Beauty brand to TV station, Meghan and Harry see 'endless possibilities' after split from royal family
From starting their own beauty brand to flagging off a TV channel to raise awareness about their causes, PR experts believe that "possibilities are endless" for Meghan Markle and Prince Harry once the couple is unfettered from the British royal family.
PR professional James Henderson, who formerly ran Bell Pottinger and has previously advised Madonna and Naomi Campbell, said "possibilities are endless" for Meghan Markle.
"She [Meghan] could endorse products and have her own beauty brand, they could start a TV channel in the States to raise awareness of their causes – the possibilities are endless," Henderson told Daily Mail. "Meghan is a beautiful, talented and articulate woman. Appearance fees could easily be $100,000 just for turning up to an event, without actually having to do anything else."
PR experts have also explained how Harry and Meghan could potentially become the world's highest-earning celebrity couple, predicted to amass over a billion dollars in the coming decade.
According to them, the Sussexes would be able to command six or even seven figures fees for simply turning up at an event owing to their superstar status. Furthermore, if they chose to hold on to their royal titles while touting themselves for hire, their combined net worth could be greater than any A-lister celebrity in history. Experts have predicted that if the royal couple decides to become a brand ambassador for a global giant like Google or Apple, they could earn tens of millions every year -- and over a billion dollars through the decade.
While Harry and Meghan are yet to reveal how they plan to realize their ambition of becoming "financially independent," their unique combination of Hollywood stardom coupled with royal blood could net them stellar sums of money.
"Their earning power – both individually and as a couple – is limitless in all aspects of endorsements," Ronn Torossian, of New York PR firm 5W Public Relations, told Daily Mail. "Whether appearances, brand partnerships or more, they could make eight or nine figures annually with endorsement deals"
"The sky is the limit for the two of them," he added.
Harry's senior royal status has prevented him from monetizing his celebrity until now. What's more? He and Meghan have also complained on their website how they were "prohibited from earning any income." While one cannot say for certain how the royals fund their lavish lifestyles, some sources of the Sussexes' wealth are known to the public.
Princes Harry and William both share a handout from Prince Charles’s Duchy of Cornwall estate, from which Harry received about £2million ($2.6m) last year. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have said this accounts for 95 percent of their 'office expenditure.'
The remainder 5% is borne by the British taxpayer as part of the Sovereign Grant -- which comes to about £100,000 ($130,633) from the public purse to support the Sussexes' office costs. But Harry and Meghan have stated on their website that "their Royal Highnesses prefer to release this financial tie."
According to tretail expert Andy Barr, the couple’s ‘Sussex Royal’ brand could soon become worth "almost half a billion pounds." "As the brand they are building will automatically have global appeal, their revenue will grow even further," he added.