The Duke and Duchess of Sussex
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What of Harry and Meghan’s own activities, largely conducted via their three-pronged Archewell organisation (encompassing a charitable foundation and production partnerships with Netflix and Spotify, respectively)? The Archewell website is currently continuing to show only a statement from the duke on the Queen’s death, beneath a black and white photograph of Harry with his late grandmother, with all other activities seemingly on hold for now.
Meghan’s Archetypes podcast, the first fully-fledged series from the couple’s Spotify deal, is currently on hiatus, having paused putting out episodes after three instalments (featuring Serena Williams, Mariah Carey and Mindy Kaling). It remains to be seen when the couple will feel it’s appropriate to release the next episode, or whether it will make any acknowledgement of the Queen’s death.
Much has also been written of Prince Harry’s upcoming book. Dubbed an ‘intimate and heartfelt memoir from one of the most fascinating and influential global figures of our time’ by Penguin Books, it had initially been set to debut this winter. The temperature will have to be taken and revisions most likely made in response to the change in circumstances, however, with the reports now suggesting the release has been postponed until next year.
Meghan also disclosed in one of her podcast episodes that the couple are working on a documentary chronicling their ‘love story’ as part of their Netflix partnership – again, a project that will have to be carefully pitched in light of public sentiment in the wake of the Queen’s death.
The sad circumstances of this month have facilitated something of a public easing of the impasse between Harry and his family. The King made sure to express his ‘love for Harry and Meghan’ in his first televised speech as monarch, while the duke and duchess appeared alongside the Prince and Princess of Wales to view floral tributes at Windsor Castle, recalling the pre-Megxit days of the ‘Fab Four’.
Perhaps the path of Harry and Meghan’s relationship with the Royal Family has been set onto a smoother course; or perhaps Harry’s book will prove a royal ‘bombshell’ like that of the couple’s candid Oprah Winfrey interview. Watch this space.
