Exclusive reveal: Royal couple allegedly makes stealthy decision without the palace's knowledge
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The royal family, with its centuries-old traditions and protocols, is often seen as an institution resistant to change and outside influence.
However, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Harry and Meghan, have consistently shown a willingness to chart their own course, sometimes even in secret and away from Buckingham Palace's watchful eyes.
A recent bombshell story has shed light on the couple's clandestine actions that have left royal insiders and observers alike stunned.
It's no secret that the Royal Family employs a vast staff to manage everything from their public engagements to their personal lives.
Yet, in a move that has been described as both bold and controversial, Meghan reportedly hired a US public relations firm, Sunshine Sachs, known for its aggressive tactics in the world of PR, without the knowledge of the palace.
This revelation, which has resurfaced in the news thanks to an exposé by The Hollywood Reporter, has reignited discussions about the extent of the Sussexes' reliance on American advisors during the tumultuous period leading up to their departure from royal duties, known as Megxit.
The article painted a picture of Meghan as a divisive figure within the royal household, with claims that she ‘marches around like a dictator in high heels’ and has ‘reduced grown men to tears’.
It's no surprise that the allegations about the daughter-in-law of the 40th King of Great Britain have dominated the headlines, especially since a respected US trade publication called her ‘just terrible’.
However, there's an overlooked aspect of the Reporter story involving Prince Harry that is quite striking, especially considering the challenging times the couple has faced.
The Hollywood Reporter has not only revisited the duchess's controversial decision to hire Sunshine Sachs but has also claimed that Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, was associated with the Hollywood firm years before he made his dramatic exit to the United States.
According to the report, Harry was added to the firm's client roster by Keleigh Thomas Morgan when he and Meghan became engaged in 2017.
This was years before the couple stepped back from their royal roles and moved to the United States.
The hiring of a Hollywood PR firm by a senior royal while still actively representing the Crown is unprecedented and has raised eyebrows worldwide.
The Hollywood Reporter’s revelations have highlighted the significant role that paid US advisers played in the Sussexes’ lives and careers during the tumultuous months leading up to Megxit, which ultimately shook the monarchy.
In 2019, Meghan and Harry found themselves in a severe publicity downturn, going from beloved superstars to targets of criticism, and they mishandled the situation.
In response, the duchess took a step by seeking help from the top professionals in reputation management—Sunshine Sachs.
In September 2019, The Sun revealed that Meghan had made ‘a massive break with royal tradition’, and had gone ‘behind the backs of Buckingham Palace advisers to hire [Sunshine Sachs], known for using the so-called “dark arts” of public relations to improve the celebs’ reputations’.
Courtiers and others were reportedly ‘shocked’ by the Duke and Duchess's choice.
The Sun reported that according to a royal insider, the decision was ‘unorthodox to say the least’ and that ‘senior palace courtiers have been left bemused over the last few months that the couple have been ignoring advice from their own highly-professional team and will instead listen to outsiders in Hollywood’.
Sunshine Sachs reportedly wasn't the only Hollywood figure trying to interfere in royal matters.
The Telegraph previously reported that Meghan ‘continued to consult’ her lawyer, business manager and talent agent ‘with regular conference calls even set up to link both sides of the Atlantic’ even after her marriage.
This trio, along with Morgan, ‘were constantly fielding proposals for Meghan and bringing stuff to her’.
‘The team in America did pose problems for staff at [Kensington Palace]. There was always quite a lot of secrecy surrounding the couple’s conversations with the US,’ the insider shared.
The disconnect between the trans-Atlantic branches of Sussex Corp became evident at the start of 2019 when the Duchess travelled to New York in February to be celebrated and pampered by a group of celebrity friends at a lavish baby shower.
‘That was a bit of a headache, not least because no one from the palace was there to oversee what was happening,’ the source told The Telegraph.
‘The American lot were the ones dealing with the baby shower.’
Meanwhile, ‘staff back in London wondered how they should register the freebies in accordance with the Royal Family’s strict rules on declaring gifts’.
It wasn’t just about lavish treats and enticing deals. It was later disclosed that a year before Megxit, the Sussexes had already engaged in talks with a US streaming service.
However, those discussions ultimately led nowhere, as they were with Quibi, a short-form streaming platform that failed.
But Harry shared with Oprah Winfrey that pursuing profitable commercial deals ‘was never the intention…We hadn’t thought about it…all I needed was enough money to be able to pay for security to keep my family safe’.
‘Yeah, we genuinely hadn’t thought about that before,’ Meghan agreed.
Yet, a source familiar with the matter later informed The Telegraph that ‘there were well-developed proposals in place with Quibi from early 2019’.
‘A lot of it was orchestrated by Meghan’s people in America. It was a bit of a secret squirrel,’ a royal source also said.
This week's Reporter article raises important questions about the influence of US executives and advisors in the events surrounding the Sussexes' engagement in 2017 and their departure in January 2020.
How much were these external figures involved in royal matters, and to what extent were they compensated for their influence?
As Harry and Meghan's careers and prospects come under scrutiny, their professional achievements since Megxit have been a mixed bag.
While their candid revelations often generate significant attention, other endeavours seem to fizzle out.
Their six-part series, Harry & Meghan, made headlines but was overshadowed at the recent Emmys, where it received no nominations, contrasting sharply with Netflix's Beckham, which won an Emmy for Outstanding Documentary.
Recently, the Duke celebrated his 40th birthday weekend at a charity tennis event and Tyler Perry’s lavish 55th birthday party, highlighting their current situation nearly five years after Megxit.
Regardless of the Sussexes' relationship with Sunshine Sachs, it ended not long after.
This week’s Reporter article disclosed that ‘Morgan stopped repping [representing] them around 2020 because the Sussexes stopped paying Sunshine Sachs for its services, though the PR firm denies that was the case’.
So, where do they stand now? Meghan is represented by Ari Emanuel of WME, but this partnership has yet to yield any visible commercial success in the past 18 months. Prince Harry appears to have no representation at all.
As the spotlight continues to shine on Prince Harry and Meghan's strategic moves, including their decision to hire outside advisers without the palace's knowledge, the couple's recent charity efforts have faced significant challenges.
While their attempts to reshape their public image and build a new life in the US garnered attention, the reality of their charitable initiatives has proven less successful than anticipated.
This brings us to the latest developments, where the Sussexes are reportedly encountering backlash and disappointment regarding their latest charity project, raising questions about the sustainability of their celebrity-driven approach.
What are your thoughts on this revelation? How do you think this would impact the monarchy? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
However, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Harry and Meghan, have consistently shown a willingness to chart their own course, sometimes even in secret and away from Buckingham Palace's watchful eyes.
A recent bombshell story has shed light on the couple's clandestine actions that have left royal insiders and observers alike stunned.
It's no secret that the Royal Family employs a vast staff to manage everything from their public engagements to their personal lives.
Yet, in a move that has been described as both bold and controversial, Meghan reportedly hired a US public relations firm, Sunshine Sachs, known for its aggressive tactics in the world of PR, without the knowledge of the palace.
This revelation, which has resurfaced in the news thanks to an exposé by The Hollywood Reporter, has reignited discussions about the extent of the Sussexes' reliance on American advisors during the tumultuous period leading up to their departure from royal duties, known as Megxit.
A shocking report claimed Prince Harry and Meghan Markle secretly hired a US PR firm. Credit: YouTube / CBS Sunday Morning
The article painted a picture of Meghan as a divisive figure within the royal household, with claims that she ‘marches around like a dictator in high heels’ and has ‘reduced grown men to tears’.
It's no surprise that the allegations about the daughter-in-law of the 40th King of Great Britain have dominated the headlines, especially since a respected US trade publication called her ‘just terrible’.
However, there's an overlooked aspect of the Reporter story involving Prince Harry that is quite striking, especially considering the challenging times the couple has faced.
The Hollywood Reporter has not only revisited the duchess's controversial decision to hire Sunshine Sachs but has also claimed that Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, was associated with the Hollywood firm years before he made his dramatic exit to the United States.
According to the report, Harry was added to the firm's client roster by Keleigh Thomas Morgan when he and Meghan became engaged in 2017.
This was years before the couple stepped back from their royal roles and moved to the United States.
The hiring of a Hollywood PR firm by a senior royal while still actively representing the Crown is unprecedented and has raised eyebrows worldwide.
The Hollywood Reporter’s revelations have highlighted the significant role that paid US advisers played in the Sussexes’ lives and careers during the tumultuous months leading up to Megxit, which ultimately shook the monarchy.
In 2019, Meghan and Harry found themselves in a severe publicity downturn, going from beloved superstars to targets of criticism, and they mishandled the situation.
In response, the duchess took a step by seeking help from the top professionals in reputation management—Sunshine Sachs.
In September 2019, The Sun revealed that Meghan had made ‘a massive break with royal tradition’, and had gone ‘behind the backs of Buckingham Palace advisers to hire [Sunshine Sachs], known for using the so-called “dark arts” of public relations to improve the celebs’ reputations’.
Courtiers and others were reportedly ‘shocked’ by the Duke and Duchess's choice.
The Sun reported that according to a royal insider, the decision was ‘unorthodox to say the least’ and that ‘senior palace courtiers have been left bemused over the last few months that the couple have been ignoring advice from their own highly-professional team and will instead listen to outsiders in Hollywood’.
Sunshine Sachs reportedly wasn't the only Hollywood figure trying to interfere in royal matters.
The Telegraph previously reported that Meghan ‘continued to consult’ her lawyer, business manager and talent agent ‘with regular conference calls even set up to link both sides of the Atlantic’ even after her marriage.
This trio, along with Morgan, ‘were constantly fielding proposals for Meghan and bringing stuff to her’.
‘The team in America did pose problems for staff at [Kensington Palace]. There was always quite a lot of secrecy surrounding the couple’s conversations with the US,’ the insider shared.
The disconnect between the trans-Atlantic branches of Sussex Corp became evident at the start of 2019 when the Duchess travelled to New York in February to be celebrated and pampered by a group of celebrity friends at a lavish baby shower.
‘That was a bit of a headache, not least because no one from the palace was there to oversee what was happening,’ the source told The Telegraph.
‘The American lot were the ones dealing with the baby shower.’
Meanwhile, ‘staff back in London wondered how they should register the freebies in accordance with the Royal Family’s strict rules on declaring gifts’.
It wasn’t just about lavish treats and enticing deals. It was later disclosed that a year before Megxit, the Sussexes had already engaged in talks with a US streaming service.
However, those discussions ultimately led nowhere, as they were with Quibi, a short-form streaming platform that failed.
But Harry shared with Oprah Winfrey that pursuing profitable commercial deals ‘was never the intention…We hadn’t thought about it…all I needed was enough money to be able to pay for security to keep my family safe’.
‘Yeah, we genuinely hadn’t thought about that before,’ Meghan agreed.
Yet, a source familiar with the matter later informed The Telegraph that ‘there were well-developed proposals in place with Quibi from early 2019’.
‘A lot of it was orchestrated by Meghan’s people in America. It was a bit of a secret squirrel,’ a royal source also said.
This week's Reporter article raises important questions about the influence of US executives and advisors in the events surrounding the Sussexes' engagement in 2017 and their departure in January 2020.
How much were these external figures involved in royal matters, and to what extent were they compensated for their influence?
As Harry and Meghan's careers and prospects come under scrutiny, their professional achievements since Megxit have been a mixed bag.
While their candid revelations often generate significant attention, other endeavours seem to fizzle out.
Their six-part series, Harry & Meghan, made headlines but was overshadowed at the recent Emmys, where it received no nominations, contrasting sharply with Netflix's Beckham, which won an Emmy for Outstanding Documentary.
Recently, the Duke celebrated his 40th birthday weekend at a charity tennis event and Tyler Perry’s lavish 55th birthday party, highlighting their current situation nearly five years after Megxit.
Regardless of the Sussexes' relationship with Sunshine Sachs, it ended not long after.
This week’s Reporter article disclosed that ‘Morgan stopped repping [representing] them around 2020 because the Sussexes stopped paying Sunshine Sachs for its services, though the PR firm denies that was the case’.
So, where do they stand now? Meghan is represented by Ari Emanuel of WME, but this partnership has yet to yield any visible commercial success in the past 18 months. Prince Harry appears to have no representation at all.
As the spotlight continues to shine on Prince Harry and Meghan's strategic moves, including their decision to hire outside advisers without the palace's knowledge, the couple's recent charity efforts have faced significant challenges.
While their attempts to reshape their public image and build a new life in the US garnered attention, the reality of their charitable initiatives has proven less successful than anticipated.
This brings us to the latest developments, where the Sussexes are reportedly encountering backlash and disappointment regarding their latest charity project, raising questions about the sustainability of their celebrity-driven approach.
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