Four years after turning their backs on Britain, have Prince Harry and Meghan taken the first tentative steps toward finding a bridge between themselves and the Royal Family?
I can reveal that the couple’s new PR man in the UK and Europe is linked to one of the King’s most trusted former advisers, and insiders predict the connection may help the Sussexes rebuild their tattered relationship with him. Palace.
Charlie Gipson was last week appointed UK communications director for his Archewell charitable foundation. The move came four years after they vowed to never interact with the British press again.
He is a protégé of Julian Payne, who was Charles’s communications chief when he was Prince of Wales and who maintains close links with the King. Last month Julian was at an event in Highgrove for the charity founded by Charles in his role as trustee of the King’s Foundation.
Julian retired from Clarence House in January 2021, having worked there during the tumultuous Megxit period, and is now head of crisis management firm Edelman. Charlie, 41, was an employee of Edelman until he joined Archewell, and Julian is said to rate him highly. There is even some suggestion that Julian played a role in helping to secure the appointment, but last night he played it down, telling me: “I’ll speak to anyone if they want any opinions and advice about what life is like in the Royal Household.” And what a fantastic privilege it is, but he hasn’t asked me and I wouldn’t stand in the way.
Harry and Meghan’s new PR man is linked to one of the King’s most trusted former advisers, and insiders predict the connection could help the Sussexes rebuild their tattered relationship with the Palace.
Harry and Meghan’s new communications director used to work for King Charles’ communications chief: Julian Payne, who retired from Clarence House in January 2021, having worked there during the tumultuous Megxit period.
Charlie Gipson (pictured) was last week named UK communications director for Harry and Meghan’s Archewell charitable foundation. He is a protégé of Julian Payne, who was Charles’s communications chief when he was Prince of Wales.
A source who knows Charlie adds: “Julian can be very useful to Charlie, who doesn’t have many connections to that world yet. Maybe between them, Julian and Charlie can fix everything thanks to these mutual connections. Charlie is talented, but he is several steps below the ladder.
“I think there is a very obvious real link with Juliano that we can take advantage of.”
In his new role, Charlie will report to Meghan and Harry’s new US spokesperson, Kyle Boulia.
EDEN CONFIDENTIAL: Meghan fails to find CEO of her new lifestyle brand after five-week search and is now in talks with Netflix over unique partnership
By Richard Eden
The Duchess of Sussex was unable to fulfill her ambitions within the Royal Family. Now, she seems to be struggling to achieve them outside of him as well.
I heard that Meghan was unable to find a chief executive officer (CEO) for her new cooking and lifestyle business, American Riviera Orchard, despite interviewing several candidates for the position. She began the search five weeks ago, as I revealed at the time.
“The initial search for a CEO has been unsuccessful so far,” a California source tells me.
And her apparent difficulties have led to an intriguing new development: Meghan has entered negotiations with Netflix for the American streaming giant to establish a commercial partnership with American Riviera Orchard.
“This is something new for Netflix,” says the source. ‘He would run the lifestyle business with Meghan, developing products spin-offs from her show. If a partnership is agreed, Netflix will likely install its own CEO to manage operations.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in Florida. Meghan has begun negotiations with Netflix for the American streaming giant to establish a commercial partnership with American Riviera Orchard.
Chip and Joanna Gaines on HGTV’s ‘Fixer Upper.’ Meghan’s new deal with Netflix could be modeled after the deal the TV stars have with HGTV/Warner Brothers.
The model for the potential partnership is said to be the deal that American television stars Chip and Joanna Gaines have with HGTV/Warner Brothers for their Magnolia Network. The husband-and-wife duo host a home renovation show, Fixer Upper, and sell lifestyle products, including bedding inspired by the show.
Meghan is said to expect American Riviera Orchard, which will focus on home, garden, food and lifestyle items, to be very lucrative. Netflix has more than 250 million paid subscribers worldwide.
The duchess, 42, unveiled the venture last month by posting a stunning video on Instagram in which she could be seen busy in a rustic-looking kitchen, arranging white and pink flowers and whisking something in a bowl.
She posted the video the day after I contacted her office to comment on her plans, which may have overshadowed an appearance by Harry, via video link, at an event that night for the Diana Prize, a nearby organization to your heart.
A source told me at the time: ‘The branding is due to coincide with the launch of a new cooking show for Netflix. Meghan will make and sell products such as jams. At some point there will be a book and a blog.’
Filming of the show began last week in a house in Montecito, the California neighborhood where Meghan lives with Prince Harry and their two children.
The duchess, 42, unveiled the venture last month by posting a stunning video on Instagram in which she could be seen busy in a rustic-looking kitchen, arranging white and pink flowers and whisking something in a bowl.
Meghan’s lawyer has applied to register the trademark in the United States for several products, including cutlery, recipe books, tablecloths, napkins, jams, edible oils, vegetable spreads and dairy products. The trademark application also appears to extend to a physical store where items could be sold.
Whoever runs the brand may need to have a strong character. There have been a series of departures from Harry and Meghan’s team. The total number of employees the Sussexes have lost since they married in 2018 is said to be at least 17, and eight or more have left since they moved to California.
A spokesman for the duchess declined to comment.