Prince Harry and Meghan Markle chasing new corporate gig
A week after earning close to $800,000 for a speaking engagement, Prince Harry is considering a new partnership with a corporate giant as experts suggest the couple “could make billions”.
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Prince Harry has reportedly held talks with US banking giant Goldman Sachs as he and wife Meghan Markle build their royal brand that experts believe could be worth $2 billion in 10 years.
According to The Mirror, the Duke of Sussex began discussions with the controversial investment bank in November, around the time the couple said they were going to quit the royal family, according to royal sources.
Their bid for financial independence has now led to a PR expert suggesting the couple could earn a staggering $A2 billion in corporate deals and brand ambassador roles.
Prince Harry and Meghan could follow the likes of soccer-star-turned-global-brand David Beckham and actress-turned-lifestyle-guru Gwyneth Paltrow to be a guest speaker at the bank’s “Talks at GS”.
Goldman Sachs reportedly does not pay its speakers for that particular series but The Mirror reports it could pave the way for the couple to forge a lucrative future relationship.
Last week Prince Harry reportedly earned $A772,000 at an event sponsored by another big bank, JPMorgan, in Miami about having therapy and his struggles to deal with his mother’s death.
But the couple’s obvious pursuance of big corporations is worrying some in royal circles who fear they could damage the royal brand.
PR guru Mark Borkowski said Prince Harry and Meghan’s association with JPMorgan was “not the best look”, reports The Sun.
He added: “How they accept money, and from whom, is going to be a challenge going forward.”
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams said: “They need to be careful.
HARRY IN THERAPY ‘FOR YEARS’ OVER DIANA’S DEATH
At the JPMorgan event, Prince Harry revealed he had spent seven years in therapy to deal with the death of his mother Princess Diana.
It was his first paid appearance since stepping down from royal duties.
A candid Prince Harry, 35, bared his soul for the banking crowd, revealing he had sought help for mental health issues when he was 28.
The exclusive crowd, which included basketball star Magic Johnson, gathered at the 1 Hotel South beach in Miami, Florida.
Meghan also attended, along with her TV host friend, Gayle King.
“Harry spoke about mental health and how he has been in therapy for the past few years to try to overcome the trauma of losing his mother,” a person at the event told the New York Post.
“He talked about how the events of his childhood affected him and that he has been talking to a mental health professional.”
He also backed his decision to quit the royal family to protect his son Archie and Meghan.
“Harry also touched on Megxit, saying while it has been very difficult on him and Meghan, he does not regret their decision to step down as senior royals because he wants to protect his family,” the source said.
“He does not want Meghan and their son Archie to go through what he did as a child.”
The couple stepped down as members of the royal family in January and have moved to Canada, where there is still debate over who will pay for their security bill.
The couple wanted to be financially independent as part of their manifesto for a new “progressive” royal role.
The Queen rejected that plan but has allowed them to tread their own path, subject to a review after 12 months.
Meghan spoke briefly of her “love for her husband” as she introduced him at the The JPMorgan-sponsored event.
The couple have also been in discussions with Netflix about possible deals.
The conference was attended by some of the world’s richest people and would be a key networking event for the couple.
Prince Harry was seen at The Lion King premiere in London last year spruiking Meghan’s skills as a voiceover artist.
Meghan signed a deal with Disney to work on a project shortly after, negotiating a fee for a charity.
JPMorgan’s private jet flew from Vancouver Airport, which is close to where the couple have been seeking sanctuary, to Miami earlier this week.
The couple, who are proud environmentalists, have been criticised for their private jet travel.
A Buckingham Palace spokeswoman said: “I can confirm reports the Sussexes attended a JPMorgan gathering in Miami yesterday, where the Duke spoke.”
The couple’s break from the royals was expected to be official from March.
JPMorgan declined to comment.
The exclusive JPMorgan event was the royal couple’s first public appearance since leaving the royal family.
The New York Post reports that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex turned up at the swanky 1 Hotel in Miami’s South Beach last week.
A source revealed: “It was all very hush-hush, with a lot of security. Meghan and Harry headlined the event as the keynote speakers.”
Miami Beach is a far cry from the cold environs of the Sussexes’ $US14 million Canadian bolthole, where People magazine this week reported they have been lying low with baby Archie, practising yoga and walking their dogs.
Originally published as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle chasing new corporate gig
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