Harry and Meghan News thread

[Viviennemary]

I thought we could have a thread for latest news. MN did say they didn't mind one or two threads. And no rules except stick to MN guidelines. It's Meghans birthday today I just read. And the Queen has wished her a very happy birthday on the royal Instagram page according to that popular Oracle the DM.

Checking in.

My main interest going forward is how they will sustain their lifestyle. I cannot for the life of me think how they will do it!

Good idea! Just read through the other thread and it’s all getting a bit snippy! Looking forward to the discussion on here. Agree with a PP that I just can’t see how they’re going to make their money over the next 12-24 months??

This Covid business does make it difficult for everyone and has certainly had a huge impact on their plans. Next big news is the book. That's the 11th August I think put back from the 4th. The DM will go mad.

I did smile at the palace deleting the questionable claims of philanthropy from Meghan’s royal CV one day, and the royals sending her birthday wishes a couple of days letter. They know what they’re doing.

How much longer will Tyler Perry let them stay in his mansion? I'm sure they're not paying the going rate for it, he must want it back eventually? It is all a bit quid pro quo in Hollywood and I'm not sure what they can do for him now their reputations are going down the drain.

@ArriettyJones

I don’t think their reputations can be damaged in LA. Not by any of this stuff. Being grabby, dishonest, demanding and Machiavellian are all positives there.

If you think about it, the Windsors (Wallis and David) were never short of hosts or dining companions. There’s always someone who is star-struck and not worried about scruples.

I agree to an extent but David was King so had a little bit more cache than the 6th in Line.

I think they are going to struggle with making enough money to sustain that kind of lifestyle. Are they going to be as attractive or marketable on the lucrative Hollywood / LA circuits when all the lustre fades and they are essentially minor royals living in an exile of their own making.

But it isnt free posh dinners they need, it is money, a lot of money. Hollywood is mega bucks, to buy the sort of palatial mansion they will want will cost tens of millions. Then there is the huge security bill they face, the cost of lawyer fees with all their court cases. The money they owe on Frogmore, which they are supposedly paying rent on every month plus extra to reimburse the public for the building work. Not to mention every day bills, staff salaries (how many staff do they have again?), PR... we're talking tens of millions every year.

Does anyone know when the case will be heard? I suspect the outcome of that will weigh heavily on her reputation in Hollywood as well potentially. I suppose she could act but let's face it she will be hauled across the coals for it and any star billing would be as a result of royal status. What can/will he do?!

I absolutely agree Wolfgirrl. I honestly can't see how they are going to be able to earn the huge sums of money that it would take to sustain their opulent lifestyle. I doubt even Prince Charles has deep enough pockets to bankroll them for long. Genuinely what does either of them have enough experience or qualification in doing that they would now be paid tens of millions of dollars by presumably an American firm? In the global financial climate I think they are going to struggle to command that kind of money and sustain enough interest on the public speaking circuit. With their public profile and reputation looking a bit shaky I can't see that they would land lucrative sponsorship or acting gigs either.

Shes nearly 40 now. Actresses in big films divide into either the young hot ones like Margot Robbie and Scarlett Johansson, or the heavyweight slightly older types like Jennifer Aniston & Julia Roberts. Meghan doesnt have the youth or experience to get top acting jobs now.

Harry's only work experience was the army, the natural career avenue for that would be security but he can hardly be someone else's security can he! I guess he has involvement in projects like the Invictus games but it wont have been in any proper managerial capacity.

Which leaves the speaking circuit. I imagine they would get a few jobs while there is still interest in them, but neither are experts on anything in particular, and theres not much to say about life in the RF now the book is out.

The thing is they didnt realise A listers were only interested in them as royals, so they could get invitations to royal weddings and events, maybe even a gong. Now they have peed off their entire royal family, anyone after a knighthood or invite to a wedding wont want to be seen mixing with them.

I think it’s clear from this debacle that the less senior royals need to be able to work, build businesses or whatever and make their own money. They can’t be kept from doing that. Maybe things will change going forward.

I dont think they have a long shelf life as marketable public speakers. As you say, once the book has come out what do either of them have left to talk about. Hollywood A listers might be interested in being their acquaintance/ friend for about 5 minutes but probably not long term. Once the gloss and the glitter of formerly being HRH fades then there won't be anything they can offer to sustain interest in them.

The latest I heard last week re the breach of copyright trial. The judge was to make a decision on whether the names of the five friends could be made public. I think the decision was expected that day last week. But the judge said he was deferring it but hoped the decision would be made in the next two weeks. Actual trial not till next year. Seems like a long drawn out process for such a relatively trivial matter.

@Wolfgirrl

But it isnt free posh dinners they need, it is money, a lot of money. Hollywood is mega bucks, to buy the sort of palatial mansion they will want will cost tens of millions. Then there is the huge security bill they face, the cost of lawyer fees with all their court cases. The money they owe on Frogmore, which they are supposedly paying rent on every month plus extra to reimburse the public for the building work. Not to mention every day bills, staff salaries (how many staff do they have again?), PR... we're talking tens of millions every year.

Isn’t the Frogmore reimbursement essentially small change? They owe £2.4 million and are paying back £18,000 a month. Now if this was all going toward repayments, and there was no added interest, it would take over 11 years to pay off. However the £18,000 actually includes a monthly rent. Now how much do you reckon the monthly rent is?? I would imagine it would make up the majority of that £18k. Which would leave only four figures a month going to repay that £2.4m...

@wizzbangfizz

Does anyone know when the case will be heard? I suspect the outcome of that will weigh heavily on her reputation in Hollywood as well potentially. I suppose she could act but let's face it she will be hauled across the coals for it and any star billing would be as a result of royal status. What can/will he do?!

Apparently it is tomorrow that the judge decides whether the names of the five friends will be released...

It does cost a lot of money to be rich! I have no doubt that they are currently surrounded by 'advisors', like lawyers and Meghan's agents who will all be presenting hefty bills. Harry has never had to deal directly with this kind of stuff in his life. He won't have a clue what he is signing.

@Viviennemary

The latest I heard last week re the breach of copyright trial. The judge was to make a decision on whether the names of the five friends could be made public. I think the decision was expected that day last week. But the judge said he was deferring it but hoped the decision would be made in the next two weeks. Actual trial not till next year. Seems like a long drawn out process for such a relatively trivial matter.

If they let her withhold the names of the friends, she will have made fools of them all. The identity of the friends is at the very heart of the issue.

The names of the friends are disclosed in the court papers apparently. But Meghan wants to stop their names bring released to the public.

Americans don’t care about or understand the nuances of different titles. And they are still royal. Look at how Diana was near universally known as “Princess Diana” (a title she never actually held) until she died.

Prince Harry will always be known as Prince Harry and he’ll always be the Queen’s grandson and soon the King’s son. To Americans that makes him a fairly major royal. No one in America is going to care that the King’s son was involved in some Byzantine process where he has an HRH but doesn’t use it, or whatever bollocks the Queen did to punish him for leaving.

He and Meghan are two of the most famous people on earth. Look how much everyone is still totally obsessed with their every movement when they’ve not even done anything in months except chill in LA raising their baby and doing the odd bit of charity work. They’ll be fine.

Yes I know the Americans will be a bit dazzled by him in a 'Hey look, a PRINCE!' kind of way, but how does that translate into actual cash? What will they actually do?

Besides, everyone who knows Meghan personally seems to really like her. That’s why she’s had the same close group of friends since she was a teenager and why none of her Suits co-workers have a bad word to say about her.

Serena Williams is her most famous friend and they’ve been close friends for years, since long before Meghan met Harry. Obviously Serena genuinely likes Meghan for her own personality, not because she’s a royal. Presumably her other friends (whether famous or not) actually like her as a person.

The only reason they havent done anything in months is because of COVID! Same as the rest of us! What did you think they would be doing, busking?