A week ago, we learned that Prince Harry is currently writing a memoir, set for publication next year. We learned this via a Page Six exclusive, a gossip outlet which (let’s face it) has legitimate sources within the publishing world. I saw some conspiracies about how maybe Harry told his father about the memoir and Charles leaked the news to the Murdoch press and thus, the Page Six story. I doubt it. I mean, maybe there is some complicated web of conspiratorial deceit happening around the leaking of Harry’s publishing deal, but I think it’s far more likely that it was just a leak from someone at Penguin Random House’s New York office to Page Six. All of which means that I’m putting more stock in what Page Six says about the terms of Harry’s contract than whatever the Daily Mail is saying. So here’s what Page Six had over the weekend:
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry will team up on a book about ‘leadership’ as part of their megabucks book deal, Page Six is told. And Markle may be set to write her own sensational memoir — following in her husband’s footsteps.
In fact, royal observers ponder whether a Markle memoir will be the first chapter in a pivot to her long-rumored political aspirations. Markle, who gave birth to baby daughter Lilibet in June, has been relatively quiet since her appearance with Harry on her bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey back in March.
Following our royal exclusive this week that Harry had signed an estimated $20 million book deal with Random House, it was then confirmed the deal with Penguin Random House is actually for four tomes. Aside from Harry’s memoir, there will be a rumored wellness book from Markle. And now we’re told Markle and Harry will team up for a book that is described as being focused on “leadership and philanthropy.”
The Sussex camp was forced on Friday night to deny that Harry’s memoir will be split into two, with a second chapter to be published after the death of his grandmother, the Queen. A spokesperson for the couple told Page Six that contrary to reports, there is only one memoir planned by Harry and it’s scheduled to be released in late 2022, as originally announced. Sources added that it’s “appalling” to tie anything to the Queen’s death.
One source who knows the couple told us: “With such a steady drumbeat of all the Harry announcements, you have to imagine that the Meghan dial is going to be dialed up. One can only think that she would absolutely write a memoir — she has been outspoken to those who know her about her political aspirations in the future.”
Meghan’s recent kids book, “The Bench,” was published by Random House, but the deal was done in 2019 and is not part of this new deal. A Sussex rep was unavailable for comment.
Yeah, I still find it interesting that the Camp Sussex denial was more about the “when Granny dies” clause rather than a denial of a multi-book deal. I think it’s perfectly possible that Harry has a contract for one memoir, and an option for a second memoir. And then it’s possible there is some kind of deal for Meghan and Harry to cowrite something about charity, leadership, inspirational living, etc. I just don’t believe that Meghan would be part of Harry’s contract for her own separate books/memoirs though. She clearly has her own relationship with the Penguin Random House people and perhaps she has a separate contract. I don’t know.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.
The narrative of power-hungry Meg quitting her duchessing job to run for some kind of office is so peculiar to me.
Merricat, ITA. I keep thinking that politics would be limiting in its own way. H&M have a global stage to do really great things. Perhaps she would do something with the UN again? Idk, but the BM (and any Murdoch owned media) really want to force a bigger wedge between Meghan and UK populace with these wild assertions about M and politics.
I think this is a lot of what’s going on now. They’re making so much money on selling hatred and it’s in their financial best interests to create as much of it as possible, so they will push whatever they can find.
I call bullshit. Meghans name sells, so this is just a way to stoke the fires of hate against her. I expect to hear about her writing a book, filming a documentary, creating a royal puppet show, comic book, anything. All speculation. We will know about her projects when they are complete. The ratchets hate that they cant learn about her projects in advance so they can work to derail them.
Harry’s memoir should have a post script like a Marvel movie that introduces Meghan’s memoir. Like one paragraph and a “to be continued in 2023”.
I suspect that some of these books will tie in with their Netflix deal. I can totally see Meghan writing books about Pearl, the character in the animated series she is working on, and I wouldn’t be surprised if there is a book out in 2024 to tie into the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games. And I don’t believe that Meghan has political ambitions. She’s a smart woman, she’s seen what female candidates have to endure, especially if you are a democrat. I see her as more of a behind-the-scenes type of person.
I don’t see her as a behind the scenes type at all. I think she used to have some political aspirations before she married Harry. She genuinely wants to change the world for the better and she probably considered politics as an option. However, I don’t think she wants to be in politics now. She’s in a good position to push for change where she is now. Politics would just slow her down.
I don’t understand their fixation on Meghan’s potential political ambitions. She seems more comfortable with positions like diplomat/activist/lobbyist.
I can see her write a book about philanthropy but I doubt it would be soon she has a long history but let’s be objective her impact is not worth writing a book about it.
I think the focus on her political ambitions come from an old interview (when she was in Suits) where she mentioned being interested in politics and IIRC joked about being president one day. I’m trying to find the interview again to share it, but it was definitely a long time ago now!
I think it was her Suits co stars being asked who would they back to run for office or who was the best leader or something and they all said Meghan. Lady Colin Campbell & various media types seem to have that video in mind when they make claims around her presidential ambitions.
Some palace sources also joked about her wanting to be president in this Times article from 2019 which described how the firm wanted to contain H&M. Shows me they were intimidated by her & maybe that’s why they were keen to get rid
I can’t take articles seriously that push forward idea of political ambitions. In this case it’s to rile up the MAGAS/Brexiters types. Meghan is used as a culture war symbol of black/brown people taking over white spaces
If Meghan did enter politics it would make her more the kind of partisan target she was in the UK. She would hypothetically run from California, but that’s a progressive state that has a plethora of solid candidates for senate for eg.
But you know what, if she did, I would support her decision.
I agree. I think Meghan might end up being a pretty good senator if she wanted to run–but there’s really no indication that she does. Plus with the hatred and scrutiny she’s been subject to, I can’t imagine she’d want to take on such a public role.
I say this as a Californian. CA has a very deep political bench. While she *may* have political aspirations, I don’t see her paying the necessary dues to move up the ladder. Moreover, her lens is pretty international. As a commenter listed above, running for state wide office to leverage into National politics would be too limiting. She now has the creative freedom to do exactly what she wants when she wants. In addition, she has two small children. *If* she were to do something political it would have to be collocated in Washington, but she loses a lot to do that. I think the political aspirations are a projection. She can do exactly what she wants without being part of a bureaucracy or elected official.
Meghan is “outspoken to those who know her about her political aspirations”, yet neither she nor anyone who is actually close to her has ever said this? That doesn’t really sound ‘outspoken’…
I think it’s possible Page Six got one leak and have extrapolated the rest based on similar book deals, and are dragging it out for multiple columns. It all sounds made up, but just this side of plausible enough to write as fact.
Nah, I’m not putting any stock in what Page Six says. They lost me when they mentioned Meghan’s political ambitions. Plus the new editor is a British guy who used to work for the Sun and who made one of his reporters make up a story about Kamala Harris.
That’s right. The reporter resigned over the Harris story but only after being called out and proven to be a liar. When the trademark for Archewell was filed, it mentioned books and media. They will probably publish lots in the future on behalf of Archewell. It seems when the Sussexes are busy, have jobs abd projects, people want more jobs and projects from them.
I said this on another thread, but if Random House was smart, then of COURSE they tied Harry down for more than one book. Maybe its not even an absolute, but more of a “if this first book sells well then we maintain the rights to a follow up.” Random House doesn’t want to engage in a bidding every time they want to publish something from the Sussexes.
That doesnt mean that more than one memoir is in the works right now, or that anything is tied to the queen’s death, etc – it just seems look good business sense on the part of Random House IMO.
And I agree that anything Meghan is doing on her own would be separate from this agreement.
I’m with everyone else who isn’t buying Meghan has political asperations. That just doesn’t jive with a woman who gave up everything in her life to live in another country as part of a royal family whose members can never be political. I just do not see her making that choice if she had any political asperations of her own at all. That just makes me think it’s all speculation by page 6.
Don’t forget the Murdock connection to page six.
I doubt Meghan is interested in public office. Raising awareness, money and supporting various causes – all for it. But an elected public office? I doubt it. I also think after her last run with being a publicly funded taxpayer figure has also made her not want to do jump into it again.
But since they keep saying Meghan will do x and it turns out Harry is doing them instead, maybe it’ll be Prince Harry2036??? I’m joking, seriously I am joking
Yeah, being a politician would put her right back in a similar situation as she was as a working royal. She wants to be an activist, she will have more freedom in this role.
“I dont know.”
Wow. These words are so liberating. Wish more people would embrace and lean into it. But then, how wd they make a living!?!
Meghan team doesn’t leak, so until I hear from her about any projects, it’s all bullshit from the media
You realize that there are two sides to a deal, right? It’s not just “Meghan’s team” that has information about the book deal. There’s a lot of people who work at Penguin Random House, you know, and quite a few people there who would have had to work on this. Meghan doesn’t have control over leaks coming from the other side of the deal.
Funny that there were no leaks from Penguin Random House about Meghans children’s book then. According to the know-it-alls at Page Six that deal was signed in 2019, two years ago (!) yet we heard nary a peep about it. I don’t think they have any sources there, at least not any with any real knowledge.
@MsIam – a children’s book isn’t as gossip-worthy as a possible tell-all. And Meghan’s book would have published in a different division – I don’t think Page Six trawls the children’s publishers.
Actually, any employee who works for Penguin Random House would sign a NDA if they were to have access to any writings, books, etc. from anyone well-known. That’s standard procedure.
I’d love to know why there’s so much scrutiny of what ‘irrelevant’ ‘whiny’ royals may be up to. Why aren’t they discussing William’s Earthshot book or Kate’s research centre. The latter especially deserves scrutiny.
Maybe I’m reflecting my own laziness here, but there seems to be a limit as to how much a couple can do all at the same time. Spotify, Netflix, Random House, Archewell, BetterUp, Aspen Institute, raising 2 children, running a household and whatever one-off charitable things they’ll be asked to chair/co-chair, etc. The media seems to think that all of this will happen at once and immediately.
Don’t forget Invictus games are next year.
Thanks for the reminder – that, too. They have decades-worth of work on their plates. The last thing they need to worry about is what happens to the monarchy.
If only these outlets could keep Meghan’s name out of their mouth for one week together. I hope no one bothers her with these headlines and she’s just enjoying some together time with her husband, nursing her baby, running after her toddler, playing with her dogs and feeding her chickens.
While I don’t doubt that Page Six has some industry sources in publishing and Hollywood this doesn’t read like that. The sources listed here are “royal observers” and sources “close” to the couple so i call BS. The royal observers know nothing about their plans and i don’t think anyone close to them would talk to Page Six. Also: why are they all so obsessed with the idea that Megham wants to run for office? It’s weird.
Ugh. I’m SO tired of the media just making up isht. It’s really testing my love of the First Amendment; I’m actually starting to wonder if we need to regulate the media, but I know that’s a very slippery slope. We really need to get the big money out of politics AND journalism; it’s corrupted our system to the core. We’re a country so blessed with ingenuity and resources, yet I feel like I’m living in a banana republic these days.
What has either of them EVER led?
Seriously? Harry has the Invictus games, he was an officer in the military, he has archwell
She has run and completed projects, the clothing thing, the cookbook, her book, ect.
They have both done lots of charity endeavors
They have done more than me, who has done maybe 2% of what they have accomplished.
So I would be interested in reading a book on leadership.
Troll
They have lead the way out of a taxpayer funded scam for the other non heirs.
I think they have confused politically aware with wanting to run for office because they are normally used to duchesses who spend their time shopping and getting their hair done. There is nothing from Meghan to suggest that she is interested in actually running for office. It’s just another way to attack her for having ambition because according to their narrow worldview women are just supposed to look thin and breed.
If Random house doesn’t get their house in order and stop leaking stuff about the Sussexes, their so- called multi book deal will be a one and done. Is the publisher even working in good faith or are they deliberately floating false info?