It doesn’t take a genius to see that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s sustained attacks on the Royal Family have had consequences. Sure, the Duke was invited to attend his father’s coronation, but rumors insist that there were more than a few of his family members who would have preferred that he stay in the US.
Currently, Harry and Meghan are continuing to build their new life in the US, though what the future holds is hard to tell. By all accounts, the couple keep themselves busy raising their two children at their Montecito, California mansion, as well as engaging in hobbies beyond the property’s walls.
It seems as though Harry and Meghan felt compelled to speak out about their negative experiences in the royal sphere, but their decision to do so might hurt them moving forward. That’s at least according to renowned royal expert and author Tom Quinn, who not only claims that the royals see Harry as a “loose cannon – but also that Meghan has a masterplan to destroy them.
Harry and Meghan have been incredibly outspoken in criticizing the royals, and their experiences within royal sphere have now been well documented. Who knows, there may yet be more interviews, books, television shows, and other projects in the works that see them attempt to further disparage the reputation of the British monarchy.
In January, a senior industry source told the Express that Penguin Random House – publisher of Harry’s book Spare – was left stunned by its success. As a result, “the heat is on” to encourage Meghan to write one as well.
Harry & Meghan – how much money do they have?
Harry and Meghan’s four-book deal with the publisher was said to include an eye-watering $20 million advance. Meanwhile, global royalties for Harry’s book might be more than $120 million. The industry source said the figures “surprised everyone.”
When Harry and Meghan split from the Royal Family in 2020, they gave away their royal titles and their right to financial aid. In their now-infamous Oprah Winfrey interview, Harry said that his family “literally cut me off financially,” adding that the deals they struck with Netflix and Spotify were never a part of the plan. Rather, the Duke said he had no choice but to do said deals as he had to “afford security” for his family.
Meanwhile, he and Prince William shared a reported $14 million fortune left behind by their mother, Princess Diana.
For their Spotify deal, Meghan and Harry reportedly pocketed $18 million. According to an industry expert speaking to Newsweek, the agreement itself might be worth $35 million.
In September 2020, the couple also secured a five-year $100 million production deal with Netflix. Harry has, as mentioned, earned plenty from his book, but he’s not the only earner in the relationship.
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Meghan herself has a net worth of around $60 million.
When looking at figures alone, it certainly appears as though Harry and Meghan have very little to worry about financially. Not only that, but their two children are growing up healthy and happy, and the couple own an eye-catching mansion in Montecito, California.
There have been many no end of reports concerning what Harry and Meghan will do next. As stated, money isn’t a problem. Given their recent endeavors, it gives them – on paper at least – the freedom to choose what they want to spend their time doing.
“There is nothing left to say”
Meghan, as mentioned, could write her own memoir, though experts suggest she and Harry might move on to new adventures within the Netflix sphere first.
The Sun claims Harry and Meghan will launch a new Netflix project, though instead of being in front of the camera, they will be behind it in future productions. Moreover, an insider claims the Sussexes are destined to move on from publishing memoirs and criticizing the Royal Family.
“That period of their life is over – as there is nothing left to say,” a source told The Sun.
Of course, not everyone agrees that Harry and Meghan are done with books and being in front of the camera.
Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told the Daily Mail the pair would most likely continue to engage in activities similar to what we’ve seen over the past few years, including making shows, doing interviews, and writing books.
He added that Harry and Meghan “specialize in doing the unexpected” and will plan depending on what favors their brand.
Fitzwilliams said there is “obviously plenty left that they could say in print.” He says there remains “enormous’ international interest in Harry and Meghan’s activities.”
“His early life might make the third (book), and Meghan could write a memoir, as has been rumoured. There is obviously plenty left that they could say in print,” the royal expert concluded.
“The question is, would it benefit them, and how would it help their brand and the causes they support?”
Harry & Meghan are becoming less and less popular
Interestingly, Harry and Meghan’s popularity in the UK is said to have plummeted after the release of the couple’s Netflix series and Harry’s book, Spare.
As Newsweek reported, the latest YouGov poll in the UK suggests that Harry was liked by 46 percent of voters during the first quarter of 2023. In the last quarter of 2022, the number was 52 percent. Meanwhile, Meghan was liked by 38 percent in the final quarter of 2022 and dropped to just 36 percent in the first quarter of this year.
Moreover, she was also disliked by 24 percent of pollers in the first quarter of 2023 – that figure is risen from 12 percent last year.
The numbers hardly paint a pretty picture. According to Newsweek, though: “The figures represent a much healthier outlook for the couple than other polling agencies have given them in recent months.” The news outlet even suggests it could “still be a boost for Harry and Meghan.”
The fact that Meghan is prepared to do the unexpected might not come as a shock to anyone, though new rumors about what she and Harry are up to could be of genuine concern to the royals.
According to royal author Tom Quinn, Harry is seen as a “loose cannon” by the Royal Family. Meanwhile, he argues that the royals believe Meghan’s aim is to steer Harry so that he might ‘destroy’ his family members.
Speaking on the Channel 5 documentary Harry & Meghan: Is America Turning Against Them, Quinn discussed the present situation, and what might be yet to come.
Meghan “encouraging” Harry to “destroy the royal family,” expert claims
“The Royal Family will be deeply upset by the fact they have this loose cannon, someone William was [once] close to,” Quinn said.”
[Harry] has married this woman who seems to be encouraging him to destroy the royal family.”
Buckingham Palace has not commented on anything from Harry’s book, Meghan’s claims in the Netflix series, or anything else said or done by the Duke and Duchess over the past year. According to Quinn, it will most likely stay that way, even if the Sussexes refuse to relent with regards to their public criticisms.
The expert says senior working royals will never respond to any allegations made by Harry and Meghan.
“Very sensibly, and in keeping with the tradition, the Royal Family [will never] say anything beyond things like ‘recollections may vary’ about these various events,” Quinn added in the documentary.
Of course, Buckingham Palace did officially comment on one of Harry and Meghan’s claims after their 2021 interview with Oprah. The late Queen Elizabeth II then issued a statement which said that “some recollections may vary” about the various allegations the couple made.
Prince Harry met some of his family members at the coronation of King Charles in early May. He was said to have spoken about his estranged family before the ceremony at Westminster Abby. When the proceedings had concluded, he headed straight home to the States, where he and Meghan were to celebrate their son Archie’s birthday.
Harry is only said to have stayed in the UK for about 28 hours, opting not to join senior royals for a private coronation lunch. That, according to royal expert Richard Kay, was a mistake.
“‘I’m only here because I got to be here’”
“That was unwise. It looked petulant,” Key said in the Channel 5 documentary Harry & Meghan: Is America Turning Against Them. “[It inferred] “‘I’m only here because I got to be here, because I’m the King’s son, but I can’t wait to be away.’
“[It translated to ] ‘I’m only here because I got to be here, because I’m the King’s son, but I can’t wait to be away.’”
Several Royal Family members were said to have been happy with Harry’s decision to leave immediately after the coronation; perhaps reasonable considering some of the claims he has leveled since moving across the Atlantic.
But while the rift between the Sussexes and the royals might run deeper than ever, the fact that Harry and Meghan aren’t keeping in touch with Harry’s family could come back to haunt them. Aside from Princess Beatrice – the only royal said to have visited Harry and Meghan in the US – as well as Mike and Zara Tindall, Harry is believed to not have any contact with the royals.
According to former Vanity Fair editor-in-chief Graydon Carter, the couple will “live to regret” not keeping in touch.
“That will come back to haunt them at a certain point. They have no cousins that they see, or uncles or aunts, and they don’t see grandparents, except for one,” he said.
The “one” Carter is most likely referring to is Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland, who often spends time at Harry and Meghan’s mansion to be with her grandchildren, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
Harry & Meghan – life today
Carter also added that Harry and Meghan have decided to live in an area with “nothing, nothing, nothing to do.”
“It’s a 40-minute drive from LA. There can’t be many kids there, because young families can’t afford it.”
“They have too much attention,” he concluded. “For people like that, unavailability is your greatest asset. If you’re out there too much, the public has a chance to get sick of you. I think they’ve made every wrong move you can make.”
Yet while there’s might not be the most vibrant area, the couple seems to be keeping themselves busy.
Their current life in Montecito looks markedly different from the one they left in the UK. Above all else, they aren’t followed by paparazzi everywhere, and the mere fact that Meghan was able to give birth to daughter Lilibet in relative peace – compared to when Archie was born in the UK – was life-changing
Harry has been spotted playing polo in Santa Barbara occasionally, while Meghan spends more time in Los Angeles.
Who they usually hang out with hasn’t been clarified, but latest reports suggest that Meghan is keen on seeing more people in Los Angeles. Perhaps tellingly, rumors suggest the feeling isn’t mutual.
Harry & Meghan branded “low-grade reality stars”
According to Hollywood insider, broadcaster, comedian, and actor Tim Dillon, Harry and Meghan only want to spend time with celebrities because they see themselves as celebrities.
“I know people in LA that know them, and all they want to do is hang out with celebrities. I was at a celebrity party the other night talking to somebody about this, and they go, ‘these people are just… it’s constant with them,’” Dillon said on the “They Come and Go” episode of his podcast, The Tim Dillon Show, as reported by the Daily Mail.
“She was texting the person I was with there – and, ‘no, you can’t come’. I shouldn’t have even been there. But the point is they just won’t stop, these two. They are just like moths to the flame trying to hang out… They’re like low-grade reality stars that are trying to attach to anything.”
