Meghan Markle signs voiceover deal with Disney in return for donation to charity hinting at future career path
The Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle has signed a voiceover deal with Disney in an exchange for a donation to an elephant charity, according to reports.
Meghan recorded the voiceover before she and Harry left for their break to Canada to celebrate Christmas. The deal was reportedly signed in return for a donation to Elephants Without Borders, an organization formulated to conserve wildlife and protect animals from poaching.
The report comes in the wake of the royal couple making a shock announcement on January 8 stating that they were withdrawing from their roles as 'senior members' of the royal family and were working to become financially independent.
Although the couple is yet to state how exactly they are going to become "financially independent," Meghan's deal with Disney hints at her future career plans, which could ultimately see the couple using their celebrity status to benefit chosen causes.
Reports state that senior members of the royal family had accused the couple of already agreeing to a deal with "firms including Disney" amidst dense talks before Christmas, according to the Daily Mail.
The couple, in May 2019, were also given a rare honor by Disney in the form of a watercolor Winnie-the-Pooh animation to celebrate the birth of the new royal baby Archie. The animation, hand-drawn by senior principal artist Kim Raymond, depicted the story of the world's favorite bear delivering a book to Archie.
Although the royal couple's move to step back from the royal family has been appreciated by many, it has led to a backlash with at least 71 percent of people saying that the Sussexes were wrong not to inform the Queen of their decision before making the announcement on Instagram, a Daily Mail poll stated.
Meghan's friends have defended the Duchess' move, with Sonia Ardakani, Meghan's closest school friend, telling the outlet: "In a way, I am surprised she has chosen to do this, but we know how independent Meghan is. She deals with business in her own way, and I guess the Queen didn't allow her to do that."
"Then there is all the attention she is getting. She might have been an actress, but nothing can have prepared her for that. Life seems to have become miserable for her and Harry, and they will remember what happened to Diana. Something must have gone very wrong for her to give all this up. But this is what they have decided, and we have to respect it."
