‘There have been active discussions’: Meghan Markle is eyeing a post-royal career in fashion
After the dramatic announcement that she and Prince Harry are leaving the royal family, Meghan Markle is eyeing a high-profile new job.
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After the dramatic announcement that she and Prince Harry are leaving the royal family, Meghan Markle is eyeing a high-profile new job.
Discussions are said to be “well underway” between the Duchess of Sussex, 38, and fashion brands – including French luxury label Givenchy – about a possible role for her as she and husband Prince Harry, 35, prepare to leave the royal family.
It is believed the deals could be worth “millions” of dollars as the former Suits star eyes a post-royal career in fashion.
Sources told The Sun that Givenchy – the luxury label that designed her wedding dress – is among the brands that Meghan has spoken with.
“Meghan is very connected in the fashion industry and there are a lot of major labels who would like to partner with her on projects,” a source told The Sun.
“There have already been active discussions with Givenchy. Some of these deals could be worth millions of pounds.
“I’m sure she is going to link some of the initiatives to their foundation.”
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The Duchess of Sussex frequently wears Givenchy, including to red carpet occasions, and she made a surprise appearance at the 2018 British Fashion Awards to honour Givenchy designer, Clare Waight Keller.
The then-pregnant Duchess was introduced by actor Rosamund Pike, and presented the British Womenswear Designer of the Year award to Ms Keller - who is a close, personal friend of the Duchess.
“It’s so nice to see so many familiar faces,” the Duchess of Sussex told the A-list crowd in 2018, which included supermodels Kendall Jenner and Kaia Gerber.
“As all of you in this room know, we have a deep connection to what we wear,” Markle continued, during her bizarre address.
“Sometimes it’s very personal, sometimes it’s emotional.
“But for me this connection is rooted in, really, being able to understand that it’s about supporting and empowering each other, especially as women.”
MEGHAN AND HARRY’S FINANCIAL MOVES
Resigning from the royal family is not as easy as sending an email to your boss and saying you will give them four weeks’ notice.
While some have stepped back in the past, Prince Harry and Meghan are navigating uncharted waters in a modern age.
The Queen, 93, will have the final say over any plans for the couple to relinquish their duties.
Her office said in a statement the situation was “complicated” and talks were still in the “early stages.”
And it is unclear what their reduced role will mean for the charities they support including The Invictus Games, The London Marathon, Rhino Conservation Botswana and children’s charity Wellchild.
Harry has 20 charities and patronages, including being president of the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust, while Meghan has six.
It is also unclear what it will mean for the income they draw.
Prince Charles pays $A9.4 million from The Duchy of Cornwall fund which he oversights to cover the costs of Prince William and Prince Harry’s households each year.
The exact split has not been made public but it was expected Harry would still get almost $4 million per year, as a non-royal.
William was expected to receive a higher share because he had more children.
There have been royals step away from public life before, but normally because of a divorce, or most sensationally the abdication of King Edward in 1936 because of his decision to marry American divorcee Wallis Simpson.
Princess Diana, Harry’s mother, stepped away from public life when she split from Prince Charles.
“It has echoes of Diana when she suddenly announced after her separation (from Charles) that she was stepping back from 50 of her charities without consulting anybody,” royal biographer Penny Junor said.
“All those charities were absolutely devastated. It’s the same kind of impetuous behaviour.
“The problem is that they are not working for themselves, they are working for a family firm and to be making announcements of this sort without consulting is beyond bizarre.”
Sarah Ferguson lived in America after she divorced from Prince Andrew, but ended up going bankrupt when she tried to support herself through business deals.
She also worked as the face of Weight Watchers. Edward, the Duke of Windsor, was forced to move to the Bahamas during World War Two because of claims he was a Nazi sympathiser.
He moved to France after the war.
Harry and Meghan’s plans to earn an independent income may also be controversial.
In 2002, Sophie and Edward, the Earl and Countess of Wessex, stepped down from their businesses to become full time royals after they were accused of cashing in on their royal status.
Buckingham Palace was forced to deny claims in 2001 after Sophie, who was a public relations company chairman, was caught on tape making indiscreet remarks about the royal family.
Harry’s cousin Zara Tindall earns her own income, but does not carry out royal duties or live in an official residence.