Why Prince Harry Was Joking When He Asked Disney CEO About Voicework for Meghan Markle
Prince Harry’s chat with Disney CEO Bob Iger at the premiere of The Lion King last summer turned a lot of heads. A clip from the encounter seemingly shows Harry talking to Iger about Meghan Markle doing some voiceover work for the studio. While fans are convinced the Sussexes were planning ahead, an inside source claims that Prince Harry and Iger were just joking around.
Meghan Markle does voiceover for Elephants
In the fall of 2019, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, did some voiceover work for Disney’s new movie, Elephants. Meghan had agreed to work on the project earlier that summer after meeting with directors Mark and Vanessa Berlowitz.
Meghan had been following the development of the movie for months and was a huge fan of the project. Given her interest and passion for the film, the directors felt like she was the perfect fit for the narrator.
When Meghan signed a contract for the movie, she graciously agreed to donate all of her salary to the charity, Elephants Without Borders. Disney is scheduled to release the film on Disney+ on April 3.
Although Meghan had agreed to work on the project early in the summer of 2019, Prince Harry’s conversation with Iger sparked reports that the Sussexes were looking to land a gig with Disney in light of their plans to leave the royal family.
Prince Harry talks to Disney CEO about voice work
A few months ago, a clip surfaced online that showed Harry talking with Iger at the premiere of The Lion King in London. According to Hello Magazine, the video was recorded in July and appears to show Prince Harry discussing Meghan’s voiceover talents with the Disney CEO.
“You know she does voiceovers?” Harry told Iger, who responded, “Oh really? I did not know that.”
Harry went on to say that Meghan is “really interested” in doing voiceover work. Although the audio is not super clear, Iger seems to respond by saying, “Sure, we’d love to try.”
The video led to reports that Prince Harry was trying to land a deal with Disney because he and Meghan were planning their exit. The Sussexes will be seeking to become financially independent as part of their departure plan, which means securing additional ways to earn money.
Despite the video, sources say that Harry and Iger were only joking around about Meghan’s future as a voiceover actress. At the time the clip was recorded, Meghan had already been in talks about narrating Elephants.
How will the Duke and Duchess of Sussex make money?
As part of their decision to leave the royal family, Prince Harry and Meghan will no longer be allowed to use their royal titles. They will not officially lose their HRH titles, but they cannot use them in public.
This restricts some of the work the couple was planning on doing, especially in regard to their charitable foundation, Sussex Royal. But they still have plenty of ways to earn a living.
Meghan could always fall back on her acting career, something she left behind after marrying Harry. The Duchess of Sussex has already started doing this with her Disney gig, but she could expand that even further.
The couple could also launch a series of products associated with their brand, from household items to clothing. The only catch is that they cannot use their royal styles.
Will Prince Harry and Meghan Markle become social media influencers?
Another option is for Harry and Meghan to become influencers on social media. The two could pull in thousands of dollars for sponsored posts on Instagram. They could also use their platform to promote various business ventures or sell merchandise.
Prince Harry and Meghan currently have over 10 million followers on Instagram. This is pretty impressive, though it does not come close to the most popular accounts on the platform. Kylie Jenner, for instance, has a whopping 150 million followers on Instagram and makes around $1.2 million for a sponsored post.
Although this could be a legit way for Harry and Meghan to earn money, some royal experts do not believe it is appropriate for a member of the royal family. But now that the Sussexes are stepping away from the royal spotlight anything is possible.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have not commented on the rumors surrounding their future plans.
