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Meghan Markle’s ‘Driving Force’ Isn’t a ‘Life of Service,’ Expert Says
A “‘life of service’” isn’t for Meghan Markle—at least not exclusively. A royal expert says the Duchess of Sussex, 43, has a “driving force” unrelated to giving back. So what’s she focused on? Things at home in Montecito, California.
Meghan’s ‘driving force’ in life is making money for the Sussex family
According to Jennie Bond, a royal expert and former BBC royal correspondent, Meghan’s “driving force” in life centers around her, Prince Harry, and their two children, Prince Archie, 5, and Princess Lilibet, 3.
“I suspect that Meghan is a commercial woman with philanthropic ideas aplenty,” Bond told OK! Magazine (via Mirror). Rather, “her driving force is to capitalise [sic] on her fame and ensure she and Harry have enough money for all their needs.”
Their primary—and perhaps most costly—necessity is security. Harry and Meghan have paid for private security ever since losing their royal protection detail when they left royal life in 2020.
It remains an ongoing issue, one Harry’s fighting legally. (He has plans to appeal after losing in court in February.) It’s also reportedly the reason Harry and his father, King Charles III, aren’t talking.
Nevertheless, Harry and Meghan have made millions of dollars since leaving life as working royals. In their post-royal lives, they’ve inked multiple media deals—Spotify, Netflix, Penguin Random House—that have contributed significantly to their estimated $60 million net worth.
A mix of business, charity, and ‘makeshift royal tours’ for Meghan
Bond continued, saying committing her life to only service doesn’t seem to be for Meghan. “I’m not quite convinced that she is totally signed up to a ‘life of service.’ So I imagine there will be occasional forays into charity work and makeshift royal tours.”
“But I think she is a businesswoman at heart,” she added. “And, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that!”
These days, the former BBC royal commentator said, Meghan’s looking to what’s head, not at her past as a working royal.
“Meghan has made her feelings about royal life abundantly clear and appears to be looking forward rather than dwelling on the past,” Bond said. “She has said her piece about life with the royals, and now she has moved on.”
Meghan has multiple projects on the way
The “businesswoman” part of Meghan is perhaps busier than ever. The 43-year-old has several projects gearing up to launch, including her return to lifestyle content—she shuttered her lifestyle blog, The Tig, before marrying Harry—with American Riviera Orchard.
Meghan announced her lifestyle brand in the spring but has yet to officially launch, only offering glimpses through her celebrity friends’ social media posts.
Also on the way is a Netflix show about gardening, cooking, entertaining, and friendship. Meghan, who reportedly wrapped filming earlier this summer, is said to have “really enjoyed” being back in front of the camera.
Another project in the works includes a new podcast. Meghan inked a deal with Lemonada Media Podcast, which will see the release of a new, untitled podcast and streaming of Archetypes Season 1.
Finally, Meghan’s last project is the film adaptation of Carley Fortune’s Meet Me at the Lake novel. She and Harry are producing the Netflix movie as part of their multi-year contract with the streamer.