Prince Harry and Meghan were ‘shocked at true meaning of financial independence’ – Daily Star

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle cannot afford to compete with Prince William and Kate Middleton's charity donations, a royal expert says.

The reality of financial independence appears to have come as a "shock" for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who in stepping down as senior royals, lost a lot of time to do good, Daniela Elser writes.

Despite their best intentions to make the Archewell Foundation a roaring success, Ms Elser claims the parents of two have to balance their charity efforts with paying the bills.

She said that the "reality of their new life would appear to suggest that big, sweeping projects are not a possibility right now".

Unlike the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Harry, 36, and Meghan, 40, made the decision to work for a living which comes at a cost of time.

In her News.com.au column, Ms Elser writes: "Despite the Sussexes having laudably pronounced they wanted to work towards becoming financially independent, facing what that meant in reality would appear to have come as something of a shock to the duo."

She adds: "Since launching in October last year, Archewell has not held a single fundraiser, as far has been made publicly known.

"Now, a year or two down the road, things might look very different with Covid and the pandemic relics of the past (fingers and toes crossed here) and with the world reopened."

Ms Elser continues: "Harry and Meghan will be able to focus on cosying up to their AAA+-list chums to raise cash to support their ambitious and exciting philanthropic efforts.

"But for the time being, the Cambridges and the Sussexes are operating on totally separate, far from equal, playing fields, one fully established, well-funded and helmed by two people able to dedicate their days to it."

During his chat with Oprah Winfrey, Harry claimed that he and Meghan had been financially cut off by the royals.

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The couple went on to sign production deals with Netflix and Spotify to support themselves and fund their charity work.

Earlier this month, a former royal correspondent claimed they would have to produce six shows for Spotify by the end of a year.

Speaking on his daily news show, former Metro royal correspondent Neil Sean said: "What we can tell you first here on the show is Spotify itself is looking to see product before the end of the year, particularly a six-part series they hope to start prior to the festive season."

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Prince Harry and Meghan were 'shocked at true meaning of financial independence' - Daily Star