Exclusive reporting reveals the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are facing a critical financial crossroads as their landmark Netflix partnership collapses, with royal experts suggesting a sudden push for reconciliation with the Royal Family is a direct bid to secure their economic future. The potential end of the $100 million deal, following the earlier termination of their Spotify agreement, has ignited serious questions about the sustainability of their lavish California lifestyle and their next moves.
Author and journalist Robert Jobson, appearing on the program Royal Exclusive, stated the couple is now likely “looking for some handouts.” He directly connected their recent, much-publicized “peace talks” with King Charles III to this new financial vulnerability. “Maybe that’s why they were over here having discussions with the King,” Jobson speculated, noting the couple had previously rejected royal financial support to forge an independent path.
The analysis points to a stark reversal from their initial, triumphant launch as commercial mega-stars. Sky News Royal Editor Rhiannon Mills reflected on the initial optimism, recalling, “The Netflix deal, the Spotify deal. At the time, we were all like, ‘Wow, okay, maybe they are going to find their feet.'” Five years after stepping back as senior working royals, that independent foundation appears shakier than ever.
While Prince Harry’s memoir Spare generated significant revenue, insiders question its longevity. “They’ve made a lot of money… but is it going to be enough to sustain them? I doubt it,” Jobson said. The couple faces immense ongoing costs for private security and their Montecito mansion, with few major, successful projects following their initial, explosive Netflix documentary.
The commercial underperformance of subsequent ventures like the documentary Heart of Invictus and Meghan’s Archetypes podcast has reportedly left them with dwindling options. One path back to profitability—returning to the well of royal revelations—is now complicated by the nascent reconciliation efforts. “The danger is… they could return, if they need to make any money in the future, return to a Spare Two,” Mills noted, highlighting the precarious balance between mending fences and maintaining income.
This financial pressure coincides with a concerted, new publicity campaign aimed at rehabilitating Harry’s image in the UK, spearheaded by a recently hired UK-based PR professional. The goal, experts say, is a “softly, softly reset” to remind the British public of his previous popularity. However, this campaign clashes with a deeply entrenched public opinion.
A poll conducted for the program reveals a monumental challenge. When asked if they want to see the King and Prince Harry reconcile, 73% of respondents said no. A staggering 91% believe the King should strip the couple of their Duke and Duchess titles. “You’re not going to come back from 75%,” Jobson stated bluntly. “I think too much has gone under the bridge.”
The poll further indicates the public believes an apology is necessary, and that Meghan is often singled out for blame, though analysts argue Harry was the driving force behind the most damaging allegations. “To trash his family… I think the poll says it all,” Jobson added, emphasizing that the couple is perceived to have “disrespected the people who pay for and are represented by the monarchy.”
Despite the bleak numbers, a personal longing for resolution persists, particularly in light of the King’s cancer diagnosis. Sources suggest Harry’s recent, more conciliatory interview about his father may have “landed on the target,” appealing to Charles’s paternal instincts. “He’s a dad,” Mills said. “You’re going to have a pang as a dad… He equally loves his son.”
The logistical lines of communication, frozen for years, are now tentatively open between the King’s office and Harry’s new team. This is viewed as a practical step to manage diaries and prevent “own goals,” rather than an immediate prelude to a sentimental reunion. The focus, for now, is on preventing further public deterioration of the relationship, especially with an eye to the future reign of Prince William.
The ultimate irony, experts conclude, is that the Sussexes’ commercial relevance was entirely tied to their royal status, which they have systematically undermined. “They monetized their royal position, but there’s only a limit you can do with that,” Jobson said. As the younger generation of Wales children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis—increasingly capture the public’s affection and attention, Harry and Meghan risk fading into irrelevance.
“He’ll be a bald 50-year-old prince that… someone formerly known as Prince,” Jobson predicted. “That’s what he will be.” The frantic efforts at financial stabilization and royal reconciliation are therefore seen as a race against time, an attempt to secure a position and a platform before the world, and the Royal Family, moves decisively on.
