Prince Harry's 'hidden motive' in healing royal rift with Meghan 'truth bomb' dilemma
The prospect of reconciliation between Prince Harry and the Royal Family has long been framed as emotional - a son seeking peace with his father, and a brother hoping to rebuild bridges.But according to royal watchers, there may be a far more practical consideration at play: the future of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s lucrative media deals, particularly Netflix.Royal author Duncan Larcombe suggests that commercial pressure could be a significant motivator behind Harry's recent signals that he wants to heal the rift with his family. The Sussexes signed a multi-year deal with Netflix in 2020 after stepping down as working royals, but questions have increasingly been raised about how sustainable that partnership is without continued access to royal insight.READ MORE: Prince William backs Max Worsley's expedition across AntarcticaREAD MORE: King Charles has 'one major thing' in common with Victoria and David as Brooklyn goes nuclear"If they go on to lose all of their Netflix deal, it's going to come as a very bitter blow to them," Larcombe says. "Largely, it's been a success story for them personally since they stepped down as working royals. But if it means selling the family silver, you don't want to get into a situation where you don’t make full money for it."The Sussexes' most successful project to date remains the 2022 Harry & Meghan docuseries, which drew huge viewing figures and global attention.Other productions - including Live to Lead and Heart of Invictus - have attracted far less by comparison. Industry analysts have repeatedly noted that the couple's strongest draw for audiences is their proximity to the Royal Family and their personal experiences within it.Larcombe is blunt about the limits of that strategy. "Effectively they've sold themselves out, but they've run out of truth bombs," he says. "If they're not making headlines and, more importantly, if viewers are turning off in their droves, then companies like Netflix are ruthless and they're not going to carry them just because they're the Duke and Duchess of Sussex."That commercial reality feeds into what Larcombe sees as Harry's dilemma. The most compelling stories the Sussexes have told - from the Oprah interview to Harry's memoir Spare - have been rooted in conflict with the monarchy. But continuing down that path risks exhausting both public appetite and family goodwill."They have to figure something out because the number of projects they've announced since they left the UK that have hit the ground and been a success is actually quite small," Larcombe says. "They've had quite a few failures."One example often cited is Meghan's 40x40 initiative, launched in 2021 to mark her 40th birthday. The scheme aimed to encourage people to mentor women returning to work after the pandemic and was promoted with a high-profile video featuring Meghan and Melissa McCarthy.Despite the fanfare, the initiative quietly faded from view, with little public follow-up or measurable outcomes."What happened to Meghan's 40x40 initiative?" Larcombe asks. "It was released with a big fanfare on her 40th birthday and we've barely heard a word about it again."Against that backdrop, the idea of reconciliation takes on a strategic edge. Harry has repeatedly spoken about wanting to repair relationships with his father and brother, most notably during interviews in early 2023.While those comments were framed in emotional terms, Larcombe argues that access - or the perception of access - to the Royal Family remains central to the Sussex brand."Harry needs to reconcile with family as well because that's where their Netflix deal comes from - it's their access to the Royal Family," he says.Continued criticism of the monarchy risks closing doors permanently, but silence removes the very narrative that initially fuelled the Sussexes' commercial success.Whether Harry can find a middle ground - one that allows personal healing without further public "truth bombs" - may determine not only the future of family relations, but the longevity of the couple's media empire.READ MORE: Andrew in secret trip ahead of Royal Lodge exit - to measure up curtains
