Meghan Markle and Harry: Palace may want ‘more control’ says expert
Almost a year has passed since Meghan and Harry left the UK for North America. The pair said they favoured privacy over their public role within The Firm. Other reports suggest while the couple wanted privacy, they were disenchanted with rumours they were being pushed out by the family’s “slimming down”.
The departure was soon dubbed Megxit, and Meghan and Harry quickly moved to Canada; shortly after travelling south to put roots down in the US, in California.
A largely unexpected move, many have since looked back to see if there were any signs the pair were readying to leave before the announcement.
They had lived in Canada for around six weeks from November 2019, perhaps a signal that they planned to stay.
Separately, during their royal tour of South Africa they talked of how they found the intense speculation and intrusion into their lives abrasive, another indicator, some say.
Meghan Markle: The Duchess and Prince Harry’s lived were summed up by Prince Edward years ago (Image: GETTY)
Canada: Meghan and Harry talk with officials at the Canadian Embassy in London (Image: GETTY)
Others point to a 1996 Radio Times interview with the Queen’s youngest son, Prince Edward, in which the royal exploded at attempts to probe his private life.
His comments here prophetically summed up Meghan and Harry’s future dilemma.
When asked about whether he would propose to his then girlfriend Sophie Rhys-Jones, Edward said: “If you shut up, mind your own business, and let me do it when I want, it’s much more likely to happen.
“The more people second-guess, the less likely it is.
JUST IN: Royal Family LIVE: Prince Harry prepares for MORE Meghan backlash
Royal tour: Their South Africa visit has been considered a prelude to their departure (Image: GETTY)
“I just won’t do it.”
He went on to complain about the prying media.
He added: “There is little escape for anyone in the public eye.
“And for the Royal Family, nothing at all.”
Shortly after Meghan and Harry left the UK, many royal commentators questioned the viability of the move.
This was especially true after they pledged to become “financially independent”.
Royal author Penny Junor said she “can’t quite see how it’s going to work”, adding: “I don’t think it’s been properly thought through.”
Yet, fast-forward to today, and the Duke and Duchess have made a considerable fortune in a lucrative Netflix contract.
DON’T MISS
Netflix BLOCKS Meghan and Harry from ‘controlling anti-royal shows’ [REPORT]
Meghan and Harry will be ‘forgotten’ when ‘Prince George starts dating [INSIGHT]
Meghan Markle ‘sick to stomach’ about sister’s new tell-all book [ANALYSIS]
California: Harry and Meghan have been living in the US since March 2020 (Image: GETTY)
The Firm: Members of the family appeared to go to lengths to welcome Meghan into The Firm (Image: GETTY)
It is believed they received $150million (£109m) to create content for the media platform – although they have agreed not to have a say in Netflix’s contentious original, ‘The Crown’.
They’ve also signed a contract with the music streaming giant, Spotify.
An exclusive podcast there has filled their pockets: A deal purported to be worth $54million (£39m).
Prior to this, 95 percent of their income came from Prince Charles’ – Harry’s father – income from the Duchy of Cornwall.
This is a vast portfolio of property and financial investments.
Royal romance: Harry and Meghan met on a blind date in 2016 (Image: Express Newspapers)
In 2019 it brought in an astonishing £21.6million.
Money from the Duchy – just over £5million in total in 2018-19 – paid for the public duties of Prince Harry and Meghan, as well as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and some of their private costs.
When they moved abroad, things such as security costs had to be taken into account.
This alone is thought to cost just over $1.4million (£1.2million).
On their arrival in Canada early last year, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau publicly welcomed them, and indicated the country would fund security protection for them while they were residents there.
Netflix: Meghan and Harry have secured lucrative contracts with Netflix and Spotify (Image: GETTY)
The tide of opinion soon changed, however, as Canadians grew discontented with the idea that their taxes might be funnelled towards the Royal Family.
Around that time, a poll released by the Angus Reid Institute found that around 73 percent of those asked said the security costs should have been covered by the couple themselves.
An online petition spearheaded by disgruntled Canadians demanded the royals pay for security out of their own pocket, gathering 90,000 signatures.
By March 2020, Meghan and Harry left Canada for the US.
