Brexit is not the only historic uncoupling that has rocked Britain in recent years. Another strained divorce that has far-reaching effects on the country and its long-established monarchy is Megxit. The first salvo was fired in January 2020 when Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle decided to step back from their senior royal roles; becoming financially independent and moving their primary residence to America. This move, which was due to perceived bullying from the notorious British tabloids, caused a major ripple across both sides of the Atlantic but the couple remained resolute. Since then, they have ceased to be working members of the British royal family. They have also relinquished their royal patronages and held a bombshell interview in which they accused the British press and the royal family of racism.
Such weighty allegations have far-reaching consequences for the monarchy and it remains to be seen how they will deal with it. For the couple at the eye of the storm, they are forging ahead with their lives and have settled down permanently in the U.S. They are also looking forward to the birth of their second child. One way through which Prince Harry and Meghan Markle would be making a living after forgoing their earnings from the royal family is an exciting Netflix deal that is said to be worth $100 million. The deal will see the couple produce a diverse body of content for the streaming giants. So, what manner of content will the Sussexes be producing and should we expect them on our screens? All this and more are unveiled below.
Why Did Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Take the Netflix Deal?
It has certainly been a roller-coaster ride ever since Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were introduced to each other in July 2016 by a mutual friend. From blind dates to going official and getting engaged; the couple eventually tied the knot in May 2018 amidst much fanfare and nationwide admiration. They subsequently settled down to family life and hoped to cope with living in the public eye.
The first few months went according to plan but the media coverage inevitably got uncomfortable and invasive. The couple even had to sue some media outlets in Britain for breach of their privacy and won some damages. This, however, did not stop the media from continuing to have a go at them, and so Harry and Meghan made the brave decision to step away from the monarchy in order to protect their mental health and young family.
This was in January 2020 and they subsequently made subtle inroads into Hollywood with the Netflix deal coming in September of that same year. As is to be expected, the timing of the whole thing made some people suggest that the couple had planned it all along. They have, however, maintained that such insinuations are not true.
According to Prince Harry, he and Meghan never set out to secure these deals as they have a beautiful life together and are not lacking in any way. They only took the deal in order to raise money to pay for security protection for their family. The deal came in quite handy as Harry had lost financial support from the royal family and only had his inheritance from his mother, as well as other savings, to rely on.
What Manner of Content will the Couple Produce for Netflix?
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Netflix deal will see them produce documentaries, docu-series, feature films, and scripted shows for the streaming giants. Also included in the agreement is children’s programming which is quite an exciting prospect for the couple as they are new parents and therefore prioritize the making of inspirational programming. Some of the couple’s projects are already in the works and it is in line with their ultimate goal of creating content that gives hope as well as informs.
According to Harry and Meghan, their independent and joint experiences, as well as work with diverse communities and environments, have allowed them to understand the power of the human spirit as well as the need for connection. They, therefore, hope to shine a light on people and causes around the world through their work. In the meantime, as we await these projects to hit the screens, the couple has been busy. Prince Harry co-produced a docu-series on eliminating mental health stigma with Oprah Winfrey for Apple TV while Meghan narrated a nature documentary for Disney+ titled Elephants.
What is the True Worth of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Netflix Deal?
Even though the parties involved in this deal have never officially confirmed the figure at stake, credible news sources have estimated the value of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Netflix deal to be worth as much as $100 million. According to reports, the couple negotiated for some time with several entertainment companies, including Disney and Apple, making it known that their expectations were a figure in the region of $100 million. They got a deal from Quibi that was said to be worth tens of millions but held out until Netflix came calling with their proposed figure.
The $100 million is surely a big coup for Harry and Meghan but this not the biggest deal that Netflix has ever handed out. The streaming giants are in fierce competition with the likes of HBO Max, Hulu, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video, and therefore have no qualms whipping out fat checks. They previously paid ace Hollywood producer Shonda Rhimes $150 million for projects that will include a series on the fake heiress, Anna Sorokin. They also gave Game of Thrones creators, Benioff and Weiss, about $200 million. Netflix has also handed $300 million to accomplished TV writer Ryan Murphy for shows such as Hollywood, The Politician, and Ratched.
What is the Duration of the Deal?
No exact life span has been specified for the deal between Netflix and Harry and Meghan, but it is understood that it is multi-year and as such, will last several years. It will therefore be a long relationship between the two parties but this is not to suggest that this is the only iron that the Sussexes have in the fire.
Prince Harry and Meghan have signed a deal with the Harry Walker Agency for speaking engagements and it is estimated that they can earn as much as $1 million per event. Another potential money-spinner for the couple is podcasting. Their Archewell Audio Company signed a deal with Spotify back in 2020 that will see them produce content for the platform. The podcast will involve them holding discussions with some amazing set of people, thus driving conversations that have the ability to inspire, challenge and educate.
Some of their guests so far include the likes of Sir Elton John, Naomi Osaka, and James Corden, and the value of the deal is thought to be $30 million. The Sussexes will also keep busy with their Archewell Charity Foundation which they would use to implement several philanthropic initiatives.
