According to reports, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle believe that external factors have hindered their quest for success since stepping away from their senior royal roles. Sources in Los Angeles have indicated that the couple feels they have been plagued by bad luck.
They attribute their struggles to the global pandemic, the economic downturn, and the unfortunate passing of Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth II, which affected their attempts to establish themselves in the private sector.
In January 2020, the Duke, 38, and Duchess of Sussex, 41, announced their decision to step back from their royal duties, just before the world entered a lockdown due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Subsequently, in March 2021, they made headlines with an explosive interview conducted by Oprah Winfrey, during which they candidly expressed their discontent with the royal family. They made a troubling claim about an unnamed member questioning the skin color of their unborn child, Prince Archie. A month after the interview, the Duke of Edinburgh passed away at the age of 99.
In August 2022, Meghan Markle launched her podcast, Archewell Audio, which garnered significant attention. However, the podcast's success was overshadowed by the death of Queen Elizabeth II the following month. Despite attracting a large audience, Spotify announced in June that they would no longer be working with the Duke and Duchess, citing insufficient content production to justify the $20 million deal. This decision coincided with Spotify's cost-cutting measures, including the elimination of 200 jobs.
Furthermore, insiders revealed that Spotify was puzzled by some of Harry's proposed podcast ideas. The Duke reportedly conducted interviews with notable figures such as Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump, and Mark Zuckerberg, focusing on their childhood traumas. Spotify employees questioned the practicality of these offerings, as individuals like Putin, aged 70, and Zuckerberg, aged 39, rarely delve into their personal lives during interviews.
Spotify executive Bill Simmons criticized the couple, referring to them as "grifters" and accusing them of being lazy. However, despite the backlash, Prince Harry shows no signs of slowing down. Recent reports suggest that he intends to film a documentary series in Africa for Netflix.
