With Meghan Markle’s latest Netflix reality jaunt launching in October, Manchester PR, talent management and crisis comms specialist Carla Speight looks at the pair’s highs and low’s post-royal fall out.
“Looking back at the Netflix era, the Duke and Duchess have evolved as a couple. From Harry’s hurt leading to the bombshell book and the documentary airing their dirty laundry, to moving forward with projects they care about, such as Invictus and With Love, Meghan at the heart of the latter projects.
I believe the Duchess has led the way with that direction, providing a stable future for them and helping them settle into their new lives in the US. Whilst Harry continues to battle with the Royal Family to see reason and meet him halfway to allow space for healing their relationship. Though it appears there’s a long way to go there, and seemingly both sides need to compromise and stop letting pride, emotions, and the Royal Household advisors get in the way.
The original contract was reportedly worth $100m. If the amount is true, it marks the success of their new life together outside of the Royal Family. Love them or hate them, they couldn’t realistically get ’normal jobs’ such as the Duchess behind the checkouts at Walmart and Prince Harry becoming a gardener. Ultimately, they have to earn enough to fund the things they need and to keep their children safe. There’s no doubt that the Netflix deal will have gone a long way to supporting their futures.
The Duchess appears to be looking to the future for her family. She has successfully launched her brand, As Ever, in partnership with Netflix, which has garnered an impressive following, and every line of product launches has sold out in a matter of minutes. It’s clear to see that the Duchess’ focus is to ensure her husband and children are provided for in their new life, which Prince Harry is learning to adjust to.
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Previously, Harry didn’t have the freedom to say and do as he pleased without putting it past the Royal Household team for assessment. Every engagement was planned meticulously, press interviews were screened, and answers were prepped in advance by the Palace’s press team. But in the early days of the Netflix contract, he was quite literally encouraged to ‘speak his truth’ by the teams around him, which is a terrible approach when the person at the heart of it is hurting and the emotions are incredibly raw; when this advice is given to someone in Harry’s position, it will almost always result in the fallout the couple have faced.
Whilst the agents around the couple at the time will have loved the great TV and millions earned in book sales, they failed to recognise that there was a very hurt man at the heart of that situation, who needed support and guidance. I doubt that the Duchess will have had much say on the direction at the time, as she will have been outnumbered by the team around them, exploiting the situation. Plus, Harry’s hurt, coupled with his newfound freedom, will have made it easy to be pushed in that direction.
Throughout the Netflix contract, the team of advisors changed, and we saw a more focused direction take shape, providing us with an insight into what matters most to the couple. Harry took the helm with the more sporting side of the contract with Invictus and Polo, whereas the Duchess returned to her roots. She evolved her successful brand, Tig, to become With Love Meghan and As Ever. This shows a lesson learned for Prince Harry and the Duchess’ experience in Hollywood, leading the way to establish their future in the industry and stabilise the future for their family, with a calmer and more wholesome approach to their work.
This is absolutely the right approach for the couple to take. From the outset, they should have avoided the bombshell documentaries and book, instead focusing on what’s important to them and what makes them happy. Now they’re doing that, there are signs this is working for the couple. The Duchess’ brand, As Ever, is going from strength to strength; the repeated sold-out lines prove the naysayers wrong. She’s managed to achieve that success despite the onslaught of criticism from the media.
It’s admirable to see her resilience, despite how many others would understandably struggle under the volume of negative headlines she’s faced. The status quo is changing for the Duchess, and her popularity is growing; her success as an entrepreneur and following online prove that. Whilst she’s not fully opened up for followers to comment on her posts, she doesn’t have to. Both Meghan and Harry have shared sweet moments that have captured the attention of millions, and they’re sticking to ensuring that their social media presence stays positive, which is in line with the Archewell projects they’re working on surrounding social media. The Duchess’ resilience and determination to support her family in their lives in the US is nothing short of admirable, given what she’s been through to get to this point.
Their new direction has proven to be the right choice, as there have been recent confirmations of a contract extension with the couple and Netflix. According to a statement given to the Independent and Variety, their extension will include a Christmas Special, plus an adaptation of Meet Me By The Lake, the bestselling novel by Carley Fortune and a new documentary titled Masaka Kids, A Rhythm Within. So it’s clear their wholesome and calm direction is here to stay. No doubt the couple will have other ideas in the works to offer as future production contracts with their partners at Nelfix.
Whilst it’s unclear what role Harry will take in their upcoming shows, already in the works with Netflix, it is clear that he is happier in their new lives. Even if he is still a bit like a duck out of water, thanks to the freedoms his new life offers, he is still sticking to the duties he has been raised to do, albeit following in his mother’s footsteps and doing things his way these days. It was his love for his wife and children, coupled with the trauma of what happened to his mother, that led them to the US.
He’s made no secret of the fact that he doesn’t want history repeating itself, and despite the offer for compromise, that fear ultimately led to the dispute with the Royal Household and the exit from official Royal duties. But he’s embracing his new lifestyle, which is worlds apart from the controlled environment he was born into. From candid moments at concerts to focusing on the projects they care most about, to sweet clips of their lives, they appear to be stronger than ever as a couple. It’s been five years since they left, and as a family, they have settled into their new lives and have a more focused and calm approach to their futures. Their love for each other is clear to see; it’s what’s important to them and is driving the success of their future together.”
