A make or break moment for the Sussexes in US
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THE interview with Oprah Winfrey will ‘make or break’ the fortunes of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in the US, experts predict.
The 90-minute programme, which will air immediately after CBS’s flagship 60 Minutes show on March 7, is the couple’s chance ‘to woo and win over Americans’. A producer who has worked with Ms Winfrey in the past said: ‘This is make or break for them.
‘People in Britain assume they are famous here but the reality is they are not A-list stars in the same way Beyonce or even the Kardashians are.
‘Most Americans have no idea what they stand for and what they actually do.
‘Of course, we know Harry is Princess Diana’s son but ask your average guy in the street and they likely have no clue about them beyond that.’
He said it was significant that Meghan, who last week announced that she is pregnant with the couple’s second child, intends to speak to Ms Winfrey on her own before Harry joins her later in front of the cameras. ‘It seems Meghan wants to state her case and present her narrative about how she was received in Britain and what caused Megxit,’ the producer added. ‘ She needs regular Americans to understand what she’s about, like her and then want to click on her Netflix projects or Spotify podcasts.
‘The fact they’ve been given the time slot after 60 Minutes, which consistently wins the ratings war on Sunday nights, should give them a huge audience going in.
‘The question is can they keep those millions of viewers interested enough to keep watching for an hour and a half?’
PETER MANDELSON assured the Chinese PM that critics of Beijing’s human- rights record would be ‘proved wrong’ during a lobbying meeting on behalf of rich clients.
The Labour peer, who has been advising party leader Sir Keir Starmer on how to boost his poll ratings, told the meeting of business leaders and Chinese officials that Premier Li Keqiang ‘ would not be hearing complaints from the European side today’ – despite mounting international criticism of China’s authoritarian rule and alleged cover-up of the origins of the coronavirus pandemic.
Minutes of the February 5 meeting, which have been leaked to The Mail on Sunday, said: ‘With one side [ UK] missing any governmental representation, Peter Mandelson acted in that role.’
The minutes said Lord Mandelson, who played senior roles in Tony Blair’s administrations and was known as the ‘Prince of Darkness’, made opening remarks which were agreed with business participants in advance. They included ‘a reference to the changing political atmosphere, with “a movement questioning the West’s relationship with China” and China’s desire to be a genuine long-run partner in the international system’.
Lord Mandelson, 67, said: ‘ We are confident that China can prove them wrong.’
The meeting with Mr Li and other senior members of the Chinese government was jointly convened by Lord Mandelson’s lobbying company, Global Counsel, and the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade. It included contributions from HSBC chairman Mark Tucker, Prudential chief executive Mike Wells and Rio Tinto chairman Simon Thompson.
Lord Mandelson is closely associated with the 48 Group, an organisation dedicated to promoting trade between China and the UK.
A book published last year, called Hidden Hand: Exposing How The Chinese Communist Party Is Reshaping The World, described the 48 Group as a networking hub ‘ through which Beijing grooms Britain’s elites’.
The book’s authors said: ‘ So entrenched are the [Chinese] influence networks among British elites that Britain has passed the point of no return and any attempt to extricate itself from Beijing’s orbit would probably fail.’ Under Lord Mandelson’s chairmanship, t he meeting skirted around international criticism of the regime and instead discussed how‘ China and Europe can work together to do things more innovatively and better, using improved business models and technologies’.
A spokesman for Global Counsel said: ‘You have received a partial account of Lord Mandelson’s opening statement at this meeting. Lord Mandelson said, “We are offering each other a lot already. You will not be hearing complaints from us today – instead, how we can do things innovatively and better”, and “We realise the political climate is not perfect. There is a movement questioning the West’s relationship with China. They will call out China’s foreign policies and adherence to international rules and norms so as to claim that China does not want to be a long-term partner with the West in the international system. We are confident that China can prove them wrong.” ’
The spokesman added: ‘ At no point did Lord Mandelson take up a role associated with or representative of the UK Government.’
VICTORIA Beckham’s business faces an uncertain future after racking up total losses of more than £46 million since it launched.
In accounts submitted earlier this month, auditors warned of ‘significant doubt’ about the company’s ability to continue operating. It came after Mrs Beckham recorded losses of £11.8 million for 2019 and £12.3 million for 2018.
While the former Spice Girl’s publicists sought to put a positive gloss on the figures, accountants said the business will need continued financial support from shareholders to keep it going.
‘These events or conditions indicate that a material uncertainty exists that may cast significant doubt on the company’s ability to continue as a going concern,’ the auditors wrote.
Mrs Beckham, 46, launched her fashion label in 2008 with a small collection of dresses. It swiftly grew to an extensive range that now includes handbags, coats, shoes and accessories.
Friends of the star say she is determined to continue with her company even though her detractors have dismissed it as a vanity project. One said: ‘ This is what gives Victoria her identity, she loves it and despite its obvious obstacles, she is a grafter and hugely passionate about it.’
Last month, it emerged that she and her husband David had paid themselves £40,000-a-day thanks to the profit made by his company, DB Ventures, which has covered Mrs Beckham’s losses in previous years. She attracted criticism last year for trying to use the Government’ s furlough scheme to pay 30 of her 120 staff and was forced into an embarrassing U- turn. Last week, it emerged that Mrs Beckham’s beauty range she set up in 2019 has suffered a loss of £4.7 million. A spokesperson for Mrs Beckham did not respond to requests for comment. Sources close to the star said that revenues of £38.3 million were driven by continued growth in her fashion business and the launch of the beauty brand.