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The whole drama with Meghan Markle and Prince Harry attending Kris Jenner's birthday party is the latest celebrity spat that has got everyone talking. For all of the wrong reasons. In a nutshell, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex attended the Kardashian matriach's 70th birthday bash at Jeff Bezos' $165million estate in Montecito, California in November. Securing an invitation to one of the biggest showbiz parties, with some of the world's most influential people from the likes of Bezos to Mark Zuckerberg, to the biggest names in entertainment from Beyonce, Mariah Carey, Adele, Oprah Winfrey, Tyler Perry and Stevie Wonder is a dream ticket for the Sussex brand.

Candid photos of the former royal couple, including one image of Harry wearing a poppy circulated online, and Meghan posing up a storm alongside Kim and Kris, and Hollywood's A-list elite. They had officially crossed over to the trappings of glitz, glamour and fame. It's a stark contrast from high society, where the two worlds hardly ever collide.

The next day Kris and her daughter Kim Kardashian posted several party pictures, including them with Harry and Meghan on their Instagram account. Within a couple of hours, the ones of the royal couple mysteriously vanished from their grid shortly after they were posted, reportedly at the request of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. This was their first mistake.

Rumours quickly circulated Harry and Meghan were not pleased the pictures were posted in the first place, with the Kardashians also unhappy about having to remove them. Sources claimed a feud about the pictures, dubbed "photogate", was brewing behind the scenes and the Sussex PR camp swept into action. There were reports claiming the couple had been presented with consent forms before the party and had ticked the "no social media box". But echoes from Team Kardashian said this wasn't true as it was a party for "friends and family". Now, no one is happy. This was their second mistake.

But this is where things get a little bit sticky - the Sussex camp are no longer talking. Now aware that a PR machine that's behind the Kardashian brand, alongside momager Kris, will always have a rebuttal. Maybe the Sussexes believed the family wouldn't respond, but this was where they made a fatal mistake - it's the Kardashians, of course, they will reply. It's another publicity opportunity, everything their brand has been built on.

It got even worse, when sisters Khloe Kardashian and Kim decide to air it all out on a podcast two months later. Kim said the Sussexes did sign off the publication of the images - only for Harry and Meghan to panic, amid suspected backlash, and ask them to be taken down when realising it was Remembrance Day. It reignited the "photogate" saga, with Kim and Khloe publicly disputing the Sussexes' version of the events and pushing back on the couple's claims.

Harry and Meghan's standing in Hollywood has been called into question as the royal pair are now seen to be at odds with yet someone else within their inner circle, and its none other than the Kardashian's monstrous PR machine - a highly sophisticated and relentless media strategy which is aimed at controlling narratives, launching brands and maintaining cultural relevance. Why go up against such a powerful Hollywood entity? It's the quickest route to becoming irrelevant.

Go Up's PR Director, Olivia Bennett, suggested Harry and Meghan's move was "damaging" and could prove "risky" putting their footing among Hollywood circles in jeopardy.

Speaking exclusively to Express.co.uk, Olivia explained: "From a PR standpoint, the confusion around the Remembrance Day photos is potentially damaging, particularly because of the mixed messages it sends. If Meghan and Harry initially agreed to the photos being shared and then asked for them to be removed, it raises questions about consistency and communication.

A brand's strength lies in its clarity and ability to control the narrative - and this situation creates a ripple effect of uncertainty around their position."

She continued: "The damage to their brand really comes down to perception. If the public begins to question the couple's decision-making or the integrity of their relationship with influencers like Kim Kardashian, it risks eroding trust. The Sussexes have worked hard to cultivate a sense of independence from the Hollywood machine, but incidents like this undermine that. Audiences begin to wonder how much control they truly have over their own narrative."

At the time, the Sussex camp had said the pictures were taken down because Meghan and Harry had declined permission for photos, allegedly checking "no" on a consent form upon arrival.

Kim and Khloe Kardashian said this is incorrect.

"After it was posted, I think they realised it was Remembrance Day, and they didn't want to be seen at a party, even though it's already up, you know, and then taken down. And then I think they realised, like, oh, this was so silly," Kim said.

And therein lies the problem. A brand as big as the Kardashians are never going to miss an opportunity to set the record straight whether the Sussexes agree or not. The adage "all publicity is good publicity" suggests any attention whether or good or bad is beneficial. And that is the epitome of the Kardashian brand. Unfortunately, the same can't be said for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

Olivia suggests taken on the Kardashian brand is the wrong move for the couple.

"The Kardashians are a PR juggernaut, and their influence can't be underestimated. When a celebrity of Kim's stature shares a conflicting narrative, it becomes difficult for Meghan and Harry to avoid the fallout. Hollywood is a complex ecosystem, and while the Sussexes have built their own profile, they are still closely tied to celebrity culture," she explained.

"The backlash from such a high-profile figure could raise doubts about their positioning within those circles. The risk is that they are seen as too unpredictable or untrustworthy in their dealings with the industry's power players."

But there is a silver lining for Harry and Meghan, according to the expert who deals in crisis management.

Olivia explained: "If I were advising Meghan and Harry's PR team, I would recommend focusing on transparency and quick damage control. They need to clarify their side of the story without appearing defensive. It's crucial to be consistent with their values."

"They need to take lessons from this incident: if they want to set non-negotiable boundaries, they must stick to them. Unfortunately, this is a family that cannot afford to second-guess itself, and they need to ensure they follow through on the terms they've put forward. Once they're consistent in aligning their actions with those boundaries, we'll start to see a shift in how they're perceived."

Olivia concludes: "Crisis management is about controlling the narrative before others take over. Meghan and Harry have a long history of navigating scrutiny, and while this situation will likely cause a temporary stir, their ability to manage the fallout and align their actions with their stated values will be key in maintaining their credibility - both in Hollywood and globally."

Harry, Meghan and the Kardashians were probably never going to be a match made in heaven. They're on opposite sides of the Hollywood spectrum. On the one hand, you have a royal couple who use their connections to promote their philanthropic work and a reality star family, where publicity is their main currency. They're in two different worlds that were never going to mesh. And that is the Sussexes' fatal mistake - not all publicity is good publicity.