will change a mind already made up.

In a recent episode of the Day in the Life (DITL) podcast, Hansen sat down with Paige Port to discuss her career and years managing communications for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Ashley didn’t hold back when the topic turned to Meghan’s never-ending battle with the British press and public opinion.

“There’s never a day where they’re not in the news,” Ashley shared, describing the media frenzy that follows Meghan and Harry. “With most celebrities, there’s an ebb and flow—a movie comes out, there’s press, then it dies down. But with Meghan, it’s constant. Like, presidential-level constant.”

And the scrutiny continues unabated. Meghan’s upcoming Netflix show, With Love, Meghan, and the rebranding of her lifestyle brand from “American Riviera Orchard” to “As Ever” have already become tabloid fodder. The business moves—smart, strategic, and entirely on-brand—still get lambasted by an angry contingent of Boomer British white women, somehow still furious that Prince Harry didn’t make a more “traditional” (read: white) choice. 

The Battle with the British Press

“We read everything,” Ashley revealed on DITL. “Twitter, Quora, Reddit—we’d monitor it all because you have to know what’s out there. And there’s a clear agenda in certain corners of the media. It’s negative, and it’s deliberate.”

That agenda is evident in the Daily Mail, the Sun, and certain social media spaces where conspiracies thrive. Commenters genuinely argue whether Meghan is the mother of her children, often fueled by Meghan’s estranged half-sister Samantha. 

Then there’s Piers Morgan. As Ashley pointed out, Piers’ fixation borders on obsessive, yet unsurprising. “It’s easier for people to believe what fits their narrative,” Ashley explained. “If someone’s decided Meghan is the villain, every action, every word, every breath will be twisted to support that belief.”

But it’s not just the press. The British royal family itself has seemingly been complicit in Meghan’s abuse—or, at the very least, shamefully silent. King Charles, the man who vowed to modernize the monarchy, has done nothing to stop the relentless character assassination of his daughter-in-law or the racist vitriol aimed at his grandchildren. And make no mistake—he could end it all with a single word. But he hasn’t. And his silence speaks volumes. 

Then there’s Kate Middleton, the so-called “peacemaker,” caught on video angrily confronting Meghan during Queen Elizabeth’s funeral. In Spare, Prince Harry recounted a particularly chilling moment when his brother, William, overcome with anger, got in Meghan’s face, prompting Meghan to calmly say, “Kindly take your finger out of my face.” Despite all this, and more, Meghan remains treated worse than Prince Andrew—a man with well-documented ties to Jeffrey Epstein (who, incidentally, was in touch with the disgraced financier for longer than he initially claimed) and who paid $12 million to Virginia Giuffre, one of Epstein’s trafficking victims, for his alleged sexual assault of her. 

Let that sink in: Meghan Markle, a self-made woman with no criminal record, is vilified more harshly than a man wanted for questioning by the FBI regarding his participation in one of the most notorious sex trafficking rings in modern history. Ashley didn’t mince words about the toll this all took. “There were days when we’d wake up to a new pile of lies, and the question wasn’t ‘Can we fight this?’ but ‘Is it worth the energy?’” she recalled. “You learn quickly that you can’t combat crazy. You protect your peace and keep it moving.”

Some People Hate Her, No Matter What—But This Is Ashley’s Advice

So what do you do when people have decided to hate you? When you’ve presented facts and receipts and lived authentically—and they still sneer?

Ashley’s advice: Let them think what they want.

“You can’t change everybody’s mind,” she said bluntly. “I used to want to kill every negative story, to prove the truth… but you realize it’s a losing battle. The goal isn’t universal approval—it’s peace.”

It’s advice Meghan herself has embraced. Just look at her Instagram stories—relaxed, sun-soaked glimpses into her life—and the three cheers The Toast podcast gave her this week for living authentically and refusing to engage with the noise. The vibe? Here’s my life. Love it or hate it—I’m good either way.

How to Apply PR Advice to Your Own Life

While most of us aren’t fending off tabloid smear campaigns, we all encounter situations where people refuse to hear us—whether it’s a toxic coworker, an estranged family member, or an internet troll.

Ashley’s tips apply across the board:

• Know your truth: “If you know who you are, outside noise can’t shake you,” Ashley said. It’s not about being oblivious—it’s about being secure enough not to need external validation.
• Choose your battles: “Not every lie deserves a response,” Ashley explained. Sometimes, silence is more powerful than an endless back-and-forth.
• Find your people: “The ones who matter will get it,” Ashley emphasized. Meghan’s inner circle—including Ashley—stood by her, even as the world threw daggers.
• Prioritize peace over proof: “Do you want to be right, or do you want to be happy?” Ashley asked. Spoiler: Being right rarely brings peace.

The Lesson: Live Authentically and the Right People Will Find You

Ultimately, Ashley Hansen’s philosophy—learned from years in the trenches with Meghan—boils down to this: Live your life. Be authentic. Let the haters talk while you thrive.

Meghan Markle does just that for all the slings and arrows she’s endured. She’s raising her children—yes, her children with Prince Harry, thank you very much—in sunny Montecito, running Archwell with her husband (and no, they are not getting divorced), dropping chill Instagram stories, and living her purpose. And—as Ashley reminded us—she’s not spending her precious time trying to convince Piers Morgan (or Quora trolls) that she’s a good person.

“If you stay true,” Ashley said, “and own your story—mistakes, wins, all of it—you’ll attract the right people and repel the wrong ones. And honestly? That’s the goal.”

So the next time you’re tempted to argue with someone who’s already decided you’re the villain in their narrative, take a page from Meghan’s playbook: Log off, pour some green juice, and post a peaceful beach pic to your Instagram story. The right people will double-tap. The wrong ones will stew. Either way, you’re winning.

And if you need more of that energy, go listen to The Toast‘s latest episode. Three cheers for Meghan Markle—for every woman out there who’s done explaining herself—and for being exactly who she is, unapologetically.