Latest news with #ValentineLow
Fox News
14 hours ago
- Business
- Fox News
Meghan Markle's new As Ever product launch is driven by desire for ‘fame and fortune': experts
Meghan Markle is restocking her sold-out As Ever products on Friday, and several royal experts believe it's all part of her plan to be recognized as a royal entrepreneur with a reigning business empire. "Of course, her royal title and Sussex name are boosting her brand," British broadcaster and photographer Helena Chard told Fox News Digital. "She will cling to this as it will help bring her [more] fame and fortune, which is imperative to her life. She will keep her fingers in many pies and her name in lights with the hope that one or more of her ideas will bring in the much-needed hard cash." "However, she is not likely to amass her fortune from the sales of basic As Ever treats, however delicious they may be," Chard claimed. A post on As Ever's Instagram teased that its bringing back its products and "some delicious surprises." The brand is known for raspberry spreads, teas, limited-edition wildflower honey and edible flowers, or "flower sprinkles." Chard made her comments shortly after quotes from royal expert Valentine Low's 2023 book, "Courtiers," surfaced online. At the time of the book's publication, the author claimed the Duke and Duchess of Sussex left royal life because they wanted the "freedom to make money and dip their toes into politics." He also claimed the "Suits" alum was eager to "earn money for herself," which reportedly influenced the couple's decision to make their royal exit. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped back as senior royals in 2020 and moved to the wealthy, coastal city of Montecito in California. At the time, they cited the unbearable intrusions of the British press and a lack of support from the palace as their reasons for the move. That same year, the couple signed a five-year contract with Netflix reportedly worth $100 million. Their Spotify deal was said to be worth between $15 million to $18 million. Low claimed in his book that before the couple left for California, they suggested the idea of "having a month [to a year] to do their own thing," as quoted by the U.K.'s Daily Mail. According to the outlet, Low also said the pair considered "spending most of their time privately but doing a select number of royal activities." "Some suspected that in the end [Meghan] wanted to make money," Low wrote, as quoted by the outlet. "And the only way she was going to do that was by leaving her royal life behind and going back to America." Low noted that if the couple agreed to continue with royal duties, they wouldn't have been allowed to "act or take decisions in order to gain financially." People magazine previously reported that when Meghan and Harry announced their exit, the couple specified they would "no longer receive funding through the Sovereign Grant," making them "members of the Royal Family with financial independence." Their announcement said, "Their Royal Highnesses prefer to release this financial tie." "They value the ability to earn a professional income, which in the current structure they are prohibited from doing," they wrote, adding that financial freedom is "something they look forward to." At the time of Low's book launch, Archewell, which handles the offices for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, and Buckingham Palace didn't immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. A spokesperson for Buckingham Palace previously told Fox News Digital it doesn't comment "on such books." British royals expert Hilary Fordwich told Fox News Digital she agreed with Low's reporting. "What I do know is that during those negotiations [with Harry and Meghan], Queen Elizabeth II was observed to be 'visibly cringing' when the topics of both politics and money were pressed by Prince Harry," Fordwich claimed. "It represented the antithesis of everything the queen and the monarchy stand for." "I don't know who raised it, but the consensus was, 'You're all about the money. We, the monarchy is about service and dedication to duty," Fordwich claimed. "One of the very many reasons Princess Catherine is so immensely popular and will be a tremendous future queen is that she doesn't care about the former (money) but is dedicated to the latter (duty/service)!" Low claimed in his book the couple's desire to be financially independent raised many eyebrows behind palace doors. "There was no way for the two sides to reach an agreement on that point," he wrote, as quoted by the outlet. "Crucially, it was the queen who took the view that unless they were prepared to abide by the restrictions that applied to working members of the royal family, they could not be allowed to carry out official duties." WATCH: MEGHAN MARKLE 'MOVED ON' FROM ROYAL FAMILY DRAMA, AUTHOR CLAIMS Chard claimed it was easy for Harry to "jump ship." "Prince Harry always felt second best to his brother Prince William," Chard claimed. "Meghan was the excuse Prince Harry needed to jump ship. And Meghan wants fame and fortune. Although she received the royal title, she felt her wings were clipped." "They both ran off into the sunset to make their fame and fortune," Chard added. "It is now all about them. They can … build their Sussex court and empire. However, there are consequences for their decisions. They can't have their cake and eat it too." Whispers of Meghan eyeing a role in politics have been persistent since the couple's move. "I've heard from some very reliable sources that she is writing to people to try and secure political positions," True Royalty TV co-founder Nick Bullen told Fox News Digital in 2023. "I think that is absolutely an ambition for her. "And I think you'll see [the Duke and Duchess of Sussex] working much more separately," he said at the time. "I think you'll see them concentrating on their individual brands to try and reclaim some of the ground." WATCH: MEGHAN MARKLE PLOTTING NEXT ROLE IN POLITICS NOT HOLLYWOOD, EXPERT CLAIMS Bullen is an award-winning documentarian who has been producing programs about the British royal family for 20 years. He has also worked closely with King Charles III. In 2019, True Royalty TV premiered "Meghan for President?" It was a documentary that explored how the mother of two had always wanted to speak out on a global platform, long before she pursued acting in Hollywood. Anything is possible, Bullen insisted. Even a humanitarian ambassador's role looks promising. "It's a very plausible argument," Bullen said. "I think it would be fascinating. Imagine a world in which she does make it to the White House. [Prince] Harry is the first husband. There's a state visit, and what happens then if Meghan is hosting [the British royal family] at the White House? You're going to want a front-row seat for that, aren't you?" A spokesperson for the duchess, 43, didn't immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment at the time. Vanity Fair's royal correspondent, Katie Nicholl, reported in 2019 that Kensington Palace sources dismissed any speculation that Meghan, who retained her U.S. citizenship, would ever run for president. Traditionally, members of the British royal family are expected to be apolitical in public, which means they cannot vote or openly express political views. In addition, such a major move would require Harry, 40, to give up his royal title. In 2024, People magazine reported that the couple's Archewell Foundation is a founding partner of the Women's Wellness (Spa)ce, a trauma-informed wellness center for women in north Philadelphia. It was created by Ashley Biden, the daughter of former President Joe Biden and wife Jill Biden. For now, Meghan seems to have her eyes on launching jam. Her lifestyle products were featured in her Netflix lifestyle series, "With Love, Meghan," which premiered in March. New episodes are expected to drop in the fall. Fordwich claimed Meghan still has a long way to go before the public can crown her as an authentic, relatable businesswoman. "Either way, this relaunch means Meghan Markle will face heightened scrutiny," Fordwich claimed. "Her products, while marketed as accessible, remain luxury non-essentials which don't resonate with a mass market audience, especially in our current tough economic times."
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
The lucrative reason Prince Harry and Meghan wrecked any chance of a compromise with the Royal Family during 'Megxit', royal author claims
Prince Harry and Meghan allegedly wrecked any chance of a compromise with the Royal Family during 'Megxit' because they wanted the 'freedom to make money and dip their toes into politics', a royal author has claimed. When Harry and Meghan stepped down as working royals in 2020, hopes were high within the Firm that a compromise could be found. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex claimed their decision to 'step back as senior members' was to become more financially independent and to enjoy privacy from the prying eyes of the media. At the time it seemed plausible that these wishes could be fulfilled alongside an agreement to represent the Crown at a select number of events every year. However, according to royal author Valentine Low, any prospect of a soft 'Megxit' was scuppered by the Sussexes over finances. Writing in his tell-all book Courtiers, Low claims that Meghan's desire to 'earn money for herself' led the couple to abandon their duties entirely. Low revealed that during discussions about how to reach a happy middle ground - which could please the whole family - multiple scenarios were explored. These ranged from Harry and Meghan 'having a month a year to do their own thing' to 'spending most of their time privately but doing a select number of royal activities'. There was apparently a 'positive atmosphere' in the room, with each party believing a deal was close. The one caveat for the Sussexes continuing royal duties - however small or minor - was that they must stick to the 'normal rules about royal behaviour'. Crucially, that would mean Harry and Meghan could not 'act or take decisions in order to gain financially'. Low writes: 'Some suspected that in the end she wanted to make money. And the only way she was going to do that was by leaving her royal life behind and going back to America.' On top of this, the couple wanted the 'freedom to dip their toes into American politics', which would represent a major breach of royal protocol for a family with a long history of being staunchly apolitical. 'There was no way for the two sides to reach an agreement on that point. 'Crucially, it was the Queen who took the view that unless they were prepared to abide by the restrictions that applied to working members of the Royal Family, they could not be allowed to carry out official duties.' Indeed, since 'Megxit' the couple have 'dipped their toes' into US politics. During the 2020 US presidential race, the couple endorsed Joe Biden in all but name in a video address urging voters to 'reject hate speech', while Meghan labelled it the 'most important election of our lifetime'. The duke said at the time: 'This election I am not able to vote in the US. But many of you may not know that I haven't been able to vote in the UK my entire life. As we approach this November, it's vital that we reject hate speech, misinformation and online negativity.' While Harry and Meghan did not name their favoured candidate, many viewers thought it 'obvious' they were backing Joe Biden over Donald Trump. As such, the Sussexes were accused of 'violating' the terms of their 'Megxit' deal. In September 2020, Trump said that he was 'no fan' of the duchess after the couple released their video. In the aftermath, Republicans and other critics called on the Royal Family to strip the couple of their titles, calling their interference 'inappropriate'. In last year's election, the couple stayed publicly neutral and instead urged Americans to go out and vote. The statement read: 'Voting is not just a right; it's a fundamental way to influence the fate of our communities. 'At The Archewell Foundation, we recognize that civic engagement, no matter one's political party, is at the heart of a more just and equitable world. 'By participating in initiatives like this, we aim to amplify the message that every voice matters.' Free from the shackles of royal protocol, Meghan appears more ambitious than ever. The former Suits actress reportedly hopes to become a billionaire by launching a career in media and as a entrepreneur. In March 2024, she soft-launched American Riviera Orchard before changing the company's name to As Ever. Announcing the venture, Meghan said: 'This new chapter is an extension of what has always been my love language, beautifully weaving together everything I cherish - food, gardening, entertaining, thoughtful living, and finding joy in the everyday.' The food products sold by the brand include an assortment of teas, edible flower sprinkles and a £20 jar of honey. Speaking on an episode of her podcast, Confessions Of A Female Founder, Meghan revealed she has decided to 'just pause' restocking her As Ever brand after previously selling out of products in less than an hour. Meghan has invested in a number of companies including the vegan coffee brand Clevr Blends and haircare line Highbrow Hippie. She has also invested in asset manager Ethic, which focuses on sustainable investments. Harry and Meghan signed a lucrative £18million deal with Spotify in 2020. However despite appearing to be a joint venture, the only show they produced was hosted by Meghan. In the series, titled Archetypes, Meghan interviewed various celebrities from Serena Williams to Paris Hilton. The deal was 'mutually ended' in June 2023 with sources claiming the music streaming giant did not see enough content to warrant the full payout. Earlier this year, the duchess launched her Confessions Of A Female Founder podcast, which saw her chat with female business owners from an array of successful companies. In a slight career change, Meghan also penned a children's book in 2021 titled The Bench. It follows the relationship of a father and son through the eyes of the mother and received mixed reviews from critics. In their television projects, Harry and Meghan have kept a much more united front, but even so, the couple appear to be working separately more often. Although an official figure was never announced, Harry and Meghan's deal with Netflix was allegedly worth around £80million, and the couple produced multiple shows. In 2022, the first Netflix series about the Sussexes was released aptly named Harry and Meghan. While it holds the record for the biggest debut for a Netflix documentary it received mixed reviews. The pair were also executive producers on the Polo sports documentary series which followed athletes at the US Open Polo Championship. In 2023, Meghan did not join Harry as an executive producer on the Heart Of Invictus series, although the duke and duchess did appear together in the show. Meghan's first major solo television project was her lifestyle programme called With Love, Meghan, which saw her team up with a number of famous guests to cook and create homeware products. Harry was almost entirely absent from the series, aside from a very brief cameo in the last episode. A source from the show has since reported that neither Harry nor their children will appear in the next season. Although The Mail On Sunday revealed in May that Harry is planning to launch his own as-yet-undisclosed commercial venture in the next few months, he remains focused on his charity work. Harry is still involved heavily with the Invictus Games and the foundation which supports the tournament as well as the HALO Trust - a charity working to remove landmines which Princess Diana supported. The duke has also launched other projects in recent years, including an eco-travel campaign through his non-profit Travalyst, aimed at encouraging sustainable travel. And in November 2023, he became the global ambassador for Scotty's Little Soldiers - a charity that cares for children whose parents died while serving in the Armed Forces. Earlier this year, Harry had his most high profile fallout with a charity to date when he and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho resigned from their roles as patrons of Sentebale.
