Oh, What a Tangled Web We Weave

"It was hard for royal aides to be supportive of projects like Quibi because they knew how it might look, but the couple kept dismissing these concerns."

"They didn't seem to see the pitfalls of any potential conflict of interests."

Palace source

"Rick, Andrew and Nick came with the territory. So did Keleigh."

"They were constantly fielding proposals for Meghan and bringing stuff to her. But the team in America did pose problems for staff at KP [Kensington Palace]."

"There was always quite a lot of secrecy surrounding the couple's conversations with the U.S."

"Certain people would be in the know about what was going on with things like Quibi, while others wouldn't have a clue."

"Discussions that had been quite public would then suddenly go underground, into the 'private' space. It was all quite difficult to manage at times."

Palace insider

"The Apple TV series was a bit problematic because senior palace staff were given minimal information about it."

"Meghan had insisted it be announced on Instagram because they had just launched the Sussex Royal page and wanted to make all the big announcements on there. But no one had seen the fine print. There was uncertainty over the commercial terms of the deal."

Royal source

Still from interview video

 

A conspiracy of conspiracies. A blatant addiction to telling tales afflicting a young woman who hit the jackpot of her dreams. The Archbishop of Canterbury 'corrected' one of her falsehoods, claiming he had officiated at a private, isolated marriage ceremony days before the 'official' public wedding took place between Meghan Markle and her Prince Charming. The extremely manipulable Prince Charming who recognized in this clever scheming woman -- who defied the authority of centuries of royal public obligation for the privilege of 'being true to herself' --  an image of his sainted mother.

 

No, they both solemnly assured their avid audience during their 'interview' with Oprah Winfrey -- all three of whom conspired to stoop as low as they possibly could -- they had been "cut off" from royal financial privileges for no good reason at all, forcing Harry to sign deals with Netflix and Spotify out of the necessity to pay for costly living expenses -- not a place to stay, since wealthy friends, gratified to be connected with Royals were eager to put them up, but for the security detail to protect their royal selves.

 

"The Netflix and the Spotify (deals)", Harry earnestly said "... that was never part of the plan. We didn't have a plan. That was suggested by somebody else by the point of where my family literally cut me off financially, and I had to afford ... afford security for us." Not a hint of a word about talks with a U.S. streaming platform for them to produce a series of 10-minute videos for which they would be handsomely paid, and given the opportunity to strut their stuff and gain an adoring audience, launching the duo into the celebrity world of public entertainment figures under the guise of supporting mental health.

Quibi was to be a shining new venture, a high-profile platform planned as the next YouTube sensation, backed by Disney, NBC and Goldman Sachs. It was these negotiations to launch the Royal pair as popular celebrity-philanthropic figures that led to tensions between the Sussexes and their staff in the tightrope between royal duty and the irresistible alure of commercial opportunity bringing with it celebratory renown beyond royal titles and the financial recompense that would accompany it. Living right royally as one has been accustomed to does not come cheaply, particularly for those who declaim their intention is to be financially self-supporting and 'independent'.

Through the year of 2019 the royal couple held numerous discussions with senior Quibi executives ranking high in the established entertainment circuit and high-echelon politics in the U.S. When their plans began to look quite promising for their new 'independent' future, the time seemed ripe for the January 2020 "Megxit" commitment and the statement that they "intend to step back as 'senior' members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty the Queen".

Her Majesty the Queen has no wish to become associated with any manner of commercial enterprises demanding high profile elite appearances in exchange for high remuneration. The British taxpayer looks after all that for the Royal Family, who are committed to paying for their keep in the traditional royal manner as patrons of the arts and sciences, good works and public-spirited occasions. It troubled Her Majesty greatly that a complaint of bullying was submitted against the couple while Harry and Meghan continued their 'secretive' consultations with U.S. advisers.

Where the Duchess continued her alliance with her lawyer, her business manager, her talent agent through regular conference calls linking both sides of the Atlantic, along with a principal of her public relations firm, which, under the guidance of a trusted Keleigh Thomas Morgan negotiated revelatory interviews with Meghan beginning her intimate relations with a prince, leading to a role within the English Monarchy. Ultimately, the Quibi venture went under as it just failed to materialize and was set aside never to be resurrected, a failed platform.  

 

And then, to the rescue, the commercial agreements with Netflix and Spotify, a collaboration to "accelerate change for a more compassionate, connected and positive society", resulting from "several months of discussions" with Oprah Winfrey. And at the Lion King premiere in London with Harry recommending Meghan' as a voice-over artist. "You know she does voice-overs, right?", he prompted Disney CEO Bob Iger. "She's really interested".

Came a deal with the Duchess signing on with Disney for a voice-over for a wildlife charity, Elephants Without Borders, recorded in late 2019, preceding the couple's six-week stay in Canada in a mansion on Vancouver Island where their departure from the Royal Family was masterminded with the collaboration of Meghan's lawyer, business manager, talent agent, and public relations stalwart. Oh, what deceits are practised when plans are underfoot to portray oneself as victimized.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are reportedly making millions from deals signed with streaming giants Netflix and Spotify (Image: Getty Images)