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Princess Kate Middleton reportedly showed off her body as part of her strategic attempt to get Prince William, according to a biography.

Via: Instar

HIGHLIGHTS

 Rumors suggest Kate Middleton strategically pursued Prince William, as detailed in Robert Lacey’s book.
 Middleton’s alleged tactics include wearing a revealing dress and changing her education plans to be near Prince William.
 However, Middleton denies planning to become a royal, stating she never expected such a life before meeting William.

It often seems like some people obsess over Kate Middleton and Prince William each year. As a result, it isn’t surprising that there have been many rumors about both of them, including some gossip that Prince William hates Princess Diana’s godchildren.

At times, Kate Middleton has had to deal with some especially tough rumors. Some examples of that include when Donald Trump commented on topless photos of her and the gossip surrounding her cancer diagnosis that Blake Lively apologized for. Princess Kate also had to deal with a book that claimed she showed off her body as part of a strategy to get Prince William.

This article will reveal a book that claimed Princess Kate Middleton strategized to get Prince William. Then, the article will look at what Middleton said about whether she expected to become a royal.

Kate Middleton “Strategically Chased” Prince William In College According To A Book

Throughout the English Royal Family’s history, there has always been a lot of gossip and rumors about them. Since the 1980s, a lot of the tabloid headlines relating to the British Royals have focused on their love lives.

Unfortunately for King Charles and Prince Harry, their love lives have resulted in a lot of public controversy. While Prince William has been involved in scandals, however, his relationship with Princess Kate Middleton has mostly been a constant for years.

Of course, when Prince William was a young man, there was a lot more conjecture about who he would spend his life with. According to the author of “Battle of Brothers: William and Harry – The Inside Story of a Family in Tumult”, Middleton “strategically chased” Prince William at that time.

Via: Instar

Between movies, TV shows, and books, many stories have been told about regular people randomly meeting and later marrying Royals. According to the author of that book, Robert Lacey, Middleton and Prince William didn’t wind up together because of chance.

What is the timeline of Prince William and Kate Middleton’s relationship, according to People?

Event:
Timeline:

First Meeting
2001

Start Dating
May 27, 2002

Break Up
April 2007

Reconcile
June 9, 2007

Get Engaged
October 20, 2010

Get Married
April 29, 2011

Prince George Alexander Louis Born
July 22, 2013

Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana Born
May 2, 2015

Prince Louis Arthur Charles Born
April 23, 2018

Instead, Lacey claims that Middleton made many choices that ultimately resulted in her landing Prince William. More than that, Lacey claims that Middleton strategized to become a princess.

Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip were married for decades and truly seemed to love each other but they rarely slept in the same bed.

Lacey’s most notable claim about Middleton’s strategic plan to get Prince William involves a famous moment from their history. According to Lacey, an infamous see-through dress Middleton donned during a fashion show was part of her plan to land the royal.

In Lacey’s book, he wrote about how Middleton walked the runway at a fashion show she knew Prince William would be at. In an amusing twist, the fashion show was named “The Art of Seduction” which is what Lacey claims Middleton was up to at the event.

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During the fashion show, Middleton initially was pretty covered up when she came out. However, according to what Lacey wrote in his book, Middleton took off the top layer of her outfit to reveal the see-through dress she had on underneath.

To be clear, Middleton was wearing something under that covered up as much of her body as a bikini typically would. Still, Middleton’s outfit in the fashion show definitely revealed her figure, as famous photos from the fashion show reveal.

According to Lacey, Middleton decided to wear the revealing see-through dress to catch the eye of one person who was in attendance. Furthermore, Lacey claims that Middleton’s plan worked to perfection based on what he claims Prince William remarked about Middleton’s looks. “Wow, Kate’s hot.”

In Lacey’s book, he claims that for the see-through dress moment to happen, Middleton had to jump through some hoops before that. The author claims that Middleton made huge changes to her education plans as part of her strategy to get close to Prince William.

Via: Instar

In Lacey’s book, he claimed that Kate Middleton gave up a better education to be near Prince William. “Kate was very strategic. She gave up her place at one of Britain’s premier universities, Edinburgh, and opted for another one [St. Andrews] that probably didn’t have the same academic standard.”

According to Times Higher Education, Princess Kate Middleton and Prince William both graduated from St. Andrews. Prince William and Middleton both graduated after studying art at school, according to the outlet.

As Lacey elaborates in his book, Middleton had already been to Edinburgh and even arranged a place to live there. However, she gave that up, delayed her education by a year, and switched her major to art history to be part of Prince William’s life.

It is important to note that the claim that Middleton had an elaborate strategy to become a princess isn’t proven by any means. In fact, Middleton once explicitly stated that she didn’t plan to become a princess.

Kate Middleton Said She Didn’t Think She’d Become A Royal

According to Robert Lacey’s book, Kate Middleton spent a lot of time strategizing to become a Princess. However, in 2023, Middleton was asked if she expected to become a royal before she got involved with Prince William, and she stated that she didn’t.

Prince Harry and Prince William’s relationship seems to be strained and the rumor about a joke about hair loss doesn’t make anything better.

In May 2023, Princess Kate Middleton and Dame Kelly Holmes met with students at St Katherine’s School in Bristol. During that event, some of the students got to ask Middleton questions.

The most notable portion of the conversation came when Middleton was asked if she, “wanted to be a royal”. In response, Middleton told that student and everyone else who was present that she never expected to become a princess.

Via: Instar

Middleton also went on to tell the students that she was unprepared for the role she has now. As Middleton explained, she, “had to learn” to be a royal after “falling in love” with Prince William.

Of course, Middleton’s comments to those students completely contradict the claims in Lacey’s book which is interesting to note.

Meghan Markle is angry the royal family hasn’t ostracized Prince Andrew despite the allegations against him.

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HIGHLIGHTS

 Meghan Markle’s grievance with the royal family stems from Prince Andrew’s treatment despite his scandal.
 The Duchess of Sussex will not be returning to the UK with Prince Harry, causing relief for Kate Middleton and Prince William.
 William and Kate blame Meghan for Harry pulling away from the family, attributing his changes to her influence.

There are, as it seems, several members of the royal family Meghan Markle has a problem with. After Kate Middleton‘s diagnosis was announced to the world, people focused on the Duchess of Sussex’s relationship with her and Prince William, but it turns out she has a much bigger grievance about another royal.

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Thanks to her Podcast, Netflix deal and other ventures in the works, Meghan Markle is doing more than okay nowadays.

It’s common knowledge that Prince Andrew has been accused of sexual abuse in the Jeffrey Epstein case, and apparently, the fact that, despite this, the royal family still treats Andrew better than her has caused her a lot of pain.

Meghan Markle’s Issues With Prince Andrew

Via: Instar

A lot has been said about Meghan Markle’s feud with the royal family, especially Prince William and Kate Middleton, but it seems her main point of contention isn’t the Prince or the Princess of Wales. According to Royal author Tom Quinn, she’s most upset about Prince Andrew still being part of the royal family, despite his involvement in the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.

“The fact that Prince Andrew has not been completely ostracised is another deep source of grievance for Meghan – she’s been pushed out so why not Andrew, who has behaved appallingly?” Tom Quinn explained.

The royal author explained why the Duchess of Sussex had been pushed out of the royal family and not Prince Andrew, and apparently it had nothing to do with their actions but with their respect to the Crown’s authority. The family doesn’t consider Meghan Markle to be more shameful than Prince Andrew, but they allege they had no choice but to push her out since she didn’t follow their rules.

“Meghan has a point but what she doesn’t see is that for all his faults Andrew has at least done what the royal family told him to do: Andrew was told to say nothing after his disgrace and he continues to say nothing.”

This is a clear reference to all the times the Duchess has shared her experiences with the royal family, which most of the senior royals didn’t like. Prince Andrew has been hidden away ever since the accusations against him came to light, and has been forbidden from carrying out royal engagements.

Meghan Markle Will Not Be Returning To The UK

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In just a couple of days, Prince Harry will be landing in the United Kingdom. All by himself. Meghan Markle will not be joining him on the visit, and reportedly, Kate Middleton and Prince William were relieved when they found out.

Apparently, while they aren’t happy with Harry, the Prince and Princess of Wales are open to reconciling with him, but not with Meghan. Particularly Kate Middleton.

Given the paperwork Harry recently filed, he and Meghan Markle have no plans to leave the United States.

“William hates the idea of meeting Harry again. For Kate it’s different. She finds the idea of meeting Harry far less awkward just so long as Meghan isn’t around,” Tom Quinn shared. “Which is why, at Kensington Palace there was a huge sigh of relief when it was confirmed that Meghan would not be accompanying her husband to the UK.”

The reason for this is that Prince William and Kate blame Meghan Markle for Prince Harry pulling away from the family, and find it hard to forgive her for it.

“William and Kate have always attributed the change in Harry – from a charming if wilful boy to an angry young man – to Meghan’s influence. Kate supports her husband, but still sees Harry as a troubled little boy who just needs attention and unconditional love.”

Royal expert says Meghan Markle expected to receive more attention once she joined the royal family.

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HIGHLIGHTS

 Royal expert claims Meghan Markle’s craving for attention caused a rift with the royal family, leading to resentment and misunderstandings.
 Meghan Markle has been rejected by the royal family and people close to the family, even during this difficult time for the crown.
 Meghan felt snubbed by the royal family’s treatment of Prince Andrew, sparking her grievances against them.

Ever since Kate Middleton and King Charles shared their cancer diagnosis, people have been worried about the tense relationship Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have with the rest of the royal family. There has been talk of reconciliation for a few months, but ever since the King refused to see Prince Harry during his visit to the UK, hopes have diminished.

Many suspect Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s trip to Nigeria had ulterior motives after their foundation was marked delinquent.

Now, a royal expert has explained a new theory he has regarding Meghan Markle’s resentment toward the royal family. Apparently, he believes the Duchess of Sussex was expecting to take center stage once she joined the royal family, and was disappointed when she didn’t get enough attention.

Royal Expert Claims Meghan Markle Wanted To Be The Center Of Attention After Marrying Prince Harry

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The estrangement between Meghan Markle and the royal family has raised questions and worries for a few years now, but a royal expert has a new theory about why she never managed to get along with the rest of the family.

Jennie Bond, a former BBC royal correspondent, spoke about the Duchess of Sussex’s aspirations when it came to marrying a prince and claimed her unrealistic expectations muddled her relationship with Prince Harry’s family.

“I have always held the view that Meghan failed to understand that she would never be the top dog in the Royal Family… or even the deputy top dog,” she said. “There’s nothing wrong with seeking the limelight. It’s just that the Royal Family was the wrong vehicle for her ambitions.”

Meghan Markle decided to make a statement by wearing a diamond necklace belonging to Princess Diana.

The royal family’s rejection of Meghan Markle seems to have extended to friends of the royals. Recently, an important British fashion designer, who is friendly with Queen Camilla and has close ties with the senior members of the royal family, compared the Duchess of Sussex unfavorably to Kate Middleton.

Royal fans always seem to pit the two women against each other, with the Princess of Wales almost always coming out on top, and according to the royal expert, not being in the limelight contributed to the bad relationship between Meghan Markle and the royal family.

Meghan Markle Was Upset About The Royal Family’s Treatment Of Prince Andrew

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Apparently, one of the big issues Meghan Markle had with the royal family was the way they treated Prince Andrew. Or, rather, the way they treated her compared to the prince. According to royal expert Tom Quinn, she was outraged that the royal family didn’t cast Prince Andrew out the same way they did her when the accusations against him were much more serious than anything Meghan Markle has ever said or done.

“The fact that Prince Andrew has not been completely ostracised is another deep source of grievance for Meghan – she’s been pushed out so why not Andrew, who has behaved appallingly?” the royal expert explained, referring to the allegations against the prince related to the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.

Tom Quinn went on to say that she was misunderstanding the way the royal family works, and that as furious as they were about Prince Andrew’s behavior, he fell in line and complied with their rules, something she didn’t do.

“Meghan has a point but what she doesn’t see is that for all his faults Andrew has at least done what the royal family told him to do: Andrew was told to say nothing after his disgrace and he continues to say nothing.”

Whether these royal experts are right or not, it’s clear that the resentment between Meghan Markle and the royal family is complex and runs deeper than fans imagine.

Meghan Markle was never going to be a traditional bride, and the dress she wore to her wedding proves it.

Via: Depositphotos

HIGHLIGHTS

 Meghan Markle broke royal tradition by wearing a white wedding dress despite being previously married, which annoyed Queen Elizabeth.
 The Queen expected Meghan to wear a different color to show that she isn’t traditionally considered as “pure” due to her previous marriage.
 While Meghan broke tradition with her dress, the Queen allowed her to spend Christmas with the Royal Family before she and Prince Harry were married, suggesting some flexibility with traditions.

Royal weddings have long been something of a spectacular occasion. These events are often televised for the whole world to see, with there being lots of TV crews commentating on the event, showing glimpses of who has been invited, what they’re wearing, and most importantly, the demonstration of love between the couple getting married.

However, there are also some very strict traditions that all royal couples are expected to follow when it comes to their wedding day. When Meghan Markle and Prince Harry got married, Meghan broke with royal tradition for one aspect of the wedding that reportedly left Queen Elizabeth feeling royally annoyed.

How Did Meghan Markle And Prince Harry’s Wedding Break From Royal Tradition?

Meghan and Harry’s wedding broke from the tradition from the start, as Meghan was previously married and since divorced prior to meeting Prince Harry, which, despite the marriage between King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla, is practically unheard of in royal circles.

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It isn’t strictly royal tradition, but one thing that tends to happen when it comes to weddings is the bride wearing white to show her purity.

Those who have been married previously were expected to not wear white as a show of this, and it was this tradition that was broken at Meghan and Harry’s wedding that got people talking.

What Didn’t Queen Elizabeth Like About Meghan Markle’s Wedding Dress?

It might be a tradition for the bride to wear white at her wedding, but if she has previously been married or has children prior to being married, she is expected to wear a different color to show that she is not traditionally considered as being ‘pure’.

This is certainly what the Queen expected Meghan to do. The Queen reportedly believed that if one had been married before, just like Meghan had, for any wedding they have after that, they shouldn’t be allowed to wear white and should wear another color instead, to signify their previous marriage.

Even Queen Consort Camilla decided to stick to this decision when she got married to the then Prince Charles. This was Camilla’s second wedding and the color she decided to go for on her wedding dress was cream, and then she wore a pale blue dress afterward for the blessing.

 

However, much to the Queen’s dismay, Meghan decided to go against this tradition and decided to wear a pure white dress. Given that the Queen was always someone who wanted to follow the rules and tradition and Meghan had quite clearly gone against it, it was rumored that this indiscretion caused issues at the Castle.

via: youtube

Many were quick to point out that this was likely a generational thing. After all, the Queen and Meghan were from two completely different generations. The Queen came from one where keeping tradition was always seen to be really important; whereas Meghan’s generation prefers to change tradition and do things their own way.

However, this wasn’t the first time Meghan had broken royal tradition. For example, traditionally at Christmas, it doesn’t matter how long a person has been with one of the royals, unless they are married to them, they are not allowed to spend Christmas with a royal.

But Meghan appeared to be the one exception to this rule. Back in 2017 when Meghan and Harry were still engaged, the Queen decided to make a rare break in tradition and allowed Meghan to spend Christmas with the rest of the Royal Family.

It was during this time that Meghan gifted the Queen a singing hamster for Christmas. This might seem a little odd to give someone, particularly when that someone is the Queen of England, but the royals apparently gift each other funny gifts at Christmas to try and ease the pressure of buying something a bit more expensive each year.

 

So, while Meghan may have broken a tradition regarding her wedding, given the Queen broke another tradition by allowing Meghan to spend Christmas with the family prior to her and Harry being married, it seems that the Queen must have been somewhat okay with Meghan breaking with tradition to wear the dress that she wanted in front of the entire world.

What Was Special About Meghan Markle’s Wedding Dress?

Meghan wore a Givenchy dress that was designed by Clare Waight Keller and the making of the dress took over 3900 hours to make, and 50 people were working on it.

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One of the more special meanings behind Meghan’s dress was kept hidden from the rest of the world. She decided to have some of the fabric from the dress that she wore on her first date with Prince Harry sewn into her wedding dress.

 

Given that the dress she wore on her first date was blue, this showed that Meghan was still in keeping with tradition, as it’s tradition for the bride to have something new, something old, something borrowed, and something blue at her wedding, and this bit of fabric was her something blue.

People want to speculate that Meghan Markle and Prince Harry caused their partnership with Spotify to end. However, finances are what were to blame.

TheThings

HIGHLIGHTS

 Spotify canceled Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s podcast due to a cost-cutting measure.
 Despite losing the Spotify deal, the couple has lucrative deals with Netflix and other projects in the pipeline, meaning they will not be destitute anytime soon.
 While the exact payout for the Spotify deal is unknown, the couple received a reported $20 million advance for Prince Harry’s book, and they have other income sources, including Meghan’s Suits royalties and Prince Harry’s role as Chief Impact Officer of BetterUp.

When it was announced that Spotify canceled Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s podcast, Archetypes, many were surprised. After all, aside from the multimillion-dollar deal the couple signed with the digital platform, the podcast itself was successful. It won the top podcast for the People’s Choice Awards, held in Los Angeles, and was top in its market in several countries worldwide, including the US and the UK. Hosting Archetypes on Spotify seemed like a mutually beneficial relationship for all involved, and potentially one of the reasons why Meghan put off her political aspirations.

 

While many want to speculate that Prince Harry and Meghan were canceled because of some wrongdoing, ill behavior, or being difficult to work with, rumors that Meghan’s former co-workers have dispelled about her, it turns out that their departure was a result of Spotify canceling several high-profile podcasts to save money.

As such, Archetypes was just the latest high-profile podcast to be cut from programming, following in the footsteps of Higher Ground, President and Michelle Obama’s podcast that was canceled in 2022. All of this is being done in response to cutting two percent of the company’s workforce cutting costs where necessary. And because of this, a joint statement was issued that stated, “Spotify and Archewell Audio have mutually agreed to part ways and are proud of the series we made together.”

Despite this amicable parting, it cannot be denied that dropping Meghan Markle and Prince Harry is saving Spotify millions of dollars.

Meghan Markle And Prince Harry Have Netted Many Deals

While the deal with Spotify may have come to an end, that does not mean that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will be destitute any time soon. In fact, just the opposite given that the couple has netted many lucrative deals since stepping back as senior royals in January 2020.

via: Instar

The biggest deal that Meghan and Prince Harry have signed is with Netflix. This deal is worth a reported $100 million and allows for the royal couple to “produce documentaries, docuseries, feature films, scripted shows and children’s programming.”

In addition to the Netflix deal is the deal that Prince Harry signed to write his controversial book that potentially posed a security risk, Spare. A deal that he gave Queen Elizabeth a “head’s up” on, but did not ask for her approval for.

Believing that there would be a good deal of copies sold, Prince Harry received a “$20 million advance.” And based on the 1.4 million copies on the release day alone, potentially because of the memoir being “leaked” in the weeks leading up to the release, the prince’s publishing company is poised to make a great deal of money off of the tell-all being sold.

 

Since the split with Spotify, reportedly, Meghan is “currently developing additional content for the Archetypes audience on another platform.” Just what that platform will pay for the content, remains to be seen.

Meghan Markle And Prince Harry’s Spotify Deal Was Worth Up To $25 Million

The deal that Meghan and Harry signed with Spotify in December 2020, has been estimated to be worth $15 to $18 million. However, some estimates have the deal worth up to $25 million. But because the deal ended with just one podcast being launched that aired 12 episodes and one holiday special, the amount the couple will receive will be less.

While “they will not be paid anything close to the full amount they could have earned under the deal,” it is unclear just what that final figure will be.

What Were Meghan Markle And Prince Harry Doing For Spotify?

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When the deal was signed just over two years ago, the content was supposed to include both Meghan and Prince Harry hosting a podcast together. It was to be an exclusive partnership between Spotify and Archewell Audio that would “produce programming that uplifts and entertains audiences around the world” and “spotlight diverse perspectives and voices.”

Just how many podcasts Meghan and Prince Harry were supposed to produce is unknown. However, just the one featuring Meghan, sans Prince Harry, ever saw the light of day. As such, Prince Harry only participated in one holiday special and was never heard from again on the platform.

 

Because Prince Harry and Meghan did not produce more content, and Prince Harry reportedly had a hard time coming up with ideas for a podcast of his own, it appears as though much less content was made than what was agreed to.

Given that they “failed to meet the productivity benchmarks” that Spotify set out for them, they will not be receiving the “full payout from the deal.”

How Are Meghan Markle And Prince Harry Making Money Now?

While the loss of the Spotify deal does put a bit of a dent in the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s overall payday, they still have deals in the works that will continue to help them make the money they need to live the lifestyle they are accustomed to so that they do not have to curtail their extravagant spending.

Most importantly to insuring that substantial income comes into the household is keeping up with the partnership with Netflix to create original content. The first of which was Harry & Meghan, a series that was loved by many, but loathed by some celebrities.

A second docuseries, according to Marie Claire, is in negotiations between the streaming giant and Prince Harry and Meghan. If all goes according to plan, it will detail “humanitarian efforts” the Duke and Duchess are involved in, in South Africa.

Via Netflix

There is also Prince Harry’s project, The Heart of Invictus that is due out in late 2023.

Meghan just recently signed to a new talent agency. According to Marie Clare, she is planning on relaunching her lifestyle brand website and blog, The Tig. If this proves to be true, the revenue from this could be quite large.

In addition, Meghan receives royalty checks from her time on Suits. During her time on the show, both she and co-star Patrick J. Adams made approximately $50,000 per episode. While it is not known what the size of the check is, they are likely smaller than this amount. However, those checks “helped pay” for the luxury estate she and Prince Harry live in today.

Prince Harry is helping to bring income into the household as well as the Chief Impact Officer of BetterUp. His job includes “helping create impact in people’s lives” by being an advocate for mental health.

Meghan and Prince Harry no doubt have projects they are working on that have yet to be released to the public. As such, while losing the Spotify deal may have been a short-term blow to their finances, it may wind up being nothing more than a bump in the road of life on their way to making a fortune for themselves.

Rumor has it, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle opted to skip a hotel stay due to being refused a discount.

via: Instar

Prince Harry may have his hands full these days (he has been testifying in London court as his war with the British tabloids continues). But amid all this, it seems that not everyone is done going over the details of exactly what went down during the supposed car chase that saw Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle being pursued by paparazzi as they rode a cab through the streets of New York.

Since then, reports have suggested that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex could have easily avoided the whole mess if they just stayed at the British royals’ favorite hotel in New York. It is also believed that Prince Harry and Meghan almost booked a stay but ended up choosing a friend’s home instead.

What Happened In NYC With Harry And Meghan?

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Prince Harry and Meghan had been in New York to attend the 2023 Women of Vision Awards where the Duchess of Sussex was honored for her work as the Global Ambassador for World Vision and a UN Women’s Advocate for Women’s Political Participation and Leadership.

Along with her husband, the former actress was also accompanied by her mother, Doria Ragland.

 

Everything seemed to be going well for the couple until they left the event with Ragland. According to the couple’s rep, they were relentlessly pursued by paparazzi for two hours.

Video footage from that night showed Prince Harry, Meghan, and Ragland in a cab as photographers attempted to snap pictures of the group.

Was The Car Chase With Harry And Meghan Real?

Via: Instar

While the couple’s team insisted that a chase involving the paparazzi took place, the incident has since been played down. Later on, Sukhcharn Singh, who had been their cab driver, also claimed that a chase essentially did not happen while the group was riding his car.

 

And while New York Mayor Eric Adams (D) later called out the paparazzi for the incident, no charges were formally filed against anyone. Adams also believes that the whole ordeal lasted 10 minutes instead of two hours, as the Sussexes’ camp has claimed.

Did The Incident Happen Because Prince Harry Was Being Too Cheap To Stay At This NYC Hotel?

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Weeks after the incident, the speculations surrounding the royal couple’s time in New York continued. Since then, reports have also suggested that the whole thing could have possibly been avoided if the Duke and Duchess of Sussex opted to stay the night at New York’s The Carlyle instead.

The landmark hotel on New York’s Upper East Side has been known to attract celebrities, dignitaries, and royals, especially members of the British royal family. That’s no coincidence considering that The Carlyle was named after British essayist Thomas Carlyle.

Over the years, the late Princess Diana was spotted checking into the hotel several times. Back in 2014, Prince William and Kate also stayed at The Carlyle when they visited New York during a brief American tour.

Prince Harry and Meghan themselves are no strangers to The Carlyle. The royal couple was previously spotted checking into the swanky hotel back in September 2021 (although it is believed that they didn’t stay at the Royal Suite, which is Princess Diana’s room of choice).

When they returned to New York in May, however, it seems the Duke and Duchess opted to stay with a friend instead of booking a room. And according to reports, they may have made that fateful decision after being refused a discount.

 

A report from Page Six claimed that Prince Harry and Meghan’s representatives contacted The Carlyle prior to their trip. They supposedly asked for a discount, but the hotel refused. Following this, it is understood that the royal couple opted to stay with a friend during their time in New York instead.

Since the incident, however, some have pointed out that everything could have been avoided if the Duke and Duchess of Sussex opted to book with The Carlyle despite getting no discount.

“They should have just gotten a hotel for the safety of everyone. Instead, they were cheap and wanted a free place to stay,” an unnamed source from New York City law enforcement stated.

“If they had just paid up and got a hotel in the first place, this supposed ‘dangerous’ paparazzi chase around town would never have happened. They would have been driven back to the Carlyle, been photographed going inside and that would have been the end of it.”

The Carlyle is located just a few minutes away from the Ziegfeld Ballroom where Prince Harry and Meghan attended their event. If they had chosen to stay at the property, it is likely that the paparazzi wouldn’t have had much of an opportunity to pursue them.

And if the royals were ever concerned about their privacy, The Carlyle has always been known to operate with the utmost discretion, as stated on its hotel website. To this day, it remains unclear why Prince Harry and Meghan didn’t choose to book a stay instead.

Now with the royal couple possibly traveling back to New York soon, a do-over is possible. As previously reported, Markle, along with other awardees, is being honored at a luncheon in the Big Apple after the duchess became the digital media national winner of the 48th Annual Gracie Awards for her Spotify podcast Archetypes.

Perhaps, this time, the royal couple would choose to stay at The Carlyle while they’re in town, although it is unclear if the property would extend them a discount this time around.

Given how poorly their Spotify deal ended, will Meghan Markle and Prince Harry lose their Netflix income next?

via: Instar

For Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, life after stepping down as senior royals is as complicated as it gets. Since settling down in the U.S. with their two children (Markle gave birth to their second child, daughter Lilibet, in the U.S.), the royal couple has signed several multi-million deals in a bid to start a new life as a family of four.

Among these deals was a multi-year partnership with Spotify that led to the launch of Markle’s award-winning podcast, Archetypes. After just one season though, the digital music service announced that it was cutting ties with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Soon after, there has also been speculation that Netflix may follow Spotify’s lead and terminate their partnership with the royal couple soon enough.

The Royal Couple’s Spotify Deal Was Terminated Prematurely

via YouTube, Spotify

Back in 2020, it was announced that Prince Harry and Markle had struck a deal with Spotify that would see the royal couple host and produce podcasts under their new company, Archewell Audio.

The deal was estimated to be worth $20 million to $25 million, and Markle’s Archetypes kicked off the partnership as she welcomed guests such as good friend Serena Williams, Mindy Kaling, Mariah Carey, and Paris Hilton.

The podcast went on to win a lot of praise and awards. And while some may have anticipated the announcement of a second season of Archetypes, Spotify formally announced instead that its partnership with Markle and Prince Harry was over.

Despite the success of Markle’s podcast, a report from The Wall Street Journal suggested that Markle and Prince Harry failed to meet Spotify’s “productivity benchmarks,” which included their ability to come up with concepts for new podcast series.

This supposedly led to the termination of their deal. It also said that the royal couple likely didn’t receive the full $20 to $25 million as a result.

Soon after, Bill Simmons, a Spotify executive who sold his podcast network company to Spotify for $200 million back in 2020, also took to his podcast, calling Prince Harry and Markle “grifters.” He also went on to reveal that he once spoke with Prince Harry on Zoom to help him with a podcast idea.

Reports have also emerged that the Duke of Sussex reportedly pitched a podcast that would explore the impact of childhood trauma on powerful men. The proposed guest list is believed to include both Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin.

Prince Harry And Meghan Markle Aren’t Fully Paid By Netflix Yet

Via: Instar

Around the same time that the royal couple signed a deal with Spotify, they also entered into a partnership with Netflix through their newly formed company, Archewell Productions.

The five-year deal with the streamer is said to be worth around $100 million. However, when they signed the contract, industry insiders claimed that Prince Harry and Markle only received a small fraction of that money upfront.

As is common practice in deals like this, the royal couple would have had to provide a breakdown of the costs associated with producing a project before Netflix would write them a check. That said, Prince Harry and Markle are also expected to be paid separate fees for their roles as executive producers in any project with Netflix.

 

This deal with the streamer eventually kicked off with the release of the controversial docuseries Harry and Meghan (which was aired just several weeks before the release of Prince Harry’s equally controversial memoir, Spare).

Since then, however, it seemed like Netflix’s partnership with the royal couple hasn’t had much progress.

Does Netflix Still Want To Work With The Duke And Duchess Of Sussex?

via: Instar

In the wake of the terminated Spotify deal, many have begun to question the royal couple’s future with Netflix. On the one hand, their documentary series Harry and Meghan had been a huge hit for the streamer despite all the criticism surrounding the show.

Soon after its launch, the show spent four weeks in the U.S. top 10 and an astounding six weeks in the U.K. top 10 charts. It also spent several weeks in the top 10 of several other countries as well.

And while it seemed that the show performed according to expectations, there had been rumors that not all was well with the royal couple and Netflix behind the scenes.

For starters, Prince Harry and Markle’s second Netflix docuseries, Live to Lead, did not do as well, even failing to reach the top of the streamer’s charts despite featuring the likes of Jacinda Ardern, Greta Thunberg, and the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

 

In addition, prior to the launch of the series, it was revealed that the streamer quietly canceled Markle’s animated series, Pearl, while the project was still in the development stage. On the other hand, Netflix has remained committed to the release of Prince Harry’s documentary, Heart of Invictus, which follows several service members on their journey towards competing at the Invictus Games.

Little is known about the royal couple’s other future projects with the streamer beyond Heart of Invictus and various sources have claimed that Netflix is not looking to renew its partnership with the couple. In recent weeks though, the streamer has released a statement to affirm its working relationship with Prince Harry and Markle.

In a statement to People, a spokesperson for the company has emphasized that it continues to “value” its partnership with the royal couple and confirmed that “a number of projects” are currently in the works. Among these rumored projects is a TV show based on the character of Miss Havisham from Charles Dicken’s Great Expectations (although it is also worth noting that FX Networks recently released a similar concept with Oscar winner Olivia Colman portraying Miss Havisham).

For now, there has been no formal announcement regarding other future projects between Netflix and the royal couple. Both fans and critics are awaiting what happens next. Meanwhile, WME, which represents both Archewell and Markle, previously announced that Markle will develop Archetypes for “another platform.”

Kate’s jealousy may have motivated her husband Prine William to leak rumors about Meghan to the press.

TheThings

Meghan Markle was already well-known before she married Prince Harry. As an established actress, she’s arguably most famous for portraying Rachel Zane on Suits for seven seasons from 2011 to 2018. But Meghan chose to give up her acting career (for now) when she married Prince Harry in 2018.

However, her name certainly hasn’t been out of the headlines. In fact, Meghan may have more attention surrounding her than ever, particularly over her feud with the royal family. She reportedly struggled to get along with most of Harry’s loved ones following their marriage, which led the couple to abdicate their royal duties in 2020 and ultimately relocate to California.

 

Harry and Meghan have an especially contentious relationship with his brother Prince William and his wife, Kate Middleton. There have been reports that Kate was jealous of Meghan from the beginning, which may contribute to their strained relationship. Here’s what we know.

Kate Was Jealous Of Meghan, So William Leaked Rumors To The Press

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William and Kate met while they were in university, and they tied the knot in 2011. Kate has been dedicated to her royal duties ever since and has never pursued a career independent from her role as the Princess of Wales.

Though Kate is undoubtedly accomplished as well as busy with her royal responsibilities some reports have suggested she may be envious that Meghan was able to establish a successful career for herself apart from the royal family.

“Meghan’s mere presence in the Royal Family overshadowed Kate,” a report from Medium claims. “She couldn’t stand the fact that the media and the people loved Meghan. Kate had always fancied herself as the Queen of People’s hearts, as Princess Diana had once defined herself.”

“When she realized that Meghan was going to easily fill that role, she went to great lengths to destroy her,” it continued.

 

The same report suggests this motivated Kate and William to turn the media against Harry and Meghan.

“And so the fabrication of false narratives leaked to the media commenced,” the report says. “In them, Meghan was always painted as the villain while Kate was pure, almost angelic.”

Interestingly, it has been confirmed that William’s team leaked rumors to the press about Harry and Meghan, who’ve claimed the negative media attention was a contributing factor in their decision to leave the UK. So, this theory isn’t necessarily far-fetched.

William & Kate Were Jealous Meghan Did A “Better Job,” Harry Claims

Perhaps even more telling, Harry has admitted that he believes his brother and sister-in-law were jealous of Meghan, since she was doing a “better job” when it came to royal duties than them.

“The issue is, when someone who’s marrying in, who should be a supporting act, is then stealing the limelight, or is doing the job better than the person who was born to do this, that upsets people,” Harry stated last year during an episode of his Netflix docuseries Harry & Meghan.

But Meghan Has Also Been Accused Of Being Jealous Of Kate

via: Instar

While it’s possible that Kate is jealous of Meghan, the feelings may go both ways. It’s been similarly reported on various occasions that the Suits star is jealous of her sister-in-law.

Following the release of Harry & Meghan, the couple received backlash for their perceived animosity towards William and Kate. “This entire documentary has stemmed from a hatred and a jealously of Kate,” royal commentator Sophie Corcoran stated last year.

“That is the reason this entire thing exists and the entire problem with the royal family and Harry and Meghan exist,” she continued. “Meghan cannot stand Kate because Kate is beautiful, she is elegant, she is going to be queen, and she is the center of attention. Megan will never be the center of attention.”

 

More recently, royal expert Kinsey Shofield said in January 2023 that she still believes Meghan has a lot of envy toward Kate.

“I believe that Harry and Meghan are bitterly jealous of the Prince and Princess of Wales,” she commented. “[Meghan and Harry] failed to acknowledge that the public loved them thanks to a platform that the institution gave the both of them.”

Shofield added that she believes Harry “wanted to be King,” which contributed to the ongoing feud between the couples. While the royal expert acknowledged that William and Kate don’t seem fond of Harry and Meghan, she doesn’t believe it’s rooted in jealousy.

“William and Catherine’s issues with Meghan had nothing to do with jealousy. Their values were just dramatically different than Meghan Markle’s,” she explained.

The public may never know William and Kate’s true feelings towards Harry and Meghan, but the fact that various reports claim they’re bitter, and Harry’s own admission he thinks they’re jealous of Meghan, the speculation isn’t completely unfounded.

If one thing is clear, Harry and Meghan’s relationship with William and Kate seems more tense than ever, and there’s little to suggest it’ll improve any time soon.

Prince Harry said ‘goodbye’ to most of his Royal Family privileges, but here’s whether or not he actually profited from the choice.

Via: Depositphotos

In January 2020, there was a groundbreaking decision by Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle to step away from their roles as members of the British Royal Family. This move, popularly known as Megxit, marked a historic moment in the monarchy’s modern history. The British Royal Family has been deeply rooted in tradition for generations. The departure of a member like Prince Harry was unprecedented and drew extensive media attention and public interest.

Prince Harry had long been associated with immense wealth and privileges as a prominent figure in the royal fold. The Royal Family is known to have access to substantial financial resources and assets which support their official duties. Leaving all these behind has led many to wonder how much this decision cost him.

Why Did Prince Harry Leave The Royal Family?

According to reports from StyleCaster, there were multiple reasons behind Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s decision to leave the Royal Family. One significant factor was the intense scrutiny they faced from the media and tabloids. The late Queen Elizabeth II acknowledged the challenges the couple endured due to this relentless propaganda and supported their wish for a more independent life.

Via: Instar

Prince Harry expressed his concerns, referencing his mother, Princess Diana, who tragically died in a car accident while pursued by paparazzi. He feared history repeating itself and watched as his wife, Meghan Markle, became a victim of the same powerful forces, facing relentless attacks from the press.

RELATED:Do Prince Harry And Prince William Secretly Hate Princess Diana’s Long-Forgotten Godchildren?

Being from the United States, Prince Harry’s wife Meghan Markle had a different understanding of the royal family, and the concept of monarchy was foreign to her. Early in their relationship, before having her security detail, she was stalked by paparazzi in Toronto and faced difficulties getting help from the police.

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The press coverage also became increasingly vicious, with Meghan facing racist comments and attacks on social media. She was subjected to hurtful and false headlines. During Meghan’s pregnancy with their son Archie, the media attacks did not let up, causing concern for her safety and well-being.

What Was Prince Harry’s Net Worth Before Leaving The Royal Family?

According to Celebrity Net Worth, Prince Harry possessed a considerable net worth of approximately $30 million. Most of this wealth was attributed to a trust fund his late mother, Princess Diana, established. At age 25, Prince Harry began receiving annual dividends from investments related to Diana’s fortune, which amounted to around $450,000 annually. When he turned 30, he had inherited half of his mother’s estimated fortune, valued at approximately $17 million.

Via: TheThings

In addition to the financial inheritance, Prince Harry, and his brother also inherited their beloved mother’s cherished jewels. The Duchy of Cornwall covered various aspects of his lifestyle, including travel, clothing, staff, and daily expenses.

RELATED:Did Prince Harry Really Make Fun Of Prince William’s Hair Loss While Being Painted By A Professional Artist?

Moreover, Prince Harry received half of $4.7 million allowance allocated to him and his brother, Prince William, and his sister-in-law, Kate. In addition, in 2002, Prince Harry and Prince William each received several million dollars upon the passing of their great-grandmother, further bolstering their overall net worth.

How Leaving The Royal Family Impacted Prince Harry’s Net Worth

Leaving the royal family did not negatively impact Prince Harry’s net worth. Instead, it allowed him and Meghan to become financially independent and pursue various lucrative ventures, which have increased their net worth to $60 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.

 

In an interview with Oprah Winfrey, Prince Harry disclosed that the royal family cut off his financial support in the first quarter of 2020 following their decision to step back from being senior members of the royal family. When Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepped down as working members of the royal family, it marked the end of their days of travelling on behalf of the monarchy.

via: Instar

As senior members of the royal family, Prince Harry, and Meghan received 95% of their annual income from Prince Charles, then the Prince of Wales, with the remaining 5% covered by the taxpayer-funded Sovereign Grant. However, after expressing their desire to become financially independent, they relinquished their entitlement to the Sovereign Grant, losing that additional source of financial support.

Another significant change that occurred as they stepped down was their responsibility to repay the renovations made to Frogmore Cottage, which was gifted to them by the Queen upon their marriage.

The upgrades, initially funded by British taxpayers, amounted to around £2.4 million. Also, stepping down from royal duties meant losing their office and staff. Meghan and Harry no longer required a dedicated office and the support staff associated with it.

As working members of the royal family, Meghan and Harry enjoyed safeguards against the unauthorized publication of images taken of them. Meghan, and Prince Harry, were entitled to their own security detail, paid for by the British government and a notable consequence of leaving was the loss of protection against intrusive paparazzi.

via: Instar

Furthermore, the couple also bid farewell to their Sussex Royal Instagram account, which had amassed millions of followers. This account was a crucial channel for them to communicate with the public and promote their initiatives. Additionally, previously addressed as His or Her Royal Highness, Meghan, and Prince Harry were no longer entitled to use these titles after leaving their senior royal roles. Prince Harry also lost his military title.

How Does Prince Harry Make Money Now?

According to BBC, Prince Harry earns money through various entrepreneurial ventures and creative projects. One of the significant sources of income is his media company, Archewell Productions, which collaborates with Netflix to produce various programs. This partnership with Netflix is estimated to be worth millions of dollars.

via: Instar

Additionally, Archewell Productions created podcasts for now canceled podcasts on Spotify, where Meghan engages in conversations with other high-profile women like Serena Williams and Mariah Carey. Another source of income for Prince Harry is his memoir, “Spare,” which was officially published in January. The book generated considerable attention and interest despite some of its content being leaked.

Leaving the royal family did not seem to have a negative impact on Prince Harry’s net worth. On the contrary, it allowed him and his wife, Meghan Markle, to explore various avenues for earning money and pursuing their passions independently.

Russell Brand did kiss Meghan Markle, but he doesn’t actually remember it.

TheThings

HIGHLIGHTS

 Meghan Markle had a small acting career before marrying into the royal family, including roles in shows like “Deal or No Deal” and “CSI: Miami.”
 Meghan worked with Russell Brand in the film “Get Him to the Greek,” where they kissed on screen, but it was scripted and Russell doesn’t really remember it.
 Meghan has also kissed other co-stars in her acting career, such as Patrick J. Adams in “Suits” and Gregg Sulkin in “Anti-Social,” but Russell is the only one who has spoken publicly about it.

When Russell Brand talked about kissing Meghan Markle, people were right to be dubious. The two never dated, of course, but they did work together on the set of a film. It was during that film that Russell kissed Meghan, but only because it was in the script.

Of course, it’s entirely possible that Russell had no hand in creating the scenario, yet he still bragged about it years later.

Meghan Markle Was An Actress Long Before Marrying Into The Royal Family

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Sure, she’s famous for plenty of royal controversy these days, and for being married to Prince Harry, but Meghan Markle hasn’t always been a big name because of those ties. The former actress was active in Hollywood, even if mainstream audiences didn’t know who she was pre-marriage.

Meghan Markle is probably best known today for her time on Suits, but that wasn’t her only acting gig. Early on, Meghan worked on Deal or No Deal, working on over 30 episodes, though she later quit and seemed to criticize the gig.

RELATED:Meghan Markle Spotted Without Wedding Ring As She Refuses To Address Prince Harry Divorce Rumors

Meghan snagged other jobs before that, but most were bit parts, like an uncredited gig on Married… with Children. She went on to appear in various TV series with small parts, like as a police officer on CSI: Miami and a Junior FBI Agent on Fringe (for two episodes).

Mixed in there was a 2010 film where Meghan worked with none other than Russell Brand, who was—at the time—in high demand. Of course, that doesn’t mean Russell necessarily remembers the moment he’s been bragging about.

Meghan Markle Acted In ‘Get Him To The Greek’ With Russell Brand (And Jonah Hill)

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Was Meghan Markle in Get Him to the Greek? Yep. It turns out Russell Brand did kiss Meghan Markle while they were working together, but only because it was in the script. Yet Russell didn’t really remember the scenario and was apparently pleased to learn he had actually kissed the one-time royal.

In 2010’s Get Him to the Greek, Jonah Hill (an intern at a record company) is hired to get Russell (a rock star) to a concert. The film is filled with hilarious moments where Aaron (Hill) tries to keep Aldous (Brand) on track.

RELATED:7 Times Russell Brand Dissed His Interviewer On Live TV

Interestingly, the film definitely cast Russell in the right character; he played an “out-of-control British rock star” during a time when he was struggling with personal issues himself. In Brand’s own recollection of filming, which took place in 2009, he was “still out of it.”

It’s unclear what he meant, exactly, by that; he has previously claimed to have been clean since 2002.

Brand said he didn’t remember the movie that much, though he called it a “bloody good film,” recalling that he had forgotten all about the scene (and Meghan) in the years afterward.

In 2018, when he was asked about “snogging” Meghan ahead of her wedding to Prince Harry, he said, “I think I planted one on her in the scene. It was scripted in the scene. I only know this because I think I saw a clip of it somewhere.”

To Russell’s credit, he did redirect the interview at first, suggesting that the wedding was that Saturday (after the interview) and they needed to “focus!” A few moments later, he joked about stopping the wedding because of the kiss.

Russell’s Ex-Wife Katy Perry Was In ‘Get Him To The Greek’ Too

The 2009 filming of Get Him to the Greek might be memorable for different reasons today, but for Brand, it was memorable for a different reason before Meghan Markle became famous.

Russell met Katy Perry on the set of the film, in which she had a cameo that was later cut, and the two wound up getting engaged that same year (on New Year’s Eve) and married the next.

The divorce was scandalous during its time, and Katy even cut all communication with her ex after he dumped her via text.

What Other Actors Has Meghan Markle Kissed?

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Like any actor (former or otherwise), Meghan Markle has been in plenty of projects that involve acting out relationships with people other than her current spouse (or her ex-spouse). In addition to playing a random girl at a party (her character was named Tatiana, but the role was uncredited), Meghan had other gigs where she kissed co-stars.

While playing Rachel on Suits, Meghan kissed at least two co-stars; Patrick J. Adams as Mike and Brendan Hines (as Logan). Meghan even led a TV film (from the Hallmark Channel) which also involved some on-screen smooches with her co-stars Kristoffer Polaha and Jonathan Scarfe.

RELATED:Russell Brand Gets Standing Ovation Amid Sexual Assault Allegations As Katy Perry Claims She Knew “The Real Truth”

There was also 2015’s Anti-Social, where Meghan kissed Gregg Sulkin, and various other TV shows and films, too, so she’s racked up many on-screen kisses even though she has since quit acting.

Clearly, Russell was not the only actor privileged enough to kiss the Duchess, but to date, he appears to be the only one who’s given interviews and seemingly bragged about it.