Duchess Meghan was apparently working on ‘Pearl’ long before the Netflix deal

Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex (L) and Britain's Meghan, Duchess of Sussex (R) arrive to attend the European premiere of the film The Lion King in London on July 14, 2019.

Last week, we heard that the Duchess of Sussex plans to executive produce Pearl, an animated series about a little girl who learns a lot about notable and historic women. Meghan will EP this series as part of the Sussexes’ deal with Netflix, and it’s the second project they’ve announced as part of their Netflix contract. So, as you can imagine, people are trying to figure out why all of this is terrible and why Meghan obviously lied and schemed about something! That something: remember how Meghan retained good relationships within Hollywood when she was living in the UK? Well, clearly Meghan was plotting to produce this animated show for YEARS!

Meghan Markle started working on her Netflix project with David Furnish long before she quit England, back in 2018 — Page Six is told. We’re told that Markle and Furnish were in active discussions with Netflix while Markle was still a senior working member of the royal family, and still living behind Palace walls.

In March, Markle’s husband Prince Harry insisted they had never thought of teaming up with streamers such as Netflix and Spotify until they sensationally quit the UK for the US in early 2020 — and were cut off financially by his family. During the couple’s bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey, Harry said the big-money deals they made once they moved to California were “never part of the plan”, adding, “That was suggested by somebody else by the point of where my family literally cut me off financially, and I had to afford security for us.”

Harry said they were able to start a new life thanks to the millions left to him by his late mother, Princess Diana. “I’ve got what my mum left me, and without that, we would not have been able to do this,” he said. But during the pandemic, a friend suggested: “‘What about streamers?’” Harry continued, while Markle added: “We genuinely hadn’t thought about it before.”

“We hadn’t thought about it,” Harry continued. “So, there were all sorts of different options. And look, from my perspective, all I needed was enough money to be able to pay for security to keep my family safe.’”

We’re told that the Netflix series was originally just one of a number of one-off advocacy projects that Markle started work on while a working member of the royal family, which included her charity cookbook to raise funds for the victims of the London Grenfell fire and the issue of British Vogue that she edited.

Furnish himself admitted they had worked together on the project for some time, writing on Instagram this week: “I am delighted that we are finally able to announce this exciting animated series … The team collaborating on the series are first class, and @netflix are the perfect partner.”

[From Page Six]

I spoke about this in April – y’all know I like Harry and Meghan and I’ll defend them over almost everything, but Harry completely oversold the “we had never even considered Netflix or anything like it before we Sussexited” in the Oprah interview. It’s fine, and I know why he wants people to think that, but clearly, both Harry and Meghan were exploring their options when they were still knee-deep in dusty saltine drama in 2018-19. This was one of the things they were bumping up against in the year before they left: they didn’t understand why they couldn’t make these kinds of deals and be full-time royals. I don’t understand why they couldn’t do it either, other than the fact that William and Kate are petty, jealous idiots.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex is at The Lion King Premiere

David Furnish

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, WENN and Backgrid.

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72 Responses to “Duchess Meghan was apparently working on ‘Pearl’ long before the Netflix deal”

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  1. Woods says:

    I thought Charles told Meghan/Harry she should continue to be an actress. As if the RF could/would not financially support her.

    • JT says:

      This is a good point. If Charles was telling Harry that Meghan should keep working because the firm has no money, than it makes sense for them to explore their options, especially as the situation was getting untenable. That doesn’t mean that Harry was playing fast and loose with anything. Making a series here and there and signing a multi-year, hundred million dollar contract are two different things. I don’t think they considered the latter until they knew they would be completely cut loose.

      • Oy_Hey says:

        “Well, clearly Meghan was plotting to produce this animated show for YEARS!”

        But so what – Its an animated history show for kids. Something like that should be right up a good royal’s ally. The only reason it isn’t is because most of them, save Anne and Charles on a good year, are lazy bums. Also who’s to say she would have done it for pay while still in the Firm and not as a countable royal engagement? If anything the BRF paved the way for H&M to secure the bag.

    • Over it says:

      She was not a paid employee remember, Human Resources won’t help her because she wasn’t a paid employee. Harry was. This means she was covering her own wardrobe and so forth. Therefore she had every right to explore any avenue she choose to make a living. Like you Said, they wanted her to continue acting. And all I see is David saying they have been working on it for a long time. Long time isn’t a date so that could mean anything. Furthermore if she was supposedly working on it the same time as the cookbook then would that not suggest that maybe she would have used it to make money for a charity? Well I guess we will never find out because they were being petty jealous racist assholes to her so she took her great ideas and projects and bounced before Cain and unable try to take the credit for them too

    • BnlurNforever says:

      This is a case of anything these two do especially Meghan, a negative spin MUST be found to ensure that the narrative they’ve created remains. At this point it seems that HnM have them all on ignore and I love that.

    • GraceB says:

      It makes me wonder whether the RF wanted them gone before they were even married? Suggesting (hoping) that they’d move to LA and work. Maybe H&M were the ones who wanted to stay and be working royals instead, but as it became increasingly clear that they weren’t wanted, they had to start looking into projects. Maybe they thought they could work on these projects from the UK and be full time royals too but the RF had other ideas.

  2. ecsMom says:

    Maybe they were speaking of projects but not for money, just for the purpose of putting out quality material that helps people. They could lend their name and have say over the content but not get paid. The Royal family wouldn’t even let that happen. Only after having royal money cut did they go into contract where they would get paid.

    • (TheOG) Jan90067 says:

      Charles “makes money” from his organic lines/farming. Betty makes coin off her gin/horses, Anne does off her horses/racing… ALL “working” royals. As do others, too: Princess Racist-Michael (even putting HRH on her books, as does Fergie (with her books), Tindalls make money off their connection as does her brother, Peter. Don’t remember which of Betty’s cousins, Gloucester or Kent was trading off the connection with Russia selling info and access, and of course, let’s NEVER forget Pedo making HUGE coin off his Trade Ambassadorship.

      So yeah… bash HARRY & MEG for trying to keep their family safe and a secure home for them all.

      • equality says:

        Andrew made money off Pitch at the Palace. Edward is listed as executive producer on some shows that you can find on streaming services. I bet he makes money off of those.

    • taris says:

      yeah … i don’t see why it’s so hard for some people to understand: clearly h+m had innovative ideas about what their roles were when they were still working royals, and they didn’t see at the time why they couldn’t do their official boring duties alongside some outside-royal-but-still-values-oriented stuff (like mental health and feminism) here and there.

      i don’t think they ‘oversold’ anything in the interview. i think when they left they may have had some abstract ideas about a foundation and some passion projects, but they genuinely didn’t see themselves down the line making the bulk of their money with the streamers. remember the deals came several months after they left, after they had security stripped, and had no home of their own for months.

      it’s too bad that this stuff comes out like this ’cause i just know it’ll become ammunition for the anti-sussex crowd.

    • Over it says:

      I agree with you

  3. Snuffles says:

    I knew this project was a lot further along than initially stated.

    And doing a one off project with Netflix and signing an overarching deal with them for exclusive content are two completely different things.

    Anyone paying attention would realize there were offers and opportunities on the table the entire time that The Firm was cock blocking. It was in their exit statement.

    And maybe “Pearl” was going to be part of a larger charitable endeavor but got subsumed under the overall Netflix deal. I recall this idea and a nature documentary was brought up when the Netflix deal was announced. I’m sure both were well underway when it happened. It was probably part of their proposal, along with an Invictus documentary.

  4. Becks1 says:

    So I think that Meghan was maybe in talks with Netflix over a series like this, but as a one-off like the article says. I don’t think they really considered signing huge streaming deals like they ended up doing. So it wasn’t that working with Netflix never occurred to them, it was more that signing a 100 million dollar contract with Netflix wasn’t something that was really part of their plan. That’s my interpretation anyway.

    • TeamMeg says:

      @Becks1 That’s how it seems to me, too. Just said as much below.

    • Sofia says:

      Makes sense. And I imagine whatever profit they made, it would have been donated to charity instead of it becoming their source of income if they were still working royals.

      • Kalana says:

        I think they would have donated part of the money but they needed to pay for Archie’s security. If I understand this correctly, only Harry and Meghan had security so say if the nanny took Archie to a public park, they wouldn’t have an RPO with them.

    • MsIam says:

      Exactly. I think she was thinking of something like the Elephant doc with Disney. The idea that they would be doing this full time didn’t occur to them until they left and had to make a living.

      • Jules says:

        That’s such a key phrase. “Until they left and had to make living”

        I mean I agree with the previous statements that they couldn’t be half in and half out royals. I wouldn’t be okay with using my taxes to pay royalty that chooses to live elsewhere and security is provided by the home office.

        They had to have considered how they would support themselves. They could have bought a smaller home somewhere even quieter than Montecito and scaled their life down. Meghan could have been a writer Ave acting teacher and Harry could continue his work on a smaller scale (an American type Lesotho) or become Director of Invictus and receive a yearly salary and live like average Americans. Look at old money American families as a template ex: (Sulzbergers, Bancrofts, Kennedy’s). But they didn’t want to do that.

        They weren’t kicked out. They thought they had a shot at continuing to receive money from the crown and British citizens. The way other family members make their money or additional money is more aligned with old money values and not being ‘loud’.

        Let’s be honest. M&H and Netflix weren’t a ‘last resort’ because I’d say they shouldn’t have been impulsive and thought through alternatives. We were in a Pandemic and he has millions from his mother and Prince Charles provided money for awhile (unnecessarily) until they got on their feet. And they still claim that they didn’t want streaming deals. If they run Archewell more tastefully than fine.

        But ppl make fun of the daughters and sons of wealthy scions that go into Hollywood but they certainly conduct themselves differently and don’t draw attention to their wealthy families whether they’re receiving help or not (ex: Balthazar Getty, Ellie Kemper, the girl in the Little Princess movies, Colin Jost? Patrick Schwarzenegger) those aren’t perfect examples but it’s what I could think of for now.

      • Maria says:

        None of the people you mention were related to Diana, one of the most prominent public figures of all time. How on earth were they going to live as “nobodies” with that over them? They couldn’t. The press would make sure of it, the same way the Royal Family will not let them go as a subject of tabloid leaks. So they are doing it on their own terms. Since it is not taxpayer funded, I see no reason why there should be reservations about what they are doing, particularly as many of their initiatives are tangibly productive in providing resources and help in various ways to the population. Certainly, if you have concerns about the plutocratic nature of their life, direct to other venues because Harry and Meghan are not the cause of that.

        The “thinking through alternatives” thing only works when you know what the playing field is. The Royal Family and courtiers made sure they did not.
        There are other members of that family who received public money and don’t represent the Crown at all. And the money for their security wouldn’t have needed to increase if the royals themselves hadn’t played a role in fomenting public anger against them.
        Tastefully? I guess they should just sit quietly on their private money so they don’t draw attention to various kickbacks and slush funds like the “old money” families you reference. When was the last time any of them built relief centers with World Central Kitchen or spearhanded vaccine donation matching programs?

      • Maria says:

        spearheaded*

      • Saucy&Sassy says:

        Jules, you obviously believe that H&M could have bought a house in a subdivision anywhere in the U.S. and lived a quiet life. Well, IMO it sounds like you either didn’t factor in, or didn’t care, that they would in all likelihood be dead by now if they had been stupid enough to do that. The Firm and RRs made sure of that by engendering hate and death threats. You might want to rethink that. Also, as an American, I think putting all of the people in the surrounding houses in danger is abhorrent. Geez

      • swirlmamad says:

        So much wrong with @Jules’ statement. 🙄 I’m tired but I think @Saucy&Sassy hit it on the head.

    • Over it says:

      I agree with you but I think the one off was to benefit a cause or patronage. So Since these racist bitches in the palaces aka the keenbridges couldn’t see past their own no idea asses, Megs took her ideas with her and said a big f you

  5. Rapunzel says:

    Harry was working on that documentary with Oprah prior to Sussexit so obviously, they were doing projects. And not hiding it.

    I suspect that what Harry meant was that they never considered a long term production deal with on of these companies for long term financial security.

    An advocacy project here and there is way different than your own production company/deal.

    • BnlurNforever says:

      You are making way too much sense for royal reporting. They say these things and count on ppl being unable to think it through, or people who hate HnM so much, they just gobble it up whole, no thinking required.

  6. TeamMeg says:

    Is having discussions with Netflix about the possibility of doing a single “one-off” project (Pearl) the same thing as considering doing a major, multi-production partnership with Netflix? What am I missing?

    • Bex says:

      No, it’s not the same. Plus, one off TV projects had been done by other Royals with UK networks (usually BBC or ITV). I think what happened was certain folks instituted double standards when it came to allowing H&M to do the same (esp since a successful project would give them even more exposure that others obviously wanted).

      So yeah, I can see how thinking a company would give them $100 Million wasn’t on their radar. No other royal had brokered a production deal like that.

      As well, how long can the tabloids milk this “they were working on this while working royals” schtick? Will we be five years down the road where some “source” claims Meghan was working on the project during the less than two years she was a working royal?

      Plus, since she had ALL these ideas/projects in the works, that at least proves SHE (and Harry) was putting in the effort to do the job, and were likely working more than what the palace circular reported.

      It only looks planned because they’ve managed to be successful, and consistently build on their successes so far. I’m sure the narrative would be VERY different of their projects were abject failures.

      • Jules says:

        @Bex no royal has brokered a deal
        Like that because that’s not what they’re supposed to do. They are a constitutional monarchy. Princess Diana could have done something like that but wouldn’t have. Harry and William when they were younger could have but that a money grab. They are public servants and a family with history. British citizens would then wonder why provide them
        A payroll if they’re celebrities? And celebritydom isn’t forever. I can applaud H&M for that because that’s what Hollywood celebrities do while they’re still hot and working to make the most money they can. While they’re still household names.

        It’s not what a politician, aristocrat, royal, old money family or public servant would do is expected to do even if there was clamor for it. What happened to integrity?

      • nina says:

        @Jules. Maybe you just refuse to see what is clearly before your eyes. They never provided for Meghan. Charles suggested that she continue working.

        Who cares what the BRF do or don’t do. Where do you get they don’t make money. All of them have their hands in some pot. And don’t get me started on the aristrocrats, politicians, public servants, old money royal, blah blah blah. They would all jump at the opportunities that H&M have.

        By whose standards are what they doing not acceptable. Those archiac, backward rules might still be followed on the Salty Isle but the Salty Isle no longer dictate to the rest of the world. Out in the real world each person rows their own boat and nobody thinks it is beneath them to work.

        Just stay in your lane, self appointed gatekeeper of all that’s acceptable for H&M and warm up your beans and toast for your tea.

      • Jais says:

        @jules- “what happened to integrity?”
        Yeah, that question is strange. Harry and Meghan are living their lives with integrity, IMO.

      • Kalana says:

        That old money came from violently subjugating people or marrying dollar princesses. Also look at Henry Roper Curzon’s family if you want to see how old money behaves.

        I’m sorry @Jules but your values are way off. There is nothing lacking in integrity in signing a deal with Netflix. You seem to object to Harry and Meghan being successful and making large sums of money. You want them to be small or perhaps rather just Meghan to be small.

        “What happened to integrity?” Do we even have time to discuss all the ways the Windsors, these taxpayer-funded public servants, lack integrity? Do we want to talk about the Panama papers, and letting Buckingham Palace fall into ruin because Charles isn’t going to live there, or Prince Andrew hiding behind his mother’s authority? Plundering funds meant for the poor so they can heat their palaces. The Windsors have no integrity and no moral authority. None.

    • Myra says:

      I saw the announcement of the animated series last week but haven’t read too deeply into it. Was it officially said that Meghan had been working with Netflix on this since prior to 2020? Just from the article above, I don’t see any confirmation other than Page Six being told so by a random person, so I’m really confused. Maybe I need to read up on the previous articles on Pearl for all of this to make sense.

    • taris says:

      nothing … just some people conflating things to paint h+m as scheming liars.
      i see people on here understand the difference between doing a few side projects here and there (had they still been working royals) with proceeds probably donated to charities vs. long-term deals (as non-working royals) that now fund their foundation and security.

      • Over it says:

        Jules, it must really get under your skin that your white prince married the biracial woman from California with the dreadlocks mama doesn’t it? I mean Alli keep hearing from you is jealousy. Harry loves her, Harry choose her. He then choose to take her and his son away from an outdated racist colonial institution that is built on the backs of slavery and theft of people and their property. No matter how much you scream and cry your sad tears, Harry is never leaving his black wife. He fell so hard and completely for her that no amount of white aristocratic English roses could hold a candle to her. So get your smelling salts and sit down and keep hoping he will look your way because hell will freeze over before that ever happens. Harry loves Meghan and Meghan loves Harry. And that is a fact.

  7. Jane says:

    I only have four words for anyone gnawing on their own liver over this: Budgie the Little Helicopter.

  8. Sunshine says:

    This story was created by trolls, then landed on Page Six? Hmm.

  9. Merricat says:

    Right. The implication is that they traded on their royal status to start negotiations with Netflix. It’s more accurate to say that they traded on their reputations as philanthropists/activists who were also members of the rf.
    The proof is in the pudding, and the Sussexes have plenty of tasty global pudding. The rest of the royals who have tried to extend their influence through various media ventures have failed, and they failed because they suck at pudding, and they suck at pie charts.

    • Eurydice says:

      That’s kind of the point of all the RF patronages – they use their names and status to help charities in one way or another. They can do it by lying around the palace doing nothing and letting the charity just point to their names, or they can actually produce something that will raise money and be of additional value.

    • taris says:

      i think we’ll be seeing this ‘they’re trading on their royal status’ line of attack from now on… sigh … the double standards

      • Saucy&Sassy says:

        taris, who is getting the profits from the sale of Sandringham gin that the TQ is hocking?

    • nina says:

      +1

  10. SH says:

    If Meghan had gotten this sold while with the Royal family the money likely would have just gone to charity like her voiceover for the Disney Elephant documentary. What was new about the Netflix deal was Harry and Meghan directly profiting off of it.

  11. TaraBest says:

    Even if she was working on this project while still a full-time royal, how would it be any different than the documentary PWT just collaborated on? I don’t see this as some huge “gotcha”, but I’m sure that’s what the British Media will make it out to be.

    • L4Frimaire says:

      I remember a few years ago there was some speculation about Meghan working on some project like this, around the time of the rural rival story breaking. Like stated in the article, it was probably going to be a one off, then was shelved and resurrected now. Also, she narrated Elephants for Disney while a full time royal. It makes since that a creative person would still do creative things even in their royal role, even in a more limited capacity. People are bringing up Fergue doing her helicopter cartoon, but the fact is they didn’t want Meghan to even do something like that while a full time royal. Can’t explain it but they wanted the benefit and shine of her labor, while denying her any reward or recognition. This bitterness is a result of refusing, in any way, to attribute any value to Meghan and what she brought to the royal table. I think the Brits are definitely bitter about Meghan and her taking her ideas when she left, and then developing them outside her royal capacity. To them, her reclaiming her own intellectual property is some kind of scheme to take from them. It’s also not only that she is now doing the project, but that there is a strong, experienced team behind it. Would be cool if she does some voice work on it as well.

      • taris says:

        yep … h+m had pretty big ideas when they were still working royals, but they were constantly getting cock-blocked over there. they thought they could do both (official royal duties + personal advocacy), but they were denied that route so … they left.

        i totally agree so much of this saltiness is really just resentment, because now whatever h+m do and succeed at is their own not the firm’s. this is why they didn’t want them doing the half-in approach: they would (and are) outshine the rest of the royals, and they’re showing that you can be of service and have impact without the crown machinery supporting you.

        they know nobody left can do anything close to what h+m are doing, so they try everything they can to turn everything they do into some ‘scandal’ and derail them.

      • Saucy&Sassy says:

        L4Frimaire, but do they really believe there was ANY other person in the Firm that could have gone forward with her ideas? Wow, talk about delusional!!

    • The usual UK media parasites are promoting disinformation. Any journalist would be able to report the following if factual information was their priority:

      1. Apple TV docuseries coproduction with Oprah was announced prior to Harry and Meghan step back from senior royal roles.

      2. One off productions are allowed with senior royals as producers.

      3. Pearl coproduction discussions starting at the same time around (1) announced. No platform attached. Preliminary discussions which would be allowed for a senior royal.

      4. Harry and Meghan step back from senior royal roles AFTER their offer of hybrid royal role declined by trapped welfare royals.

      5. Couple able to consider production deal options. Meetings are set up, streamers make pitches, couple goes with Netflix.

      6. Pearl, a possible one off production, now falls under Archewell Productions banner to stream with production partner Netflix.

      7. Apple TV docuseries airs – does not conflict with Archewell Netflix deal.

  12. lanne says:

    Remember Budgie the helicopter? Duchess of York’s project while she was still HRH and married. Precedent set. Nothing to see here. And HRH Brooch Bitch with her horrible novels.

  13. Louise177 says:

    I disagree that they lied or mislead people about Netflix. TRF has always done projects with tv/streaming services. When Meghan was working on this a couple of years ago it was probably just a special project not a contract with Netflix. When they left they probably didn’t know what they were going to. It’s one thing to do a special project and quite another to have a contact.

    • ABritGuest says:

      That they were developing an animated series about inspirational women was announced at the same time as the Netflix deal last September so David saying they can finally announce further details doesn’t prove it’s been worked on for years. Also find it hard to believe if she was having serious conversations about this animated series during time as a working royal that it wouldn’t have leaked before this project was announced seeing as most stuff did eg that she was looking at doing a book.

      It’s also not a gotcha suggesting she was plotting to leave seeing as working royals have done TV projects & things like books previously eg Philip appeared in& presented TV documentary series around conservation in the 60s, Charles narrated documentaries, Fergie did the budgie helicopter books, Philip & Charles have several books to their names, Harry has done several documentaries & the royal Foundation even helped fund a short film, Harry’s mental health series with Oprah was announced when he was still a working royal & William is doing a BBC documentary for EarthShot. So Meghan likely wouldn’t have been precluded from doing this as a working royal (except to the extent it might outshine the heirs) but probably would have had to donate producer fee to charity like Harry’s producer fee was announced as going to mental health charities.

      I know royals can be tight fisted but if they already had things like Netflix sewn up at point of leaving why would they have relied on Tyler Perry’s charity when they left? There would have been no need to point out being cut off by Charles in the Oprah interview.

      I think the Netflix etc came together quickly because royals have hosted Netflix related events eg that Attenborough doc premiere which Charles & his sons attended & Netflix’s chief made clear his interest when their exit was announced last January. They also seem to have good connections & people in similar public roles have gone the streaming route eg Obama’s, Hillary Clinton& Chelsea etc

      • Myra says:

        I swear your comment is the only one that makes sense here. How do people reach a conclusion that Meghan had a one-off special project with Netflix from 2018 just based off a random article in Page Six? It’s entirely possible that when they pitched their ideas to Netflix (and other streamers) in 2020, this was one of their proposals, which made securing a deal possible in the first place. They honestly sounded too naive leaving without a concrete plan in place, but I don’t have any reason to doubt their version of events. She was suicidal, they were desperate to leave and they practically ran out of that place. I can see how they didn’t really map out everything before leaving.

      • L4frimaire says:

        They keep looking for these gotchas that she had alternative plans, rather than just admit the obvious that they were abusive and racist towards her, which is why they left. They’ll turn over every rock and pebble rather than admit that.

  14. Emile says:

    I think they saw entertainment media as a means of getting their advocacy work out to a wider audience, rather than a way of making money. They probably assumed there was nothing wrong with this because other royals have also made documentaries — hence why they were meeting with people at Netflix and Quibi and why Harry partnered with Oprah and Apple in 2019. Only after leaving the RF did they sign these huge deals because they needed an income.

    There is a big difference between (1) doing a once-off docuseries to highlight a cause or organisation and (2) becoming a full-time producer with a $100 million streaming agreement, multiple staffers, and several projects in development. To accuse the Sussexes of doing the latter when they only really wanted to do the former (while they were working royals) is way off base.

    EDITED TO ADD: That said, do agree with Kaiser in that Harry does play down their Hollywood connections — but mostly as a way of avoiding the “they planned it from the start!” bullshit. If I were them I would be less apologetic and just say “so what, we were exploring our options. We think it’s good for royals to get of the taxpayer dole.” LOL

    • taris says:

      in the interview harry said the deals with the streamers were suggested by “someone” – that implies connections, so i don’t see how that’s ‘downplaying’ anything. h+m know people and people know them, i think we all know that.
      what’s at issue here, though, is whether they had this all planned way before they stepped back as working royals. and the answer is no.

      as just about everyone on here has noted, there’s a difference between part-time advocacy work (via infotainment channels) – which is what they had in mind when they were still working royals and, on the other hand, full-time activism (while making money because they’re no longer taxpayer-funded and they do have a foundation and security to pay for).

      it’s pretty straightforward but the tabloids sure are working hard to make this a scandal.

  15. booboocita says:

    And honestly, how does the timing of this deal matter? Even if they were in discussions/negotiations with Netflix for major projects before they left the RF, that would only prove that their hustle was strong. I’m in awe of H & M for their work ethic and commitment to their projects, and I’m sure most everyone here is, too. If it were shown that they’d been in talks with Netflix or Spotify or anyone else before they Sussexited, that would only prove their drive, ambition, and resolve. I realize that “drive,” “ambition,” and “resolve” are inappropriate for the spare of the heir, but here in ‘Murica, they sound just fine. And heaven knows, Willmart and Kmart could use a little drive, ambition, and resolve for something other than buttons and rose gardening …

  16. Chelsea says:

    If they knew the specifics of Meghan working with David it would have been leaked before now yet there was not a single murmor of this before this news last week. We know that H&M had worked with streamers on charitable things before they left- Harry with Rising Phoenix and that train thing whose name I’m forgetting for Netflix, and Meghan with the Elephant Doc for Disney+- but there was reporting a few weeks before the Netflix deal came out that they’d been very recently pitching a couple of series, probably including Pearl, to broadcast tv(including NBC that Meghan has ties to) along with streamers.

    Netflix’s CEO also said last year that H&M were shopping around to other competitors last summer before signing with him so the notion that Pearl was built with Netflix from the start in 2019 and H&M always knew their main commercial venue would be through streaming doesnt pass the smell test. I definitely can buy that Meghan was coming up with creative ideas before leaving but don’t buy this line that Netflix was already signed on before they left and they were already financially set because if that was the case they wouldn’t have spent months living in other people’s houses and using Tyler Perry’s security nor would the British press have been gloating about how they were broke failures and Harry would come back home on his knees begging.

  17. Bettyrose says:

    Meghan lived her entire life in the Hollywood environment. Of course she never stopped envisioning creative projects. But if life as a full time working royal had gone well, the projects would’ve manifested very differently.

    • Jan says:

      The Firm was hopping mad that Meghan kept her Agents and money in America, well they did want her to earn her own money.
      Harry and Meghan are planners and workers, you can’t keep good people down.
      Racist Katie Hopkins kicked out of Australia for breaking Covid-19 protocols, she was suppose to be on some reality show there, and Australians were kicking up a fuss, and she was on SM saying she was breaking the rules.
      Another paycheck she is going to miss, even Shutter Island is not hiring her anymore.
      A comedian just lost his gigs for posting racial comments about the black English players.

      • bettyrose says:

        Such a ridiculous loss. Imagine if Meghan were producing Pearl through a British media source in partnership with a UK children’s charity.

  18. AmelieOriginal says:

    I think both things can be true. Meghan probably started working on this project with David Furnish back in 2018 or whatever year this was when she was still a full time royal but the article even points out it was supposed to be a one off project. I don’t think Meghan and Harry had Archewell Productions in mind where they would do several projects for Netflix, but maybe one here and there for whatever streaming service would agree to work with them. Case in point: the Me You Can’t See docuseries is on Apple+ and not Netflix (which was in development way before they announced the Netflix deal). And I believe Harry when he said they weren’t thinking about signing multimillion dollar deals with Netflix and Spotify. Plenty of people collaborate with Netflix on one off projects all the time, all you have to do is look at all the documentaries about athletes, true crime, celebrities, etc. Since Meghan was already collaborating with Netflix for Pearl, someone probably suggested signing a long term deal after they announced their departure from the UK. Also, the fact Meghan was working on this in 2018 is probably what bothered the courtiers. They clearly didn’t have the full details about the project or they would have leaked it but they had some knowledge that Meghan was coming up with ideas for TV/streaming and this led to stories about Meghan and Harry being too Hollywood and commercializing the “royal brand.”

  19. Catherine says:

    Pitching projects to companies and having a plan to partner with companies as your way of life is two very different things. What keeps getting overlooked is Harry clearly thought their security/housing was going to be covered during the transition year. It was reported that Charles would cover the cost. That was part of the original Sandringham summit announcement. He said they were told in March after the summit that their security would be pulled immediately. If they had some grand plan that was already in the works I doubt they would have ended up as guests in Tyler Perry’s house using his security and his private heft to get from Canada to the US. Harry hasn’t played down his connections. It’s the media that as preferred to portray him as the party boy spare. Harry certainly enjoyed partying but when it came to his work he has always been dedicated and always had a rep for building relationships with people. It’s the media that has ignored that. I don’t doubt that Harry and Meghan had many projects in mind. One of the courtiers complaints about them is that they had room many big ideas. But drawing a connection between them having projects in mind while working royals and them leaving is unfair. Remember their half in/half out proposal was leaked which prompted them to announce their departure when they did that was not part of any grand plan of theirs.

  20. MsIam says:

    I don’t know, this article sounds like they are trying to mash two things together. I believe that she and David Furnish were working on the animated project together while she was a royal. But I don’t believe that the partnership with Netflix was already lined up. Furnish has his own production company and he and Meghan collaborated on the show but they would still have to sell the project to a network. I believe the original Netflix announcement said that she was working on this series and that it would be one of the first projects. As I recall, the Rota laughed at how this “woke” series would hardly be enough to impress Netflix, blah, blah, blah.

  21. NotSoSimpleTaylor says:

    The UK doesn’t want working royals like we have in Denmark but they aren’t willing to adequately fund each individual royal either. How is this not slavery to not allow them to live their own lives as they see fit?

    You don’t want them to have fancy chandeliers but they want fancy chandeliers. So why not let them work and pay for it? This is all such ridiculous pearl clutching.

  22. Jay says:

    I love how this article acts like they are uncovering some big scandal and getting people to “admit” that Meghan and Harry may have been (gasp) WORKING while royal!

    Like how very dare H and M even consider doing a project that might require years of preparation, especially one that plays to their strengths, helps draw attention to their causes, and is likely to be successful. The NERVE of these two.

    Tells you everything you need to know about how the other royals perceive their roles though, doesn’t it?

  23. Jan says:

    Remember, when RR were saying that Meghan and Harry had to show their signed contracts with Netflix and Spotify to the Palaces to get approval, guess that didn’t happen because they were not leaked.
    Guess the RR didn’t fully understand, “we’re outta here” Meghan was on a plane the same night after the Commonwealth Service, Harry lawyered up went to met his abusive family for his freedom.
    The last bit of Sussex news that the RR got was their location in Canada and the lost of their security, since then it’s made up stories.

  24. BnlurNforever says:

    These people who continue to report on the royals need to stop taking a microscope over everything Harry and Meghan are doing. It’s clear they don’t know enough of anything they’re up to until HnM and their partners announce it. The royal brand idea is laughable has HnM are now the blueprint with regards to success outside the firm. Others have tried and FAILED to create any sustained success outside that family, so it must take more than the so-called royal brand to achieve success. Whatever it takes, so far only HnM have it, so it’s tiresome to see the constant whining about said brand. Say it with me, royal writers, Harry and Meghan are successful because they work hard, they are creative and knows how to make lasting connections with the right people.

  25. Over it says:

    This is for Jules in response to becks number 4 comment. Jules, since Harry and Meghan pay for their own house with their own money that they make, you nor any other tax paying brit doesn’t get to decide what size house they buy, west kind of car they drive, what kind of jobs they get. It’s their lives their choice and if you that these other rich kids didn’t use their family names to get ahead in whatever they decided to do. , well I say ha to you. There is nowhere Harry can go that won’t draw attention. He is the grandson of the queen and the favorite royal no matter what the stupid British media says. Archwell is ran very tastefully and doing amazing charity work. I don’t get why you are so up in your feelings about two private citizens. How long would you suggest they stick around for the abuse and racist treatment? Would after Meghan had ended her life be good enough for you? People like you make my blood boil. The pandemic is still going on. If by your logic when it ends then that would probably be never. They don’t have to stick around at the expense of their own mental health and well-being To make people like you feel better about your own issues. Why should people paying their own bills have to scale back their lifestyle.? Why are the ones living rent free in palaces with all the stolen items not scaling back. Why don’t you ask the queen and Chucky and the keenbridges to downsize since your tax paying pounds funded
    lifestyle of people who barely work if you can even call it that. Randy Andy doesn’t work but yet he is still living large off your tax dollars but I don’t hear anyone complaining about that. It’s only the black duchess and her family that shouldn’t have nice things.

    • lanne says:

      Amen. People should stop with the fake concern trolling and own their racism loud and proud. They still can’t stand that Meghan is a royal duchess by marriage.

    • L4frimaire says:

      Yes this 100%. Thanks for calling this out.

  26. Athena says:

    I’m so over this, that whole island needs to move on. They complained about paying for them and complain when they find out that H&M were trying to pay for themselves.

    I keep thinking “this too shall pass” but apparently in the UK they’re not allowed to let anything go.

  27. Lizzie says:

    I agree with all above. There is a big difference between doing a project with at streaming service and financing your future. Meghan worked on the elephant documentary with her fee going to charity. They didn’t say they never heard of a streaming service.
    It reminds me of everyone jumping on Meghan when she said she didn’t google Harry. You know what, I wouldn’t google him either because I have always known who he, his family and past girlfriends are already.