Why Harry and Meghan’s money move will hurt the monarchy

Harry and Meghan are embarking upon a short-term financial windfall — but it will do lasting damage to the royal family.

OPINION

Despite a privileged education at Eton, widely described as the UK’s “top school”, Prince Harry achieved just two A-levels – grade B in art and grade D in geography. No mention of economics.

So what knowledge could he possibly impart to a room full of high-flyers connected to Wall Street banking giant JP Morgan, particularly when the rumoured fee was $US1million?

As private citizens, Harry and Meghan are free to earn as much money as they can. Picture: AFP

Well, after a brief speech by his wife Meghan at the “Alternative Investment Summit” in Miami, Harry was brought on stage as the headline act and, once again, mined the deeply painful memory of his mother’s death.

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Fair enough when he’s using his experience to highlight the work of a mental health charity and help others. But is it really a suitable subject for a big-bucks event where he’s simply being wheeled out like the latest must-see arrival at a freak show?

As the new royal escapee on the block, his kudos is currently high.

‘ROYALS FOR SALE’

The Queen looks on as Meghan Markle marries into the royal family. Picture: Jonathan Brady/Pool/AFP

But in the law of ever-diminishing returns, how long before the American big-hitters are tired of his well-trodden trope about “one’s mental health” and move on to the next big thing?

Not long, I’d wager.

Then, Harry and Meghan will really start to feel the bite of their brave new world of “financial independence” and that’s when they will become more of a potential liability for the Queen than they already are.

As part of the royal family, Harry was largely protected from the potential pitfalls of mingling with unvetted people whose activities might later jump up and bite him.

Though, admittedly, it didn’t stop Prince Andrew from getting bogged down in the swamp of Jeffrey Epstein’s questionable lifestyle.

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But outside of The Firm?

The risks are even greater and, given Harry’s obvious naivety and his wife’s towering ambition to be a change-maker, they are sitting ducks for any unscrupulous wolves in sheep’s clothing.

This appearance at a corporate shindig shouts loud and clear that they are now “royals for sale”.

But ultimately, the cost to the reputation of the monarchy could be irreparable.

Expect to see the Sussexes take on a lot more of these lucrative speaking engagements. Picture: Jeremy Selwyn/Pool/AFP

This article originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced with permission