Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s list of demands for speaking appearances leaked
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle reportedly have a lengthy list of requirements for their speaking appearances, as Netflix’s CEO says the couple “shopped themselves around” before signing with the streaming giant.
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A document outlining Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s list of demands for their future speaking events has been leaked.
In an exhaustive four-page document, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have laid out their stringent rules for any speaking engagement – including that they have the final say in who introduces them, according to reports.
It comes as the co-CEO of Netflix says the couple “shopped themselves around” before signing a $A140 million deal with the streaming giant.
The couple reportedly signed with The Harry Walker Agency – an exclusive agency that boasts it represents the best in motivational speakers – earlier this year with it thought the couple could charge $A1.4 million per speech.
The Telegraph in London revealed the stipulations issued by Prince Harry, 35 and Meghan, 39, including that the fee must be paid in advance, reports The Sun.
The leaked ‘Virtual Event Request Form’ states: “The choice of Introducer and Moderator will be at the final discretion of the Speaker.
“The Fee will need to be paid directly from the contracting organisation’s account.”
The full audience list must also be provided and whether the couple need to wear “business or casual” attire.
Other commands insist details of the sponsors must be listed, asking: “If you were to lose one or more of the above sponsors, would your organisation still be able to move forward with this event?”
Prince Harry and Meghan started to hit the speaking circuit before the coronavirus lockdown hit – with the prince giving a speech in Miami for banking giant JP Morgan in February.
The royal was reportedly paid a six-figure sum for the keynote speech which saw him reveal he had been in therapy for years after the death of his mother, Princess Diana.
The couple are following in the footsteps of other big names to sign up with the agency, which also represents Barack and Michelle Obama, Bill and Hillary Clinton and Oprah Winfrey.
Last week it was revealed the couple had signed a deal with Netflix to produce content that “gives hope” to audiences with the deal estimated to be worth $A145 million.
Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings said that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle spent time “shopping” themselves around to “all the major companies” before signing the deal.
Mr Hastings praised the “smart” couple for testing the market, ultimately signing with Netflix because “we put together the best complete package”.
“I’m so excited about that deal,” Mr Hastings said during an interview on US TV on Wednesday (local time).
“They’re smart, they were shopping it around across all the major companies and I think we really put together the best complete package.”
HARRY, MEGHAN SETTLE RENOVATIONS DEBT
Meanwhile, Prince Harry has settled his debts with British taxpayers over the $A5 million renovation to his vacant home in the grounds of Windsor Castle.
Frogmore Cottage was renovated at vast expense, turning five small cottages into one grand residence.
But Prince Harry and Meghan barely spent enough time in it to scuff up the carpet as they decamped for a new life in America after a fallout with the royal family.
It was expected that they would take 11 years to pay back the money for the renovations, which was a source of criticism for the couple.
The couple’s new Netflix deal, valued at up to $A275 million, has allowed them to pay out earlier, and move on.
“A contribution has been made to the Sovereign Grant by The Duke of Sussex,” a spokesman for The Duke and Duchess of Sussex said on Monday (local time).
“This contribution, as originally offered by Prince Harry, has fully covered the necessary renovation costs of Frogmore Cottage, a property of Her Majesty The Queen, and will remain the UK residence of The Duke and his family.”
Frogmore Cottage was the straw that broke the camel’s back, unleashing a wave of negative publicity when the cost was released in public documents.
Prince Harry and Meghan had been living in Kensington Palace in central London, but left after a falling out with Prince William and Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge.
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They isolated themselves in the small cottage on the grounds of Windsor, which could still be seen by passers by on the Long Walk, where Meghan was driven through admiring crowds on her wedding day.
Richard Fitzwilliams, former editor of The International Who’s Who magazine, said the Netflix deal had made them financially independent.
“It was inevitable that they were going to pay it back, but now they have done it all at once,” he said.
“This is what they wanted, they wanted to be financially independent and with the Netflix deal they are following in the footsteps of the Obamas.”
Netflix, which reportedly paid the Obamas $A90 million, while Martin Scorsese was allowed to spend $A218 million on The Irishman, a three and half-hour long film that was released directly on the platform.
Prince Harry and Meghan’s deal was expected to include documentaries, with the couple saying they wanted to do projects that offered hope.
Mr Fitzwilliams said it was unlikely that Prince Harry would do a film about his mother, even though Netflix would want him to do so.
“Anything that Prince Harry did on his mother would be for charity rather than Netflix,” he said.
The couple, who have spent $A20 million on a 16-bathroom mansion in Montecito, Santa Barbara, California, will also be able to ice their $13 million mortgage on that property.
They left Britain hoping to escape the British Press, and get some privacy.
“They will never get their privacy because of who they are,” Mr Fitzwilliams said, “but because of who they are they get such amazing deals.”
stephen.drill@news.co.uk
Originally published as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s list of demands for speaking appearances leaked