Harry and Meghan’s New Projects Face “Tremendous Pressure” to Succeed
According to a royal expert, the couple don't "have the option of failing."
When Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced they were stepping away from their royal duties last year to pursue their own careers, the shock of the revelation was felt around the globe. But according to Duncan Larcombe, a former royal editor and author of the book Prince Harry: The Inside Story, that huge amount of controversy is precisely why there’s so much riding on their success now.
Speaking with Closer this week, Larcombe explained that the stakes are high for the couple when it comes to their new projects—like their production company Archewell Productions, a reported multimillion-dollar, multiyear deal with Netflix, a tell-all memoir, and a speculated podcasting deal with Spotify. “With these deals, there’s tremendous pressure on Harry and Meghan to deliver and make a success of their life in America,” Larcombe told the publication. “They’ve caused such an uproar—for both the royal family and in the media—that they don’t really have the option of failing. It would be the ultimate humiliation.”
Larcombe also guessed how Harry and Meghan might be feeling about their standing with the rest of the royal family, and how the UK backlash to their Oprah interview may be affecting them emotionally. “I’ve reported on Harry since he was a teenager and he was the most popular member of the royal family. And going from that to where he is now must be really hard for him and probably adds to his anger,” he told the publication.
He added, “It’s worrying to think what Harry has left if his American life fails for him. I don’t think he’ll be welcomed back as a working royal, but he would as a brother, son and grandson.”
Obviously all of this is speculation, but it raises the question of whether the multiple, high-profile deals that Harry and Meghan have been signing off on can justify the controversy their departure from the royal family caused. While Americans can’t seem to get enough of the royal couple, it remains to be seen how much audiences stateside will react to every project in the current pipeline. Then again, even when we get radio silence from the Harry and Meghan, we’re still glued to any news about them—a good indicator that U.S. audiences are willing to give them the benefit of the doubt. We'll see when their first Archewell Netflix series, Heart of Invictus, which follows athletes preparing for the 2022 Invictus Games, premieres.
Stay In The Know
Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.
Marie Claire is committed to celebrating the richness and scope of women's lives. We're known for our award-winning features, thoughtful essays and op-eds, deep commitment to sustainable fashion, and buzzy interviews and reviews. Reaching millions of women every month, MarieClaire.com is an internationally-recognized destination for celebrity news, fashion trends, beauty recommendations, and renowned investigative packages.
-
This Look Is Basically the Kaia Gerber Fall Accessories Starter Pack
The model's all-white, off-duty look includes all the pieces she wears most.
By Hanna Lustig Published
-
Jennifer Lopez Styles Destroyed Jeans With a Polished Birkin Bag
She lives for the contrast.
By Kelsey Stiegman Published
-
4 Key Layering Pieces I’m Relying on This Fall and Winter
From snug shackets to tissue turtlenecks.
By Nikki Ogunnaike Published
-
Princess Theodora of Greece Marries American Matthew Kumar in Royal Wedding
The royal nuptials had previously been postponed on two separate occasions.
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Kim Kardashian Visited the Menendez Brothers in Prison Following 'Monsters' Premiere
The reality star was reportedly joined by actor Cooper Koch, who plays Erik Menendez in the Netflix series.
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
'Emily in Paris' Star Lily Collins Couldn't Get into the 'Vanderpump Rules' Sandwich Shop
"I needed a sandwich and I couldn't get my sandwich!"
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Actors Who Are Nothing Like Their Most Iconic Characters
Talk about awards-worthy, transformative performances.
By Katherine J. Igoe Published
-
'Selling Sunset' Icon Chrishell Stause Reveals Her "Vintage" Breast Implants Ruptured
"My first thought was fear."
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
The Question on Everyone's Lips: Did Beyoncé Skip the 2024 MTV VMAs?
It's been a few years since she last graced the carpet with her presence.
By Kelsey Stiegman Published
-
Why Isn't Selena Gomez at the 2024 VMAs?
Her absence became even more noticeable after her bestie Taylor Swift showed up.
By Hanna Lustig Published
-
Jennifer Lopez Thought Ben Affleck Was a "Changed Man" But Being Married to Him Was "Impossible"
"Friends think he is selfish, sullen, impossible to please most of the time and negative."
By Amy Mackelden Published