Meghan Markle is facing new scrutiny over reports that she is considering offering herself as a modern-day “royal tenant” for elite events, private gatherings and high-profile charity events across the US.
The Duchess of Sussex, 44, stepped back from frontline royal duties alongside husband Prince Harry, 41, in 2020 before moving to California, where the couple has since pursued various business ventures and celebrity partnerships while raising their two children.According to RadarOnline.com, there is growing talk that the former “Suits” actress is increasingly open to leveraging her duchess’s title and royal connections for commercial gain.
What’s included in the Rent Royals plan?
An insider told the outlet that the appeal of wealthy hosts would be great. “The attraction of wealthy hosts will be obvious. Not only do they get a celebrity look, they get someone with the title of duchess, royal connections and global recognition linked to the British monarchy. This still carries a huge cachet in certain circles, especially among wealthy Americans fascinated by royalty,” the report said.
She added that while those around Meghan see these appearances as opportunities for strategic communication and brand building, opponents of the plan see it differently. “The line between philanthropy, celebrity influence and commercial self-promotion has become increasingly blurred. There is a perception among detractors that she and Harry have built a very expensive lifestyle in California that now requires a constant stream of deals, partnerships, appearances and carefully managed publicity to maintain, but this plan seems to scrape the bottom of the barrel.”
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The reported cost of the Sussex lifestyle in California
A source highlighted the financial pressures said to be driving this strategy. “Maintaining security, staff, travel, PR operations and an image as a global power player comes at huge costs that some estimate at around $6 million a year for Meghan and Harry.”The source continued: “Back in Britain, the frustration is that Meghan and Harry have publicly distanced themselves from royal life while continuing to benefit from the glamor and exclusivity associated with their titles.
The fear within royal circles is that the Sussex brand is gradually evolving into something much closer to the celebrity aristocracy for hire, where the prestige of the royal family is used selectively to open doors, secure influence and maintain relevance in elite social and business environments.
“It appears that Meghan never finalized her plans to cash in on the Sussexes’ title.”Neither Meghan nor a representative of the Sussex family issued any official response to the latest reports. The situation continues to attract attention as questions about the couple’s use of their royal titles and brand remain a topic of ongoing debate.