WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.339 Welcome back to The Deep Dive. Today we're tackling 00:00:03.339 --> 00:00:05.559 something pretty substantial. Yeah, a big one. 00:00:05.679 --> 00:00:08.599 We're trying to piece together the incredibly 00:00:08.599 --> 00:00:12.400 complex story of Rachel Meghan Markle, her life, 00:00:12.599 --> 00:00:15.720 her career, and that huge shift into becoming 00:00:15.720 --> 00:00:18.679 the Duchess of Sussex. And beyond, really. Exactly. 00:00:18.719 --> 00:00:22.160 From American actress to British royalty, and 00:00:22.160 --> 00:00:25.059 now, maybe more than anything, a global media 00:00:25.059 --> 00:00:27.469 player and entrepreneur. It's definitely a story 00:00:27.469 --> 00:00:29.670 that needs a deep dive, like you said, because 00:00:29.670 --> 00:00:32.090 the sources cover these massive shifts, not just 00:00:32.090 --> 00:00:35.310 in jobs, but in her whole public identity. It's 00:00:35.310 --> 00:00:37.490 a real transformation. Right. It's not just a 00:00:37.490 --> 00:00:39.710 simple biography. No, definitely not. We're looking 00:00:39.710 --> 00:00:42.570 at, I think, a kind of strategic evolution. And 00:00:42.570 --> 00:00:44.850 to get it, you really need to look at it in phases. 00:00:45.109 --> 00:00:46.850 Okay, so how should we break it down? I think 00:00:46.850 --> 00:00:49.630 four main parts make sense. First, her early 00:00:49.630 --> 00:00:52.289 life, that initial activism, the acting career, 00:00:52.590 --> 00:00:54.409 you know, the foundations. Right before everything 00:00:54.409 --> 00:00:57.210 changed. Then that intense, pretty short period 00:00:57.210 --> 00:01:00.869 as a working royal from about 2018 to 2020. Third, 00:01:01.049 --> 00:01:03.670 the big stepping back moment and the launch of 00:01:03.670 --> 00:01:06.670 Archwell. That's crucial. Her pivot point. Exactly. 00:01:06.750 --> 00:01:10.090 And finally, this current phase, the entrepreneurial 00:01:10.090 --> 00:01:13.489 media -focused era we're seeing now post -2020. 00:01:13.670 --> 00:01:16.900 That structure feels right. Because if you only 00:01:16.900 --> 00:01:20.239 look at her as, say, the actress from Suits or 00:01:20.239 --> 00:01:22.340 only through the royal lens. You miss the bigger 00:01:22.340 --> 00:01:24.519 picture. Yeah, you miss that thread, that drive 00:01:24.519 --> 00:01:26.519 that seems to connect all these different stages. 00:01:26.959 --> 00:01:29.260 So our goal here is really to connect those dots 00:01:29.260 --> 00:01:31.500 using just the material we have in front of us 00:01:31.500 --> 00:01:34.219 to understand how the woman who left the royal 00:01:34.219 --> 00:01:38.579 family is now, well, using that global platform. 00:01:39.099 --> 00:01:41.040 The crown kind of gave her. Yeah. Inadvertently 00:01:41.040 --> 00:01:43.200 or not, it's about understanding the current 00:01:43.200 --> 00:01:45.040 setup by looking at where it all started. So 00:01:45.040 --> 00:01:47.760 let's dive in. Los Angeles. Let's go back to 00:01:47.760 --> 00:01:49.939 the beginning. OK, so the absolute basics. Rachel 00:01:49.939 --> 00:01:52.819 Megan Harkle, born August 4th, 1981, Canoga Park, 00:01:52.959 --> 00:01:56.040 Los Angeles. But her identity, which became such 00:01:56.040 --> 00:01:59.000 a huge part of her story later, it was complicated 00:01:59.000 --> 00:02:01.739 right from the start. It really was. She explicitly 00:02:01.739 --> 00:02:05.340 identifies as mixed race. Her father. Thomas 00:02:05.340 --> 00:02:08.379 Markle Sr., Caucasian, and her mother, Doria 00:02:08.379 --> 00:02:11.259 Ragland, African American. She's often quoted 00:02:11.259 --> 00:02:12.879 as saying, you know, I'm half black and half 00:02:12.879 --> 00:02:15.219 white. And her parents split up quite early. 00:02:15.360 --> 00:02:18.300 Yeah, when she was six. She grew up mostly in 00:02:18.300 --> 00:02:21.180 L .A., and the sources are clear she has a very 00:02:21.180 --> 00:02:24.550 close relationship. with her mother. Which contrasts 00:02:24.550 --> 00:02:27.090 sharply with her father and half -siblings. Very 00:02:27.090 --> 00:02:30.270 sharply. Estranged is the word used. And that 00:02:30.270 --> 00:02:32.490 estrangement, as we know from all the media coverage 00:02:32.490 --> 00:02:35.270 and legal stuff later, became a massive, massive 00:02:35.270 --> 00:02:37.830 point of contention. And her father's job gave 00:02:37.830 --> 00:02:39.889 her a glimpse into the world she'd later enter. 00:02:40.030 --> 00:02:41.789 Yeah, he was a successful lighting director, 00:02:42.050 --> 00:02:43.949 director of photography, so she actually spent 00:02:43.949 --> 00:02:46.590 some time on sets as a kid. Apparently she visited 00:02:46.590 --> 00:02:49.689 the set of Married with Children sometimes. Wow. 00:02:50.400 --> 00:02:52.080 That must have been an interesting education 00:02:52.080 --> 00:02:54.759 in showbiz. A unique perspective, for sure. Gave 00:02:54.759 --> 00:02:56.479 her a kind of front row seat to the industry 00:02:56.479 --> 00:02:59.379 machine. So moving into her school years, we 00:02:59.379 --> 00:03:02.569 see these early signs of advocacy. Long before 00:03:02.569 --> 00:03:05.289 the U .N. speeches or anything like that. Absolutely. 00:03:05.330 --> 00:03:07.610 She went to Immaculate Heart High School, which 00:03:07.610 --> 00:03:09.949 is an all -girls Catholic school. And there's 00:03:09.949 --> 00:03:12.409 that story, which is pretty well known now. The 00:03:12.409 --> 00:03:14.789 Procter & Gamble letter. Exactly. At 11 years 00:03:14.789 --> 00:03:17.449 old, she and her classmates wrote to Procter 00:03:17.449 --> 00:03:20.490 & Gamble about a dish soap ad. They lobbied them 00:03:20.490 --> 00:03:22.590 to change the language to be gender neutral. 00:03:22.849 --> 00:03:25.069 And they actually did it. That's incredible. 00:03:25.270 --> 00:03:30.099 At 11. It really is. It shows this focus on language, 00:03:30.180 --> 00:03:33.699 on equity, and frankly, an understanding of how 00:03:33.699 --> 00:03:36.340 to make change happen, even back then. That focus 00:03:36.340 --> 00:03:38.520 seems to carry through to university. She went 00:03:38.520 --> 00:03:40.819 to Northwestern. Yeah, a top school. Graduated 00:03:40.819 --> 00:03:43.840 in 2003, double major in theater and international 00:03:43.840 --> 00:03:48.199 studies. So not just acting, but this serious 00:03:48.199 --> 00:03:50.780 interest in global affairs, too. Which almost 00:03:50.780 --> 00:03:52.599 took her down a completely different path, right? 00:03:52.620 --> 00:03:55.199 Almost. She actually pursued politics or diplomacy. 00:03:55.340 --> 00:03:58.039 First, got an internship at the U .S. Embassy 00:03:58.039 --> 00:04:01.319 in Buenos Aires, junior press officer. Wow. Yeah. 00:04:01.439 --> 00:04:03.139 She even thought about taking the foreign service 00:04:03.139 --> 00:04:05.319 officer test aiming for the State Department. 00:04:05.620 --> 00:04:08.219 But apparently she didn't score quite high enough 00:04:08.219 --> 00:04:10.319 to go down that route. Imagine how different 00:04:10.319 --> 00:04:12.580 things might have been. Totally different trajectory. 00:04:12.740 --> 00:04:15.840 So she pivoted back to acting. And that early 00:04:15.840 --> 00:04:18.560 acting career, it sounds like the classic Hollywood 00:04:18.560 --> 00:04:21.639 struggle. Yeah. But with this added layer related 00:04:21.639 --> 00:04:24.160 to her identity. Yeah, she talked about it being 00:04:24.160 --> 00:04:27.100 tough to get roles, specifically because she 00:04:27.100 --> 00:04:29.540 was mixed race. How did she put it? She described 00:04:29.540 --> 00:04:33.139 herself as ethnically ambiguous, said she wasn't 00:04:33.139 --> 00:04:37.620 black enough for the black roles and not white 00:04:37.620 --> 00:04:39.779 enough for the white ones. Caught in the middle. 00:04:39.899 --> 00:04:42.560 So that forced her to really hustle for work. 00:04:42.699 --> 00:04:44.680 Absolutely. Yeah. Any work she could find. And 00:04:44.680 --> 00:04:47.279 we know she did the usual teenage jobs, waitress, 00:04:47.279 --> 00:04:50.019 nanny, yogurt shop. Right. But what's really 00:04:50.019 --> 00:04:52.660 interesting and I think telling are the side 00:04:52.660 --> 00:04:55.019 gigs mentioned in the sources. The creative ones. 00:04:55.180 --> 00:04:58.319 Yeah. Freelance calligraphy. Yeah. Teaching bookbinding. 00:04:58.339 --> 00:05:00.660 These weren't just random jobs. They were skilled 00:05:00.660 --> 00:05:03.360 crafts. And resourceful. Incredibly resourceful. 00:05:03.399 --> 00:05:06.220 It shows this ability to generate income in different 00:05:06.220 --> 00:05:08.740 ways using specific skills. And you can kind 00:05:08.740 --> 00:05:11.319 of see a line from that to, you know, the multi 00:05:11.319 --> 00:05:13.839 -platform Archwell setup years later. It's about 00:05:13.839 --> 00:05:17.139 strategic independence. Okay. So specific roles. 00:05:17.339 --> 00:05:19.699 Her first screen credit. it was General Hospital. 00:05:19.800 --> 00:05:22.899 Yeah, as a nurse. Interestingly, a show her father 00:05:22.899 --> 00:05:24.740 had also worked on. And then the one people might 00:05:24.740 --> 00:05:27.660 remember before Suits, Deal or No Deal. Right. 00:05:27.720 --> 00:05:30.660 She was one of the briefcase girls, did 34 episodes 00:05:30.660 --> 00:05:33.740 between 2006 and 2007. It paid the bills. Until 00:05:33.740 --> 00:05:36.699 the big one, Suits. That was the game changer. 00:05:36.860 --> 00:05:39.180 Playing Rachel Zane, the paralegal, started in 00:05:39.180 --> 00:05:42.000 2011, stayed for seven seasons. And that meant 00:05:42.000 --> 00:05:44.699 relocating, right? Pretty much. Living in Toronto 00:05:44.699 --> 00:05:47.100 for nine months a year for filming, that's a 00:05:47.100 --> 00:05:48.879 serious commitment. And this is where she started 00:05:48.879 --> 00:05:51.100 earning serious money as an actress. Oh, definitely. 00:05:51.360 --> 00:05:54.779 The sources estimate around $50 ,000 per episode. 00:05:55.519 --> 00:05:58.060 Which, you know, works out to roughly $450 ,000 00:05:58.060 --> 00:06:00.160 a year just from the show. Plus film work on 00:06:00.160 --> 00:06:01.879 the side. Yeah, she did some films during that 00:06:01.879 --> 00:06:06.779 time, too. Got paid $187 ,000 for Remember Me, 00:06:06.899 --> 00:06:10.399 about $171 ,000 for The Candidate. And she had 00:06:10.399 --> 00:06:12.939 other income streams even then. Before she shut 00:06:12.939 --> 00:06:15.000 down her social media and her lifestyle blog, 00:06:15.319 --> 00:06:17.920 The Pig. Right, The Tig. Yeah. Estimates suggest 00:06:17.920 --> 00:06:20.560 she was making around $80 ,000 a year just from 00:06:20.560 --> 00:06:22.899 endorsements and things like that. So the key 00:06:22.899 --> 00:06:25.300 takeaway here is she was already successful, 00:06:25.600 --> 00:06:27.860 financially independent, and pretty business 00:06:27.860 --> 00:06:30.480 savvy long before royalty came into the picture. 00:06:30.720 --> 00:06:32.860 Okay, so now we get to the chapter that really 00:06:32.860 --> 00:06:34.959 put her on the global stage in a totally different 00:06:34.959 --> 00:06:38.560 way. But before Prince Harry, her personal life 00:06:38.560 --> 00:06:41.540 wasn't really tabloid fodder, was it? Not really, 00:06:41.600 --> 00:06:44.360 no. She was successful, independent. She dated 00:06:44.360 --> 00:06:46.939 Trevor Engelson, a film producer, for... Quite 00:06:46.939 --> 00:06:49.279 a while, since 2004. They got married. Yeah, 00:06:49.379 --> 00:06:51.439 married in Jamaica in 2011, but then divorced 00:06:51.439 --> 00:06:54.759 in 2014. After that, she dated Corey Vichiello, 00:06:54.959 --> 00:06:58.899 a chef. But that ended in May 2016. Pretty standard 00:06:58.899 --> 00:07:01.000 stuff for someone in her position. Nothing prepared 00:07:01.000 --> 00:07:03.040 her for what came next. Which started just a 00:07:03.040 --> 00:07:05.920 couple months later, mid -2016, meeting Prince 00:07:05.920 --> 00:07:08.459 Harry. Reportedly through Instagram initially, 00:07:08.699 --> 00:07:11.500 then a blind date was set up in July 2016. And 00:07:11.500 --> 00:07:14.939 things moved fast. It got intense. Really fast. 00:07:15.180 --> 00:07:17.550 Unbelievably fast. The relationship went public 00:07:17.550 --> 00:07:20.089 in November 2016. And just eight days later, 00:07:20.230 --> 00:07:23.009 eight days, Harry released that statement through 00:07:23.009 --> 00:07:25.250 his communications secretary. Which was pretty 00:07:25.250 --> 00:07:26.930 unusual, right? That kind of official statement. 00:07:27.149 --> 00:07:29.589 Highly unusual. Directly calling out the media 00:07:29.589 --> 00:07:32.810 abuse, the Internet trolls, the wave of abuse 00:07:32.810 --> 00:07:36.269 and harassment she was already facing. It showed 00:07:36.269 --> 00:07:39.250 he was protective, definitely. But it also just 00:07:39.250 --> 00:07:41.829 underlined the insane pressure they were under 00:07:41.829 --> 00:07:44.470 from day one. Their first big public outing together 00:07:44.470 --> 00:07:47.709 was the Invictus Games. September 2017, yeah. 00:07:47.829 --> 00:07:50.810 And the engagement wasn't far behind. Announced 00:07:50.810 --> 00:07:54.819 November 27th, 2017. And that meant huge changes 00:07:54.819 --> 00:07:57.259 for her, personally and professionally. Massive. 00:07:57.480 --> 00:07:59.300 Retirement from acting announced immediately. 00:07:59.560 --> 00:08:01.759 Started the process of becoming a British citizen. 00:08:02.079 --> 00:08:04.420 And there were religious steps, too. Yes. She 00:08:04.420 --> 00:08:06.620 was baptized and confirmed into the Church of 00:08:06.620 --> 00:08:08.899 England in March 2018, ahead of the wedding. 00:08:09.040 --> 00:08:11.720 Which was May 19, 2018. St. George's Chapel. 00:08:11.939 --> 00:08:15.139 A global event. Absolutely huge. Redefined the 00:08:15.139 --> 00:08:17.459 modern royal wedding in many ways. And there 00:08:17.459 --> 00:08:20.160 was that detail that came out later about a private 00:08:20.160 --> 00:08:23.050 ceremony. Ah, yes. Her claim about exchanging 00:08:23.050 --> 00:08:25.269 vows privately with the Archbishop of Canterbury 00:08:25.269 --> 00:08:27.730 in their garden three days before the official 00:08:27.730 --> 00:08:30.449 wedding. But that wasn't legally binding. No, 00:08:30.550 --> 00:08:33.330 the Archbishop later clarified it wasn't a legal 00:08:33.330 --> 00:08:35.909 ceremony. But the fact they wanted that private 00:08:35.909 --> 00:08:38.929 moment, separate from the public spectacle, maybe 00:08:38.929 --> 00:08:41.070 says something about their relationship with 00:08:41.070 --> 00:08:43.129 the institution versus their personal connection. 00:08:43.570 --> 00:08:45.889 Marriage meant titles, of course. Instantly. 00:08:45.990 --> 00:08:49.669 Her Royal Highness, the Duchess of Sussex. also 00:08:49.669 --> 00:08:52.590 Countess of Dumbarton and Baroness Kilkeel. And 00:08:52.590 --> 00:08:54.789 interestingly, she's the first person ever to 00:08:54.789 --> 00:08:57.149 hold the title Duchess of Sussex. And she got 00:08:57.149 --> 00:08:59.870 her own coat of arms. She did, designed specifically 00:08:59.870 --> 00:09:02.389 to reflect her background, blue for the Pacific 00:09:02.389 --> 00:09:06.649 Ocean, golden rays for California sunshine, and 00:09:06.649 --> 00:09:09.850 quills representing communication, words anod 00:09:09.850 --> 00:09:12.679 to her writing and advocacy, presumably. Very 00:09:12.679 --> 00:09:14.879 personalized. So newly married, where did they 00:09:14.879 --> 00:09:16.820 live? They didn't stay at Kensington Palace long, 00:09:16.960 --> 00:09:19.240 did they? Started off small, relatively speaking, 00:09:19.340 --> 00:09:21.200 at Nottingham Cottage, which is on the Kensington 00:09:21.200 --> 00:09:24.259 Palace grounds. Then they moved to Frogmore Cottage 00:09:24.259 --> 00:09:27.340 in Windsor. And that move caused a stir. The 00:09:27.340 --> 00:09:29.440 refurbishment costs. Yeah, that was the first 00:09:29.440 --> 00:09:32.600 big public money controversy for them. The Crown 00:09:32.600 --> 00:09:35.740 Estate handled the refurbishment using funds 00:09:35.740 --> 00:09:37.700 from the sovereign grant. That's the money the 00:09:37.700 --> 00:09:39.539 government gives the monarch for official duties 00:09:39.539 --> 00:09:42.440 and upkeep. How much was it? The figure reported 00:09:42.440 --> 00:09:46.100 was 2 .4 million pounds, and there was significant 00:09:46.100 --> 00:09:49.399 public backlash about using taxpayer money for 00:09:49.399 --> 00:09:51.940 what was seen as a private home. So how did they 00:09:51.940 --> 00:09:54.720 deal with that? Well, eventually... Prince Harry 00:09:54.720 --> 00:09:56.919 repaid the sovereign grant for all the costs 00:09:56.919 --> 00:09:59.320 that went beyond basic restoration and maintenance. 00:09:59.779 --> 00:10:02.440 The sources say the repayment was offset against 00:10:02.440 --> 00:10:04.759 rent they were due to pay anyway, but the point 00:10:04.759 --> 00:10:07.320 is they paid it back. An attempt to manage the 00:10:07.320 --> 00:10:09.600 optics, maybe. Definitely. Trying to show some 00:10:09.600 --> 00:10:11.740 accountability, especially with the tabloids 00:10:11.740 --> 00:10:14.259 scrutinizing every penny. And amidst all this, 00:10:14.340 --> 00:10:17.120 they were starting their family. Right. Son Archie, 00:10:17.120 --> 00:10:20.639 born May 2019, then daughter Lilibet in June 00:10:20.639 --> 00:10:24.169 2021. The sources also mentioned some difficult 00:10:24.169 --> 00:10:26.570 personal experiences around that time, too. Yeah, 00:10:26.610 --> 00:10:29.009 she spoke publicly about suffering a miscarriage 00:10:29.009 --> 00:10:32.649 in July 2020 and also having postpartum preeclampsia 00:10:32.649 --> 00:10:35.590 after Lilibet was born. A lot of intensity packed 00:10:35.590 --> 00:10:37.950 into those years, public and private. Which all 00:10:37.950 --> 00:10:41.809 leads up to the break, January 2020. The announcement 00:10:41.809 --> 00:10:44.110 that shook the foundations, stepping back from 00:10:44.110 --> 00:10:47.840 senior royal roles. Megxit, as the Kress instantly 00:10:47.840 --> 00:10:50.019 called it. Their stated aim was to balance their 00:10:50.019 --> 00:10:52.259 time. Yeah. Between the UK and North America, 00:10:52.419 --> 00:10:55.179 find a new way to work. But the specifics got 00:10:55.179 --> 00:10:57.340 ironed out later, right? In the formal review. 00:10:57.500 --> 00:11:00.039 Exactly. The key points confirmed in March 2021 00:11:00.039 --> 00:11:03.120 were. They'd stop doing official royal duties, 00:11:03.340 --> 00:11:05.659 stop receiving the associated public funding, 00:11:05.840 --> 00:11:07.899 confirming that financial independence goal. 00:11:08.100 --> 00:11:10.360 But they kept the HRH titles. They retained them. 00:11:10.399 --> 00:11:12.440 Yes, her royal highness, his royal highness. 00:11:12.600 --> 00:11:14.820 But they agreed not to use them. That was a crucial 00:11:14.820 --> 00:11:18.360 part of the deal. So technically royal, but not 00:11:18.360 --> 00:11:20.679 functionally royal in the same way. Pretty much. 00:11:20.679 --> 00:11:23.679 A unique status. Their last official gig as a 00:11:23.679 --> 00:11:25.720 working royal couple was the Commonwealth Day 00:11:25.720 --> 00:11:28.360 Service, March 9th, 2020. And then they left 00:11:28.360 --> 00:11:30.600 the UK. Moved to Southern California initially 00:11:30.600 --> 00:11:32.919 and then bought their current home in Montecito, 00:11:33.019 --> 00:11:36.919 that big estate, Ribbon Rock, in June 2020. That 00:11:36.919 --> 00:11:39.580 royal chapter slammed shut and the next one began 00:11:39.580 --> 00:11:42.419 almost immediately. So this next phase is all 00:11:42.419 --> 00:11:45.379 about building something new. outside the royal 00:11:45.379 --> 00:11:47.740 structure. Yeah. And the heart of that is Archwell. 00:11:47.860 --> 00:11:50.159 Archwell Inc. Yeah. And it's important to understand 00:11:50.159 --> 00:11:52.279 what it is and isn't. It's not just a typical 00:11:52.279 --> 00:11:54.639 foundation. Okay. It's based in Beverly Hills 00:11:54.639 --> 00:11:59.179 and it's set up as this hybrid organization mixes 00:11:59.179 --> 00:12:02.000 for -profit businesses with not -for -profit 00:12:02.000 --> 00:12:04.639 work. And the name, Archwell. Very symbolic. 00:12:05.279 --> 00:12:07.480 Inspired by the Greek word arch, which means 00:12:07.480 --> 00:12:10.259 source of action. Apparently that word also inspired 00:12:10.259 --> 00:12:12.960 their son Archie's name. So it's all about purpose, 00:12:13.019 --> 00:12:15.440 origin. driving action. But it's not just about 00:12:15.440 --> 00:12:17.679 purpose. There's some serious business structure 00:12:17.679 --> 00:12:20.799 behind it. The sources mention multiple companies 00:12:20.799 --> 00:12:22.940 being set up. Oh, yeah. Right after stepping 00:12:22.940 --> 00:12:25.799 back early 2020, they incorporated like 11 different 00:12:25.799 --> 00:12:28.539 companies and a trust all in Delaware. Delaware. 00:12:28.600 --> 00:12:30.779 Why Delaware? That sounds specific. It's very 00:12:30.779 --> 00:12:33.080 specific. Delaware is known for its corporate 00:12:33.080 --> 00:12:36.419 friendly laws, lower taxes, strong privacy protections 00:12:36.419 --> 00:12:39.240 for company owners. It's where huge corporations 00:12:39.240 --> 00:12:41.399 set up shop for those reasons. It's sometimes 00:12:41.399 --> 00:12:43.820 called a domestic tax haven. So this wasn't a 00:12:43.820 --> 00:12:47.000 casual setup. This was high level corporate strategy 00:12:47.000 --> 00:12:49.700 from the get go. Absolutely. Companies like Orinoco 00:12:49.700 --> 00:12:52.519 Publishing, Pika Publishing. Yeah. These are 00:12:52.519 --> 00:12:55.779 likely set up to hold specific assets like book 00:12:55.779 --> 00:12:59.240 rights, meteor rights, keeping everything compartmentalized 00:12:59.240 --> 00:13:01.279 and. legally protected. That level of planning 00:13:01.279 --> 00:13:04.759 right away, it kind of contrasts with the narrative 00:13:04.759 --> 00:13:07.059 of just wanting privacy, doesn't it? It's just 00:13:07.059 --> 00:13:09.940 a dual track, maybe seeking personal privacy 00:13:09.940 --> 00:13:12.240 while simultaneously building a very public, 00:13:12.340 --> 00:13:15.460 very protected commercial empire. And that empire 00:13:15.460 --> 00:13:18.059 quickly attracted massive deals. Netflix being 00:13:18.059 --> 00:13:20.519 the biggest. Huge. Signed in September 2020, 00:13:20.720 --> 00:13:23.419 a five year deal reportedly worth a lot of money. 00:13:23.700 --> 00:13:26.059 And our sources say it was renewed in August 00:13:26.059 --> 00:13:29.500 2025. That's the bedrock of their media output. 00:13:29.740 --> 00:13:31.179 What came out of that deal? Well, the big one 00:13:31.179 --> 00:13:34.179 was the docuseries Harry and Meghan in 2022. 00:13:34.919 --> 00:13:37.500 Caused a global stir, gave their side of the 00:13:37.500 --> 00:13:39.659 royal exit. More recently, there's the lifestyle 00:13:39.659 --> 00:13:42.740 series With Love, Meghan, which premiered in 00:13:42.740 --> 00:13:45.779 2025 and apparently got renewed right away. So 00:13:45.779 --> 00:13:47.940 the Meghan brand clearly still has pulling power 00:13:47.940 --> 00:13:49.919 on screen. But not everything worked out with 00:13:49.919 --> 00:13:52.340 Netflix. No. There was that animated series, 00:13:52.600 --> 00:13:54.879 Pearl. She was executive producing, pitched it 00:13:54.879 --> 00:13:58.360 back in 2018. A young girl inspired by historical 00:13:58.360 --> 00:14:01.820 women. Netflix canceled it in May 2022, part 00:14:01.820 --> 00:14:04.019 of wider cuts they were making. And the audio 00:14:04.019 --> 00:14:07.000 side with Spotify, that also hit a snag. Yeah, 00:14:07.039 --> 00:14:09.840 that was interesting. Big multi -year deal announced 00:14:09.840 --> 00:14:13.000 December 2020 for Archwell Audio. Her podcast, 00:14:13.100 --> 00:14:16.440 Archetypes, launched August 2022. I remember 00:14:16.440 --> 00:14:19.639 that. lots of big name guests yeah serena williams 00:14:19.639 --> 00:14:22.259 mariah carey but it only ran for one season 12 00:14:22.259 --> 00:14:24.440 episodes the whole spotify deal was officially 00:14:24.440 --> 00:14:28.399 canned in june 2023 shows that even their names 00:14:28.399 --> 00:14:30.580 don't guarantee success for every project exactly 00:14:30.580 --> 00:14:33.299 needs more than just brand recognition to sustain 00:14:33.299 --> 00:14:36.000 these things long term but publishing seems more 00:14:36.000 --> 00:14:38.309 consistently successful for her The Bench. Her 00:14:38.309 --> 00:14:41.149 children's book, yeah, came out in 2021 based 00:14:41.149 --> 00:14:44.669 on her view of Harry's relationship with Archie. 00:14:44.690 --> 00:14:46.950 How was that received? Critically. A bit mixed. 00:14:47.190 --> 00:14:50.049 Some found it a bit sentimental. But commercially. 00:14:50.720 --> 00:14:53.580 Huge success. Went straight to number one on 00:14:53.580 --> 00:14:55.679 the New York Times bestseller list for children's 00:14:55.679 --> 00:14:57.879 picture books. That Megan effect again? Absolutely. 00:14:58.080 --> 00:15:00.240 It translates interest into sales, whatever the 00:15:00.240 --> 00:15:02.700 reviews say. Beyond these big media deals, she's 00:15:02.700 --> 00:15:04.840 also moving into investments in consumer brands. 00:15:05.139 --> 00:15:08.360 Reversifying, yeah. Back in December 2020, she 00:15:08.360 --> 00:15:11.559 invested in Cleverblends, a coffee company. More 00:15:11.559 --> 00:15:14.480 recently, it looks like a focus on lifestyle 00:15:14.480 --> 00:15:18.899 ethical brands. August 2024, an investment in 00:15:18.899 --> 00:15:21.110 Sesta Collective. That's a handbag brand using 00:15:21.110 --> 00:15:24.529 weavers in Rwanda. November 2024, investing in 00:15:24.529 --> 00:15:26.549 a hair care line called Highbrow Hippie. And 00:15:26.549 --> 00:15:29.549 then her own big brand launch, American Riviera 00:15:29.549 --> 00:15:32.490 Orchard, or rather, as ever. Right. It got renamed 00:15:32.490 --> 00:15:35.190 pretty quickly in early 2025. Seems like a strategic 00:15:35.190 --> 00:15:37.690 tweak, maybe for broader appeal or clarity. But 00:15:37.690 --> 00:15:39.889 yeah, that's her personal lifestyle brand, tapping 00:15:39.889 --> 00:15:42.129 into that whole Montecito aesthetic. So the output 00:15:42.129 --> 00:15:45.129 continues. More Netflix shows planned. Two more 00:15:45.129 --> 00:15:48.169 announced, one on lifestyle, one on polo. And 00:15:48.169 --> 00:15:50.909 she's launching another podcast series, Confessions 00:15:50.909 --> 00:15:54.190 of a Female Founder, with Lemonada Media in March 00:15:54.190 --> 00:15:57.909 2025. It doesn't stop. And to manage all this, 00:15:58.049 --> 00:16:00.509 you need top representation. Definitely. They 00:16:00.509 --> 00:16:02.490 signed with the Harry Walker Agency for Speaking 00:16:02.490 --> 00:16:06.009 Gigs back in June 2020, and she personally signed 00:16:06.009 --> 00:16:09.950 with WME William Morris Endeavor in April 2023. 00:16:10.350 --> 00:16:13.009 That's a huge Hollywood talent agency. These 00:16:13.009 --> 00:16:14.610 aren't the moves of someone stepping back from 00:16:14.610 --> 00:16:16.230 the spotlight, are they? They're the moves of 00:16:16.230 --> 00:16:18.330 someone building a major global business needing 00:16:18.330 --> 00:16:20.929 that top -tier infrastructure to run it. Okay, 00:16:20.970 --> 00:16:23.759 let's talk about the advocacy side. Because this 00:16:23.759 --> 00:16:25.879 wasn't something that just started when she became 00:16:25.879 --> 00:16:28.279 royal. No, not at all. She had a track record 00:16:28.279 --> 00:16:30.840 well before Harry. She was involved with One 00:16:30.840 --> 00:16:34.299 Young World as a counselor from 2014, global 00:16:34.299 --> 00:16:36.539 ambassador for World Vision Canada, traveled 00:16:36.539 --> 00:16:39.519 to Rwanda for their Clean Water campaign, worked 00:16:39.519 --> 00:16:42.200 with UN women as an advocate. And she wrote about 00:16:42.200 --> 00:16:44.379 specific issues, too, like menstrual health. 00:16:44.580 --> 00:16:46.679 Yeah, penned an op -ed for Time magazine about 00:16:46.679 --> 00:16:49.360 that in 2017, focused on issues that often get 00:16:49.360 --> 00:16:51.779 overlooked. Though even that early advocacy faced 00:16:51.779 --> 00:16:55.889 some scrutiny. The UN speech. Ah, yes. The sources 00:16:55.889 --> 00:16:58.990 mentioned that her 2015 speech for UN women included 00:16:58.990 --> 00:17:02.049 lines very similar, almost identical, to a speech 00:17:02.049 --> 00:17:05.910 Eleanor Roosevelt gave back in 1951. So questions 00:17:05.910 --> 00:17:08.759 about originality versus maybe... borrowing influence 00:17:08.759 --> 00:17:11.680 exactly is it paying homage amplifying a message 00:17:11.680 --> 00:17:14.339 or is it something else that kind of tension 00:17:14.339 --> 00:17:17.700 authenticity versus strategy seems to be a recurring 00:17:17.700 --> 00:17:20.059 theme once she was in the royal family her first 00:17:20.059 --> 00:17:23.740 big uk charity project was very specific very 00:17:23.740 --> 00:17:26.799 specific and very community focused tied to the 00:17:26.799 --> 00:17:29.299 grenfell tower fire tragedy she collaborated 00:17:29.299 --> 00:17:31.380 with survivors from the hub community kitchen 00:17:31.380 --> 00:17:33.420 the cookbook together together our community 00:17:33.420 --> 00:17:36.000 cookbook yeah published in 2018 a really practical 00:17:36.000 --> 00:17:38.029 project and the money raised went to specific 00:17:38.029 --> 00:17:40.250 causes. Yeah, the proceeds were distributed quite 00:17:40.250 --> 00:17:42.750 strategically. 8 ,000 pounds went to My Grateful, 00:17:42.890 --> 00:17:45.410 which helps refugees in the UK. 10 ,000 pounds 00:17:45.410 --> 00:17:47.930 to Himmah, which runs food banks. And importantly, 00:17:48.170 --> 00:17:51.430 the Shalom Kitchen, a joint Muslim and Jewish 00:17:51.430 --> 00:17:53.890 community kitchen, shows that targeted approach 00:17:53.890 --> 00:17:56.930 to philanthropy. Then, after stepping back and 00:17:56.930 --> 00:17:59.319 returning to the U .S., That political neutrality 00:17:59.319 --> 00:18:01.799 required of royals that went out the window. 00:18:01.980 --> 00:18:04.019 Completely. We saw her find her political voice 00:18:04.019 --> 00:18:06.319 again. And remember, before she married Harry, 00:18:06.559 --> 00:18:08.599 she'd been pretty outspoken. Right. She'd criticized 00:18:08.599 --> 00:18:11.119 Trump in 2016. Yep. And expressed disappointment 00:18:11.119 --> 00:18:13.680 about Brexit the same year. She even recommended 00:18:13.680 --> 00:18:16.359 a Noam Chomsky book, Who Rules the World, in 00:18:16.359 --> 00:18:19.759 2017. Pretty overtly political stuff. Things 00:18:19.759 --> 00:18:21.880 she absolutely could not have said as a working 00:18:21.880 --> 00:18:24.849 royal. No way. So back in the U .S., she jumped 00:18:24.849 --> 00:18:27.349 back in, urged voter registration ahead of the 00:18:27.349 --> 00:18:31.130 2020 election. Many saw that as implicitly anti 00:18:31.130 --> 00:18:33.970 -Trump, pro -Biden, given the context. Her big 00:18:33.970 --> 00:18:36.630 policy push seems to have been paid family leave. 00:18:36.789 --> 00:18:39.089 Very consistent on that. Wrote that open letter 00:18:39.089 --> 00:18:42.609 to Schumer and Pelosi in October 2021. And she 00:18:42.609 --> 00:18:45.210 used that really specific personal detail, the 00:18:45.210 --> 00:18:47.390 Sizzler salad bar. Yeah, saying she grew up relying 00:18:47.390 --> 00:18:50.609 on a $4 .99 Sizzler salad bar. It was a way to 00:18:50.609 --> 00:18:53.309 frame her support, grounding it in an experience 00:18:53.309 --> 00:18:56.109 of, you know, financial pressure, making it relatable. 00:18:56.250 --> 00:18:59.140 Was her lobbying just focused on Democrats? Interestingly, 00:18:59.299 --> 00:19:01.559 no. She actually reached out to Republican senators, 00:19:01.720 --> 00:19:04.980 too. Specifically mentioned are Shelley Moore 00:19:04.980 --> 00:19:08.460 Capito and Susan Collins, trying to position 00:19:08.460 --> 00:19:11.059 paid leave as a bipartisan issue, even though 00:19:11.059 --> 00:19:13.259 it's pretty polarized in the U .S. She also supported 00:19:13.259 --> 00:19:15.500 other causes. Yeah, voice support for Katonji 00:19:15.500 --> 00:19:18.299 Brown Jackson's Supreme Court nomination, partnered 00:19:18.299 --> 00:19:21.640 with Moms Demand Action on Gun Safety Laws, more 00:19:21.640 --> 00:19:24.900 overtly progressive stances. And all this advocacy 00:19:24.900 --> 00:19:28.000 combined with her profile. translates into actual 00:19:28.000 --> 00:19:30.619 economic power, the Megan effect. It's undeniable 00:19:30.619 --> 00:19:33.519 a real economic phenomenon. Remember the Strathberry 00:19:33.519 --> 00:19:36.839 handbag story from 2017? She carried one and 00:19:36.839 --> 00:19:39.920 sales exploded. Orders just soared for the Scottish 00:19:39.920 --> 00:19:42.380 brand. When she announced her pregnancy wearing 00:19:42.380 --> 00:19:44.839 a dress by Karen Gee, an Australian designer, 00:19:45.180 --> 00:19:47.660 the designer's website crashed from the traffic. 00:19:47.779 --> 00:19:50.019 That's serious influence. And she used that influence 00:19:50.019 --> 00:19:52.680 for charity while she was a royal too. Very effectively. 00:19:53.059 --> 00:19:55.759 Guest editing British Vogue in September 2019. 00:19:56.240 --> 00:19:58.359 the Forces for Change issue, became the fastest 00:19:58.359 --> 00:20:00.299 selling issue in the magazine's history. Wow. 00:20:00.460 --> 00:20:02.880 And then she leveraged that visibility to launch 00:20:02.880 --> 00:20:05.420 the Smart Set Capsule Collection. For the charity 00:20:05.420 --> 00:20:07.980 Smart Works. Right, which helps unemployed women 00:20:07.980 --> 00:20:10.779 get back into work. It was a buy one, donate 00:20:10.779 --> 00:20:14.160 one model. The Megan effect was so strong, the 00:20:14.160 --> 00:20:16.059 collection provided enough clothes for the charity 00:20:16.059 --> 00:20:19.599 for an entire year in just 10 days. 10 days. 00:20:19.640 --> 00:20:22.039 That's incredible speed. It really shows the 00:20:22.039 --> 00:20:24.319 power she wields commercially and how it can 00:20:24.319 --> 00:20:26.500 be harnessed, which explains the recognition 00:20:26.500 --> 00:20:29.839 she's received. Time 100 most influential in 00:20:29.839 --> 00:20:33.779 2018 and 2021. FT's 25 most influential women 00:20:33.779 --> 00:20:37.039 in 2022. OK, we can't really talk about her story 00:20:37.039 --> 00:20:39.900 without diving into the intense scrutiny, the 00:20:39.900 --> 00:20:42.059 controversies and her legal. battles against 00:20:42.059 --> 00:20:45.099 the press. The biggest one was the case against 00:20:45.099 --> 00:20:47.539 Associated Newspapers, right? Definitely the 00:20:47.539 --> 00:20:50.039 most high profile. That lawsuit against the publishers 00:20:50.039 --> 00:20:52.799 of the Mail on Sunday filed in 2019. It was all 00:20:52.799 --> 00:20:54.799 about them publishing parts of that private letter 00:20:54.799 --> 00:20:57.119 she wrote to her father. A very personal letter. 00:20:57.299 --> 00:20:59.660 Handwritten, very personal. The legal fight was 00:20:59.660 --> 00:21:02.759 long, very bitter, but she ultimately won. In 00:21:02.759 --> 00:21:05.220 2021, the high court ruled and the Court of Appeal 00:21:05.220 --> 00:21:07.920 upheld that the newspaper had invaded her privacy 00:21:07.920 --> 00:21:10.099 and infringed her copyright. And the damages 00:21:10.099 --> 00:21:13.839 awarded were? Mostly, yes. Just one pound for 00:21:13.839 --> 00:21:16.259 the privacy invasion. That wasn't about the money. 00:21:16.339 --> 00:21:19.359 It was about the principle, the legal acknowledgement 00:21:19.359 --> 00:21:21.519 of the breach. But there was a separate payment 00:21:21.519 --> 00:21:23.839 for copyright. Yeah, confidential, presumably 00:21:23.839 --> 00:21:26.339 much larger, some for the copyright infringement. 00:21:26.519 --> 00:21:29.480 And A &L had to print that front page statement 00:21:29.480 --> 00:21:33.480 acknowledging her win on Boxing Day 2021, a significant 00:21:33.480 --> 00:21:36.960 victory for her. But during that same case, something 00:21:36.960 --> 00:21:39.299 came out that complicated the privacy narrative, 00:21:39.619 --> 00:21:43.259 the Finding Freedom biography. Right. She'd initially 00:21:43.259 --> 00:21:46.000 deny cooperating with the authors of that unauthorized 00:21:46.000 --> 00:21:48.960 but generally positive biography. But then she 00:21:48.960 --> 00:21:51.319 had to admit later in the court process that 00:21:51.319 --> 00:21:54.259 her aide, Jason Nauf. Her communications secretary 00:21:54.259 --> 00:21:56.880 at the time. Yes. He had provided information 00:21:56.880 --> 00:21:59.099 to the authors with her knowledge and approval. 00:21:59.579 --> 00:22:01.900 Specific points she wanted included. And the 00:22:01.900 --> 00:22:04.140 newspaper used that against her. A &L definitely 00:22:04.140 --> 00:22:06.680 jumped on it. Argued it showed she was selective 00:22:06.680 --> 00:22:08.759 about privacy fighting tooth and nail against 00:22:08.759 --> 00:22:11.640 negative coverage. While simultaneously. You 00:22:11.640 --> 00:22:13.599 know, feeding information for positive stories 00:22:13.599 --> 00:22:15.960 through back channels. It highlights that tricky 00:22:15.960 --> 00:22:18.279 balance between controlling your narrative and 00:22:18.279 --> 00:22:20.819 genuinely seeking privacy. She won other legal 00:22:20.819 --> 00:22:23.359 battles, too, against paparazzi. Yes, successful 00:22:23.359 --> 00:22:25.759 actions against Splash News and another agency, 00:22:25.920 --> 00:22:29.559 X17. These were over unauthorized photos, drone 00:22:29.559 --> 00:22:32.240 shots, helicopter shots of her and Archie at 00:22:32.240 --> 00:22:34.259 their private homes, both in the UK and later 00:22:34.259 --> 00:22:37.000 in Montecito. She drew a hard line on protecting 00:22:37.000 --> 00:22:39.720 her family's private space. And that led to a 00:22:39.720 --> 00:22:42.650 pretty radical stance against her. The Bureau 00:22:42.650 --> 00:22:45.970 engagement policy announced in 2020, basically 00:22:45.970 --> 00:22:49.049 cutting off four specific British tabloids, the 00:22:49.049 --> 00:22:51.609 Daily Mail, the Sun, Daily Mirror and the Daily 00:22:51.609 --> 00:22:54.309 Express, along with formal warnings about harassment. 00:22:54.410 --> 00:22:56.809 That's a declaration of war, really, in PR terms. 00:22:57.009 --> 00:22:59.410 This confrontational approach extended to the 00:22:59.410 --> 00:23:02.109 Oprah interview fallout, too, with Piers Morgan. 00:23:02.289 --> 00:23:05.049 Yeah, after the interview aired in 2021 and Piers 00:23:05.049 --> 00:23:07.009 Morgan made those comments questioning her mental 00:23:07.009 --> 00:23:09.069 health struggles and claims of suicidal thoughts. 00:23:09.289 --> 00:23:12.450 Uh -huh. She complained directly to the CEO of 00:23:12.450 --> 00:23:15.970 ITV, the network that aired his show. Her complaint 00:23:15.970 --> 00:23:20.069 was one factor in the huge number, over 57 ,000 00:23:20.069 --> 00:23:22.869 official complaints to Ofcom, the UK regulator, 00:23:23.089 --> 00:23:25.829 about his comments. That Oprah interview itself 00:23:25.829 --> 00:23:28.910 was explosive. Her claims about lack of support, 00:23:29.089 --> 00:23:32.289 contemplating suicide. It polarized global opinion. 00:23:32.690 --> 00:23:35.329 Damaging claims against the institution met with 00:23:35.329 --> 00:23:37.990 strong defenses from others. And just before 00:23:37.990 --> 00:23:40.430 that interview aired. Another controversy blew 00:23:40.430 --> 00:23:43.589 up, the bullying allegations. Timing was everything, 00:23:43.769 --> 00:23:46.369 wasn't it? Claims surfaced, originating from 00:23:46.369 --> 00:23:49.569 Jason Naufagen back in 2018. He alleged her behavior 00:23:49.569 --> 00:23:51.950 had led to two personal assistants quitting and 00:23:51.950 --> 00:23:54.470 had undermined a third staff member. How did 00:23:54.470 --> 00:23:56.930 the palace respond? Buckingham Palace took it 00:23:56.930 --> 00:23:59.349 seriously enough to hire an outside law firm 00:23:59.349 --> 00:24:02.190 to investigate. Apparently around 10 former staffers 00:24:02.190 --> 00:24:04.390 cooperated. Was it a report ever published? No. 00:24:04.490 --> 00:24:06.650 The palace announced they had reviewed the situation 00:24:06.650 --> 00:24:09.130 and made changes to HR policies, but... They 00:24:09.130 --> 00:24:11.390 kept the report itself confidential, citing the 00:24:11.390 --> 00:24:13.349 need to protect the privacy of those involved. 00:24:13.490 --> 00:24:16.390 And her response? Her team vehemently denied 00:24:16.390 --> 00:24:19.069 the allegations, called it a calculated smear 00:24:19.069 --> 00:24:21.869 campaign, timed specifically to discredit her 00:24:21.869 --> 00:24:25.130 right before the Oprah interview aired. So you're 00:24:25.130 --> 00:24:27.549 left with these two starkly different narratives. 00:24:27.829 --> 00:24:30.269 But is the narrative of widespread public dislike 00:24:30.269 --> 00:24:32.630 accurate? There's data suggesting otherwise. 00:24:33.130 --> 00:24:34.710 That's a really important point from the sources. 00:24:34.869 --> 00:24:37.769 Studies, like one from Bot Sentinel, analyzed 00:24:37.769 --> 00:24:40.609 online negativity. They found evidence suggesting 00:24:40.609 --> 00:24:42.930 a lot of it might be coordinated. Coordinated? 00:24:42.930 --> 00:24:45.829 How? Well, Bot Sentinel estimated that maybe 00:24:45.829 --> 00:24:49.210 70 % of the negative content about Harry and 00:24:49.210 --> 00:24:51.769 Meghan originated from a relatively small number 00:24:51.769 --> 00:24:55.250 of accounts, just 83 highly active interconnected 00:24:55.250 --> 00:24:58.549 accounts. Wow, only 83? Yeah. If that's accurate, 00:24:58.690 --> 00:25:01.109 it suggests the public backlash might be significantly 00:25:01.109 --> 00:25:04.089 amplified, maybe even... manufactured by a small 00:25:04.089 --> 00:25:06.609 but dedicated group rather than reflecting genuine, 00:25:06.730 --> 00:25:09.470 broad public opinion. Even the royal family seemed 00:25:09.470 --> 00:25:12.069 to acknowledge the level of online abuse. They 00:25:12.069 --> 00:25:14.650 did. They brought in new social media guidelines 00:25:14.650 --> 00:25:17.970 in 2019 specifically aimed at curbing the abuse 00:25:17.970 --> 00:25:20.390 directed at both Meghan and Catherine, Duchess 00:25:20.390 --> 00:25:23.150 of Cambridge. Still, some high -profile individual 00:25:23.150 --> 00:25:25.849 attacks continued. Jeremy Clarkson's column. 00:25:26.200 --> 00:25:29.859 That 2022 column in The Sun was shocking, saying 00:25:29.859 --> 00:25:32.579 he hated her on a cellular level, describing 00:25:32.579 --> 00:25:35.880 violent fantasies. It crossed a line for many. 00:25:36.000 --> 00:25:38.289 What was the official outcome of that? IPSO, 00:25:38.490 --> 00:25:41.390 the UK press regulator, investigated. They ruled 00:25:41.390 --> 00:25:43.789 the column was sexist, used derogatory language 00:25:43.789 --> 00:25:46.869 about her sex, but they rejected claims it constituted 00:25:46.869 --> 00:25:49.609 harassment or was racially discriminatory. So 00:25:49.609 --> 00:25:52.670 a mixed ruling, but the damage was done. And 00:25:52.670 --> 00:25:55.289 even now, after leaving the royal fold, there 00:25:55.289 --> 00:25:57.490 are conflicting reports about her working style. 00:25:57.670 --> 00:25:59.710 Yeah, recent reports mention varied experiences 00:25:59.710 --> 00:26:01.650 from staff who've worked with her at Archwell. 00:26:01.750 --> 00:26:04.549 Some describe her as lovely, genuine. Others 00:26:04.549 --> 00:26:07.480 apparently found her cold, withholding. There 00:26:07.480 --> 00:26:09.400 are mentions of staff needing time off, even 00:26:09.400 --> 00:26:11.859 therapy, after working there. It suggests a high 00:26:11.859 --> 00:26:14.220 -pressure environment, perhaps? Consistent scrutiny 00:26:14.220 --> 00:26:16.680 follows her. Lastly, that trip to Nigeria in 00:26:16.680 --> 00:26:20.329 May 2024. That seemed... It was interesting. 00:26:20.529 --> 00:26:22.549 It was part of honoring the Invictus Games. She 00:26:22.549 --> 00:26:25.309 spoke about discovering she has 43 percent Nigerian 00:26:25.309 --> 00:26:28.329 ancestry, received chieftaincy titles, Ada Mazi, 00:26:28.490 --> 00:26:31.150 Adeta Kumbo. And it got a lot of positive press, 00:26:31.250 --> 00:26:33.829 didn't it? Yeah. Extensive, largely positive 00:26:33.829 --> 00:26:36.849 international coverage. And it immediately sparked 00:26:36.849 --> 00:26:40.509 discussion. Could that hybrid model they originally 00:26:40.509 --> 00:26:43.289 wanted, mixing some official duties with commercial 00:26:43.289 --> 00:26:45.539 independence, have actually worked? Could it 00:26:45.539 --> 00:26:48.019 have benefited the crown even? That was the question 00:26:48.019 --> 00:26:50.839 being asked. Seeing the global interest they 00:26:50.839 --> 00:26:53.039 generated on that trip made some people wonder 00:26:53.039 --> 00:26:56.200 if the monarchy missed an opportunity by not 00:26:56.200 --> 00:26:58.359 finding a way to keep them partially involved. 00:26:58.779 --> 00:27:03.180 So when you pull it all together, from the young 00:27:03.180 --> 00:27:05.240 actress doing calligraphy on the side to make 00:27:05.240 --> 00:27:09.019 ends meet, to this global figure heading up Archwell, 00:27:09.220 --> 00:27:12.259 managing these huge Netflix deals, building brands 00:27:12.259 --> 00:27:15.099 for Montecito via Delaware companies, What's 00:27:15.099 --> 00:27:16.619 the through line? I think it's that relentless 00:27:16.619 --> 00:27:19.970 drive, maybe. And a real focus on strategic control, 00:27:20.170 --> 00:27:22.089 whether it's controlling her career, her finances, 00:27:22.130 --> 00:27:24.509 her public image, or fighting legally for her 00:27:24.509 --> 00:27:26.930 privacy. It's been an absolutely massive journey. 00:27:27.049 --> 00:27:30.210 Huge highs, like the bestseller book, The Charity 00:27:30.210 --> 00:27:33.849 Impact, and incredibly difficult lows. The online 00:27:33.849 --> 00:27:36.569 hate, the family estrangement playing out publicly, 00:27:36.769 --> 00:27:39.190 those intense legal fights. Before we wrap up 00:27:39.190 --> 00:27:41.009 with a final thought, there's one last little 00:27:41.009 --> 00:27:43.130 knowledge nugget from the sources that's quite 00:27:43.130 --> 00:27:46.210 unexpected. Oh, yeah. In 2021, she and Prince 00:27:46.210 --> 00:27:48.819 Harry actually received... an award, the Change 00:27:48.819 --> 00:27:52.140 Champions Award, from a UK charity called Population 00:27:52.140 --> 00:27:54.619 Matters. Population Matters. Why? Specifically 00:27:54.619 --> 00:27:56.980 for their decision to have only two children. 00:27:57.470 --> 00:27:59.509 The charity framed it as a choice contributing 00:27:59.509 --> 00:28:02.609 to a smaller, more sustainable global population. 00:28:02.930 --> 00:28:05.369 Wow. OK, that adds another layer to their public 00:28:05.369 --> 00:28:07.730 positioning, framing a private family decision 00:28:07.730 --> 00:28:11.809 as global advocacy. Exactly. Very on brand in 00:28:11.809 --> 00:28:13.730 a way. All right. So let's leave our listeners 00:28:13.730 --> 00:28:15.230 with something to think about pulling all this 00:28:15.230 --> 00:28:17.869 together. Here's the provocation. OK. The Duchess's 00:28:17.869 --> 00:28:20.569 life, especially since leaving the UK, seems 00:28:20.569 --> 00:28:24.230 defined by these two powerful, almost contradictory 00:28:24.230 --> 00:28:27.349 forces. On one side, you have constant expensive 00:28:27.349 --> 00:28:29.630 legal action. Remember the one town damages? 00:28:29.710 --> 00:28:32.329 Yeah. The drone lawsuits, all fiercely protecting 00:28:32.329 --> 00:28:34.869 her privacy. The legal firewall. But on the other 00:28:34.869 --> 00:28:37.789 side, you have this simultaneous massive increase 00:28:37.789 --> 00:28:42.009 in public output. Books, podcasts, Netflix shows, 00:28:42.269 --> 00:28:45.910 the as ever brand. It's relentless. Right. More 00:28:45.910 --> 00:28:48.289 public facing than ever in some ways. So the 00:28:48.289 --> 00:28:50.940 question for you, the listener, is. What does 00:28:50.940 --> 00:28:54.359 the highly planned, commercially driven, corporately 00:28:54.359 --> 00:28:57.650 shielded nature of her current public life? This 00:28:57.650 --> 00:29:00.390 global brand run from Montecito, structured through 00:29:00.390 --> 00:29:03.170 Delaware. Actually, tell us about what stepping 00:29:03.170 --> 00:29:05.549 back from the public eye really means in today's 00:29:05.549 --> 00:29:08.329 world. Can you truly step back? Or is it more 00:29:08.329 --> 00:29:10.130 about stepping out of one kind of public life, 00:29:10.190 --> 00:29:12.529 the institutional royal one, and stepping into 00:29:12.529 --> 00:29:14.710 another, perhaps equally public but commercially 00:29:14.710 --> 00:29:16.930 controlled one? Is that the only way to operate 00:29:16.930 --> 00:29:19.210 at that level of fame? Yeah, a question to ponder. 00:29:19.289 --> 00:29:21.269 Thank you for joining us for The Deep Dive. Until 00:29:21.269 --> 00:29:21.710 next time.