After having moved to the United States in March 2020, Harry and Meghan Markle immediately began to settle in. A little more than a month ago, the couple announced the birth of their second child, daughter Lilibet. And now, they are focused on creating their own careers.
Meghan and Harry aim to take Hollywood by storm. They already signed deals with Spotify and Netflix. However, their lifestyle doesn’t come cheap, which might cause a problem, and all because of their new, fancy deals.
According to Royal commentator Daniela Elser, the couple are “fighting against the clock” to prove themselves in the world of entertainment. And if no success will come, they can be left with nothing.
Meghan and Harry have been dealing with plenty of stuff the last couple of years. Ever since their split from the Royal Family, their relationship with the Firm hasn’t been at its best.
Meghan & Harry – new life in the US
But now the couple have started their new civilian life in the U.S. And on June 4 they welcomed a new addition to the family. She was born on June 4, 2021 at the Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara, California.
“She weighed 7 lbs 11 oz,” a spokesperson said. “Both mother and child are healthy and well, and settling in at home.
“Lili is named after her great-grandmother, Her Majesty The Queen, whose family nickname is Lilibet. Her middle name, Diana, was chosen to honor her beloved late grandmother, The Princess of Wales.”
The spokesperson added: “This is the second child for the couple, who also have a two-year-old son named Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor. The Duke and Duchess thank you for your warm wishes and prayers as they enjoy this special time as a family.”
A couple of royal experts have since criticized Harry and Meghan’s choice of name. Also, bitter television host Piers Morgan made fun of the couple, labeling their choice of name “ironic.”
People from all over the world sent their congratulations to Harry and Meghan following Lilibet’s birth. This including the Royal Family and all of its members.
Through their official Instagram account, Kate Middleton and Prince William sent their wishes.
“We are all delighted by the happy news of the arrival of baby Lili. Congratulations to Harry, Meghan and Archie,” they wrote.
New career paths
Now, Harry and Meghan have started a completely different life. The Prince has started working as chief impact officer at the Silicon Valley startup company BetterUp. His role is to be a coach, as well as advocate publicly on topics related to mental health.
“I intend to help create impact in people’s lives,” Harry told the Wall Street Journal.
At the same time, since the end of 2020, the couple have been working with their new nonprofit organization, Archewell. They took inspiration from their son – Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor – when choosing the name.
New deals with Netflix and Spotify
“Before SussexRoyal, came the idea of ‘Arche’—the Greek word meaning ‘source of action.’ We connected to this concept for the charitable organization we hoped to build one day, and it became the inspiration for our son’s name,” a statement from Harry and Meghan read.
“To do something of meaning, to do something that matters. Archewell is a name that combines an ancient word for strength and action, and another that evokes the deep resources we each must draw upon.”
New television series
In early April, Meghan and Harry also announced their first Netflix series.
The show, called Heart of Invictus will be produced by their Archewell Productions company. It will follow competitors as they prepare themselves for the 2022 Invictus games.
The competition is an international sporting event for wounded, injured, and sick servicemen and women, both veterans and those still serving now.
Prince Harry was actually the initiator of the games, which were staged for the first time in 2014.
“Since the very first Invictus Games back in 2014, we knew that each competitor would contribute in their own exceptional way to a mosaic of resilience, determination and resolve,” Harry said.
“This series will give communities around the world a window into the moving and uplifting stories of these competitors on their path to the Netherlands next year.”
So, Harry and Meghan are moving towards a more ‘normal’ life, at least as compared to their previous one. And this new life apparently involves film production, as well as podcasts for Spotify.
A couple of months ago, Harry and Oprah Winfrey got involved in a partnership. Together they created and produced a mental health documentary series for Apple TV.
Also, Meghan will be the executive producer for a new animated program called Pearl. It will tell the story of the adventures of a 12-year-old girl, inspired by influential women from history.
At the same time however, the fact that the couple has entered the world of filmmaking isn’t appreciated by everyone.
Meghan & Harry “fighting against the clock”
“William thinks Harry chose fame over family,” US Weekly’s Christina Garibaldi said in April.
“A source tells us that ‘William feels that Harry has got too big for his boots since moving to California and that success and Hollywood has gone to his head.”
Garibaldi added: “He’s already accused him of putting fame over family after the [Oprah] interview but is willing to give Harry one last chance to prove his loyalty to his family.”
The Netflix and Spotify deals have great potential for both Meghan and Harry. However, they have also brought them a lot of pressure, especially regarding money.
According to Royal commentator Daniela Elser, the couple “have a lot to prove” and are “fighting against the clock” following their multi-million dollar deals with Netflix and Spotify.
Also, Elser adds that if Meghan doesn’t want to be “written off as a marketing gimmick,” they have to “prove they are worth the investment.”
Pressured to deliver after multi-million dollar deal
“So far, they haven’t exactly set Hollywood on fire,” she added. “The problem with this paradigm is that their entire money-making ability is pegged to their ability to generate good PR.”
“Should interest in them wane, or public fatigue for the never-out-of-the-news duo set in, then their value could plummet.”
For the Spotify deal, Meghan and Harry got $33.5 million, as well as a structure deal between $1.85 and $3.7 million yearly from Netflix, according the Times, as quoted by News.au.com.
However things don’t look that great, according to Elser.
“Given their costs for security and their home in Montecito have been estimated at around $5.9million, they would need their productions to be smash hits,” she wrote.
Oprah Winfrey earned an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Hosted Nonfiction Series Or Special, for the Harry and Meghan interview.
And according to Elser, Harry and Meghan will need one themselves in the near future if they are to survive the new, Hollywood lifestyle.
Huge expenses on Frogmore Cottage
“If this time next year it is their names, as producers, we are seeing on the nominee list, it will go a very long way to establishing that they genuinely deserve a seat at the big table – and all the lovely money that comes with it – because of their talent, rather than just because of who his Gan Gan is,” she adds.
Harry and Meghan spent plenty of money on their new house in Montecito, California, and all that comes with it.
They’ve also been dropping huge amount of money on Frogmore Cottage – located on the grounds of Windsor Castle – where the couple lived during their time in the UK.
Not many people get access to the privately owned estate. And as such, not many pictures of it have even been taken.
On the official website, it reads: “Frogmore Cottage will continue to be the property of Her Majesty the Queen.”
Further, it said that “The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will continue to use Frogmore Cottage – with the permission of Her Majesty The Queen – as their official residence as they continue to support the Monarchy, and so that their family will always have a place to call home in the United Kingdom.”
Even though they’ve settled in Montecito, California, Harry and Meghan haven’t cut all ties to the UK. And Frogmore Cottage is an essential part of that.
Licensing home for $3 million
According to People, the couple reportedly paid $3.3 million to cover the cost of rent and renovations of Frogmore Cottage. Also, it included licensing the home as their own until March 31, 2022.
After they resigned from the Firm in March of last year, they paid five months of rent.
“The payment covers all their current obligations,” Sir Michael Stevens, Keeper of the Privy Purse, said, as quoted by People. “We are confident that it represents a good outcome.”
Stevens added, “The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have made a substantial contribution to the Sovereign Grant that covered the refurbishment costs of Frogmore Cottage.”
Harry and Meghan Markle are now living a peaceful life in California alongside their two lovely children.
So is Frogmore Cottage empty because the couple aren’t there anymore?
Well, not really. Since Harry and Meghan left, Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank and son August have become residents at Frogmore. When Harry was in quarantine ahead of Prince Philip’s funeral in April, he also used Frogmore Cottage as his base. This, as reported by People, was also the case before the unveiling of Diana’s statue on July 1.
What do you think of Harry and Meghan’s future? Will they prevail and become Hollywood stars with producing shows and other projects? Or will they have to earn their money elsewhere?
Give us your opinion in the comment section! Meanwhile, share this article on Facebook with friends and family!
