Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are facing renewed scrutiny after their $100 million deal with Netflix came to an end, prompting speculation that the couple may be seeking financial support from the Royal Family as their post-Megxit ventures falter.
According to multiple royal insiders and industry sources, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex recently held informal talks with King Charles III. While officially framed as peace talks, some observers view the discussions as a strategic move amid rising personal expenses and dwindling income streams.
"The [streaming] deal was always about $100 million... and that figure blew people's minds," royal commentator Robert Jobson told RadarOnline.com. "Where does it leave them now? Probably with a bit of a bowl out, looking for some handouts. They've lost Spotify, they've lost Netflix. They can't keep going on Princess Diana's inheritance forever."
Netflix insiders confirmed that the company has decided not to renew its five-year contract with the couple, which is set to expire in September. The decision follows underwhelming performance metrics. Markle's lifestyle and cooking series With Love, Meghan drew just 5.3 million viewers globally, ranking 383rd on the platform's most recent engagement report. Prince Harry's polo documentary reportedly garnered just 500,000 views.
"They're just waiting for the credits to roll on their deal now," said one Netflix executive. "There's no appetite for anything new."
One source cited by RadarOnline.com was more pointed: "The feeling is the Sussexes are on the grift again and have their begging bowl out to King Charles to save them. They really are like a pair of con artists-and not very good ones."
The couple's departure from Spotify last year followed similar criticism. After releasing just one season of their podcast Archetypes, the platform ended the multi-million-dollar deal. Spotify executive Bill Simmons publicly called the pair "f------ grifters."
Meanwhile, the couple's expenses remain high. Their Montecito estate, a nine-bedroom, 16-bathroom mansion, reportedly requires an annual mortgage of $400,000. Staffing costs are estimated at $230,000 per year, and private security-deemed essential by Harry due to his military background-runs as high as $4 million annually.
Though Markle's lifestyle brand As Ever reportedly saw early success with sold-out wine and cookie products, marketing experts question the brand's staying power. A source close to the situation noted that while commercial inroads have been made, they lack "depth and differentiation."
Harry retains roles with the nonprofit Travalyst and tech startup BetterUp, but neither provides sufficient income to offset the couple's expenditures. Last month, he visited Angola with The Halo Trust, echoing his late mother's humanitarian legacy by walking through a minefield.
Still, the overall financial picture appears strained. "They've done the big hits-the podcast, the book," said royal author Norman Baker. "There's nothing else to sell apart from themselves."
