Prince William has hired a crisis manager ahead of Prince Harry’s potential return to the UK(Image: AP)
Prince William has reportedly taken a surprising step behind the scenes by hiring crisis manager Liza Ravenscroft – a move that signals strategic preparation according to a PR expert.
While the Prince of Wales is no stranger to intense media scrutiny, the decision to bring in specialist crisis expertise suggests a deliberate effort to future-proof his public role as he edges closer to the throne. Far from being a reaction to a specific incident, experts say the appointment reflects long-term thinking about reputation, narrative control and credibility.
PR expert Mayah Riaz says the move should be seen as calculated rather than defensive. “Speaking as someone who works closely with high-profile public figures on crisis management, this is a calculated and proactive move, not a reaction to panic,” she explains. “At this level of public scrutiny, the biggest reputational mistakes usually come from being unprepared, not from the crisis itself.”
Liza Ravenscroft
Liza Ravenscroft has been hired by Prince William(Image: Linkedin)
Crisis managers are often misunderstood as being brought in only when something has gone wrong. In reality, their role is largely preventative – identifying potential pressure points before they escalate and ensuring there are clear response strategies in place.
“A crisis manager’s role is essentially to stress test every possible scenario, identify pressure points before they erupt, and put clear response plans in place,” Mayah says. “It is about message discipline, speed, and making sure the right narrative is ready if and when speculation starts to spiral.”
For William, this approach is about safeguarding long-term trust. “For a senior royal, this is about protecting long-term credibility rather than firefighting daily headlines,” Mayah adds.
The timing of the appointment has also raised eyebrows, particularly given renewed attention around William’s relationship with Prince Harry. With Harry expected to return to the UK, speculation around family dynamics is likely to intensify – something Mayah believes would be impossible to ignore at William’s level.
“What he may be pre-empting is not a single event, but the risk of narrative drift,” Mayah explains. “Awkward moments, exaggerated interactions, or unnamed sources can quickly snowball into damaging stories. A crisis manager helps ensure that silence, statements, and strategy are all intentional rather than reactive.”
Describing her talents and day-to-day work, Ms Ravenscroft’s LinkedIn page reads: “It’s often front page stuff: from boycott campaigns to sexual allegations to serious safety issues, geopolitical and ethical risks, I’m all about human-led response direct to the audiences which matter.”
“The timing is telling,” she says. “William sits at the centre of a very complex media ecosystem, with ongoing public fascination around his relationship with Harry. With Harry’s visit approaching, it makes sense to have an expert in place who can anticipate media angles, manage briefing strategy, and neutralise misinterpretation before it gains traction.”
It’s no secret that Prince William and his extended family have faced their most difficult challenges yet in recent years, with Princess Kate and King Charles’ respective cancer diagnoses, the late Queen’s death and Prince Harry and Meghan’s ongoing attacks on the monarchy.