After Duchess Meghan finally debuted her inaugural podcast last week, questions are being raised over whether her reported $26 million paycheque was worth it.
Sources close to the former actress and her husband Prince Harry suspect the 12-episode Archetypes – a play on their three-year-old son Archie’s name – will “end in tears” for the couple, with scrutiny flooding in from all corners of the globe.
In her debut episode focusing on ambitious women, the 41-year-old waxed lyrical with her longtime friend, tennis champion Serena Williams, about how she didn’t know “ambition” was a negative word until she began dating her royal husband.
Meghan’s new podcast features some a-list stars.
(Image: Getty)DANGEROUS MOVE
Scrutiny flooded in about the 55-minute episode, ranging from Today host Ally Langdon describing it as “just another way she can talk about herself”, while The Times podcast reviewer James Marriott assessed it as “almost entirely preposterous”.
“Spotify must be left wondering if they’ve spent their money wisely,” he writes for the British newspaper.
Meghan singed the podcast deal almost two years ago.
(Image: Getty)Woman’s Day has learned exclusively that 37-year-old Harry, too, is questioning whether it’s all worth it.
“At first, he was meant to be a part of it – that’s how it was sold to Spotify and originally promoted,” says a source.
“So it’s pretty telling that he’s decided not to be involved. Coming up with 12 episodes littered with complaints about the royal family – which everyone knows that’s what most people are tuning in for – is a lot of pressure, and a dangerous concept given they’ve been trashed for lying in the past.
“Harry must know there’s a good chance they’ll be left red-faced, here. He doesn’t understand why she’d be so willing to leave herself, him and their kids so open to public pile-ons.”
Will Archie feature in the next episode?
(Image: Getty)During the podcast, Meghan sensationally insinuated that the palace forced the Sussexes back to work after finding out Archie’s nursery had caught on fire while they were on tour in South Africa.
“It’s shocking news but is it really Meghan’s truth?” questioned Harry’s biographer Angela Levin.
“If Harry had his way, he’d prefer the kids weren’t a part of this podcast,” says a separate insider. “After all, they did step away from royal duties to give the kids a more private life.”
Today host Karl Stefanovic mocked Meghan’s reaction to the nursery fire.
(Image: Getty)With Meghan’s latest Hollywood move prompting backlash just one episode in, insiders say Harry is bracing himself for the next 11 instalments.
“Harry’s worried about how it will all pan out given they’ve had some humiliating fails since they struck out on their own, and there are fears among their team that this could be another one.”
