Meghan & Harry
Planning world domination
Pictured together for the first time since quitting as senior royals, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle appeared carefree and relaxed as they stepped off of a commercial flight in Victoria, Canada, on Valentine’s Day. Meghan was sustainably stylish, carrying her eco-friendly Prada bag, and wearing flats made by Rothy’s, a San Francisco company that creates shoes out of recycled water bottles.
In the weeks since they announced they were ditching ‘The Firm’, the Sussexes have been spending most of their days holed up in a $21 million Vancouver Island mansion, where a source tells WHO they had been “enjoying the quiet life … they are real homebodies who love to chill out with Archie and the dogs”.
But, despite all the cooking, yoga and nature walks, things are not as laid back as they seem. Laser-focused on their goal of financial independence, the couple are eagerly carving out plans that could see then rake in hundreds of millions, for themselves as well as the charities they champion. A high-level publicist predicted to New York magazine that Meghan has probably already worked out her road map to success. “The plan has to be world domination,” she said. “Though I don’t think she’ll do a lot of commercial stuff for a while, because she wants to prove the British wrong that she’s just a brat and a gold digger.”
A peek at their recent travel itinerary offers a hint of their plan: On February 6, the couple left behind 9-month-old Archie and flew to Florida on a Gulfstream private jet for Harry to deliver a speech at a J.P. Morgan event in Miami’s South Beach. A source told WHO the prince stood before the crowd of wealthy investment bankers and celebrities – including J.Lo and Alex Rodriguez who were seated at the same table – and said stepping away from the royals has been difficult, but he doesn’t regret the decision because he wants to protect his family. He also talked about his mother being pursued to her death by the paparazzi. “Every single time I hear a click, every single time I see a flash. It takes me right back,” he said.
According to the Rainforest Action Network, J.P. Morgan has invested $195 billion in fossil fuel companies in the past
three years alone, more than any other bank.
The couple are believed to have stayed at the mansion of Meghan’s friend Serena Williams in nearby Palm Beach County.
The appearance was widely criticised, with some commentators accusing them of hypocrisy, and ‘cashing in’ on Diana’s death. New York Post columnist Maureen Callahan branded them pampered freeloaders. “Harry and Meghan are out on the stroll, selling their goods and services – whatever those may be – to the highest bidder,” she wrote. “For the right price, he’ll dredge up all that deeply personal emotional chaos, held sacred for decades, to a room full of global powerbrokers – despite zero chance any of it will elucidate or ameliorate a single real-world problem.”
In a damning piece, she added: Harry has “shown no scruples, no self-awareness, no shame” and that he’s “just another hustler out to make a buck”.
The Sunday Times reported that the event earned them around $1.5 million, and the Daily Mirror claims Harry has been in talks with banking giant Goldman Sachs, which has invested $59 billion in fossil fuel companies, since November to appear on their web series.
A CNBC source emphasised the gig would be unpaid, but the engagements would serve as a launching pad for paid appearances down the track. “It could pave the way for the Sussexes to forge a lucrative future relationship,” said the source.
UK media commentator Piers Morgan slammed their behaviour. “As we now can see, they just wanted the freedom to whore out their royal names to the highest planetwrecking investment bank bidders.”
“Every time I see a flash it takes me right back” — PRINCE HARRY
Meghan, meanwhile, looks set to revive her entertainment career and status as a celebrity. In addition to voiceover work for Disney, the former Suits actress has been actively looking for a manager or for future projects, and it’s certain she’ll have multiple offers to act, host talk shows, give tell-all interviews and deliver speeches for in excess of $100,000 a pop.
Media executive Simon Huck told Canadian current affairs show Morning Toast that, even though his PR company is not currently representing her, his agency
was “flooded” with “huge” offers of work for the former actress in the wake of Megxit. “She’s not taking any offers right now, but it was unbelievable,” said Huck, a close friend of the Kardashian clan. “If she did it all, she would make $100 million ... but she won’t. She’s not going to do traditional commercial endorsements; she’s not going to be doing a perfume. She’ll do things with ... Netflix.”
Netflix’s chief content officer Ted Sarandos was asked about the prospect of working with the couple. “Who wouldn’t be interested?” he responded. “Yes, sure.”
Indeed, Harry is already collaborating with Oprah Winfrey for an upcoming Apple TV+ mental-health project.
The couple were last week labelled callous after they laid off 15 loyal members of their London staff, fuelling rumours they are leaving the UK permanently. Some had worked for the couple for years and were said to be “shocked” and “devastated”.
Meanwhile, many Canadians are lukewarm at the prospect of having to stump up for security costs. In a poll, 73 per cent said they shouldn’t have to pay, with only 3 per cent were happy to do so. One political leader told the Montreal Gazette: “I don’t see any reason why Quebecers’ taxes should be used for Meghan and Harry, any more than they should be used to finance the Simpsons.”
Ahead of that, they have been ordered back to the UK by the Queen for the Commonwealth Service on March 9. An emotional confrontation with Prince William and his wife Kate Middleton looms large. “They didn’t leave on good terms by any means, but they are both relieved it’s over,” a family friend tells WHO. “The brothers have been talking as little more in recent weeks leading some to hope they can gradually repair their fractured relationship.”
The Sussexes refused an invitation to embattled Prince Andrew’s 60th birthday party this week, citing “previous engagements” – though royal watchers suspect they don’t want to be associated with the prince after the Epstein scandal.
Although the Queen has publicly said she is “entirely supportive” of her grandson’s move, privately she is hurt and bewildered by Harry’s choices, and is still hopeful he may one day return to the fold.