The monetary stress is reportedly mounting for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, with rumors suggesting that the couple may need to humble themselves and reach out to the royal family for support after their $20 million Spotify deal was dissolved.
In a surprising turn of events, the ambitious couple — who exchanged their royal roles in the UK for an American lifestyle in pursuit of Hollywood dreams and a peaceful upbringing for their children, Archie, 4, and Lilibet, 2 — are on the verge of losing over 50% of their lucrative $100 million Netflix deal. An entertainment industry insider notes that the streaming service is also looking for a way out.
Despite the creation of the critical docuseries "Harry & Meghan," the insider hints that the Netflix contract, set to run until 2025, has not yielded the expected results, and the collaboration has been a "difficult journey from day one."
The mounting financial strain, paired with the upkeep of their $15 million Montecito residence and an annual security bill amounting to $2 million, leads insiders to speculate that the Duke of Sussex, 39, and his spouse, 41, may have no choice but to seek a return to the royal family for financial respite.
A senior palace official shared, "Their financial strain could be alleviated with a return to their royal roots." However, he warned, "Achieving amity with King Charles won't be a simple task. I suspect Meghan would go to great lengths to avoid the disgrace of selling their mansion and downsizing."
Insiders have revealed that the termination of their Spotify contract was a considerable economic hit, exacerbated by harsh critiques from prominent industry figures. As reported earlier, Spotify executive Bill Simmons has publicly berated the couple, and Jeremy Zimmer, a high-profile Hollywood agent, criticized Meghan's lack of discernible talent.
Sources reveal that their Spotify deal fell apart after music icon Taylor Swift rejected an invitation to Meghan's podcast, "Archetypes," and important figures scoffed at Harry's plans to interview Donald Trump and Pope Francis about their early lives.
One source comments, "The Sussexes have little more to offer than royal criticism, a well that's been exhausted."
The couple, now labeled as Hollywood failures and one-hit wonders, are rumored to be considering a potentially damaging move for the British monarchy: an agreement with Saudi Arabia's contentious Public Investment Fund.
The same palace official muses, "The pivotal question is: to what extent are they willing to push their boundaries to maintain their status?"