The ongoing feud between Prince Harry, 38, and Meghan Markle, 42, and the rest of the royal family, including King Charles, Prince William, and Kate Middleton, is apparently having a negative effect on the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s careers. The Sussexes have been cut off financially since stepping down as senior royals in 2020, and therefore need to make their own money through their own projects. These have so far included things like Prince Harry’s bombshell memoir, Spare, Meghan’s Archetypes podcast on Spotify, which has since been axed, and of course their controversial Harry & Meghan Netflix docuseries.
The couple are now desperately trying to land new projects, with some sources reportedly suggesting that the former Suits actress should ditch her husband and embark on some solo projects, as brand ‘Sussex’ doesn’t appear to be working for them. But that could be easier said than done, as both Harry and Meghan are reportedly struggling and facing “ongoing challenges,” according to People‘s latest cover story, and the royal family drama might have a part to play in it!
Prince Harry And Meghan Markle's Career Struggles
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex "mutually agreed to part ways" with Spotify back in June, according to their joint statement at the time, and now reports are hinting that their $98M deal with Netflix could also be in jeopardy. The Sussexes' post-royal-life career choices were discussed in People's latest cover story, with a few insiders and industry experts weighing in on what could have gone wrong for them.
One royal insider thinks that their struggles could be down to a lack of planning, with one source telling People: "There wasn’t necessarily a five-year plan." However, another insider claimed that the Spotify deal ended early because there was too much "red tape" involved, and the couple were "given no formal lay of the land to kick things off, so they were already on unsteady footing even before the ink was dry."
Additionally, Joe Quenqua, a senior media strategist, told People that the negative press surrounding the couple and their ongoing feud with the rest of the royal family have contributed to the "serious growing pains" for their Archewell brand.
Someone who the pub called a top Hollywood insider went on to say the royal drama and their royal status actually worked against them, as they faced gargantuan expectations that they perhaps couldn’t meet. "The royal element and, in some ways, the drama around them inflated the price, deals and expectations," the insider said.
More insiders and industry experts have also said that Harry and Meghan were being held to a higher standard than others, which could perhaps be why some of their other projects have failed. The Netflix docuseries Live to Lead and their planned animated project Pearl about a girl inspired by female leaders, which was dropped last year, are just two examples of projects that failed to garner interest.
"Very few other production companies are measured by what’s actually hit the airwaves," a source close to the couple said, according to People. The source went on to say that the couple still have a lot to look forward to, and there are "plenty of things that are in different phases."
Prince Harry And Meghan Markle's Upcoming Projects
According to People, the Sussexes are currently focused on their Archewell foundation, while Meghan could have some exciting solo projects lined up having recently signed with power agency William Morris Endeavor.
Prince Harry will predictably be looking forward to the Invictus Games next month, which always holds a special place in his heart, and his Netflix series Heart of Invictus will also be landing soon. This seems to prove that, despite the challenges they have faced so far, the Sussexes still have a lot of exciting things to work on, and their careers outside of the royal family don’t seem to be over just yet. "Has their final chapter been written? Absolutely not," an industry executive told People, adding, "Hollywood loves a comeback."
