PALACE TO KEEP AN EYE ON MEG DEALS
Source warns of terms set in Sussexes’ Firm exit
REVAMP BILL Frogmore home
THE Royal Family will be casting a critical eye over Harry and Meghan’s Netflix megadeal, a source warns.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have inked an agreement said to be worth $ 100million (£75m) to produce documentaries and films for the streaming giant.
But a palace insider has claimed that while they quit royal duties with everyone’s best wishes, it was made clear future commercial deals would be “subject to discussion”.
One concern is how the lucrative career move will look to the British public while the couple are still repaying £2.4m of taxpayer cash lavished on the refurbishment of their Frogmore Cottage home at Windsor. The source said: “Harry and Meghan did leave as working members of the family with everyone’s best wishes and it is sincerely hoped they find the happiness that appeared to be lacking in their lives.
“However, it goes without saying any deals they are making will be scrutinised by the royal household. Under the terms of their deal to
GIANT Netflix HQ, Los Gatos
forgo their royal duties, they agreed any commercial deals would be subject to discussion.
“This deal with Netflix, any speaking engagements or other corporate work are examples.
“Both the Royal Family and senior courtiers will be aware of how this looks to the public, especially as the couple have not yet paid back the £2.4million they promised to refund to the taxpayer for Frogmore Cottage, which will be their UK base.”
Harry, 35, and Meghan, 39, this week confirmed they will produce documentaries , docu-series, feature f i lms, scripted shows and kids’ programming for Netflix.
It is the first deal announced since stepping down as senior royals earlier this year. But it is not yet clear whether they will use their official titles of Duke and Duchess of Sussex for their Netflix work, which will be content that “informs but also gives hope”.
Harry and Meghan have lived in the Los Angeles area since March.
In July, they bought a $14.7m (£11.1m) house in Montecito, an area an hour north of Malibu that is home to US stars Oprah Winfrey and Ellen DeGeneres.
They agreed any future commercial deals would be subject to discussion
ROYAL SOURCE ON EXIT TERMS FROM ‘THE FIRM’