Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s decision to leave the royal family was not made lightly. While their announcement may have come as a surprise to many, it was “months of conversations” before everything was finalized. Prince Harry recently delivered a speech that stated, in part, explained how the couple had “no other option.” According to a new report, the “final straw” for their decision has to do with their son, Archie.
During a dinner for supporters of Sentebale in London, Prince Harry shared the reasons behind their decision to step away from their royal duties.
He explained: “I must say that I can only imagine what you may have heard, or perhaps read, over the past few weeks. So, I want you to hear the truth from me. As much as I can share, not as a prince or a duke, but as Harry, the same person that many of you have watched grow up over the past 35 years, but now with a clearer perspective.”
He shared later: “Once Meghan and I were married, we were excited, we were hopeful and we were here to serve… The decision that I have made for my wife and I to step back is not one I made lightly. It was so many months of talks after so many years of challenges. And I know I haven’t always gotten it right, but as far as this goes, there really was no other option.”
Prince Harry further noted: “I hope it helps you understand what it had come to, that I would step my family back from all I have ever known to take a step forward into what I hope can be a more peaceful life.”
Of course, the media scrutiny took its toll on the Sussexes, as Prince Harry shared: “You looked after me for so long, but the media is a powerful force. And my hope is one day our collective support for each other can be more powerful, because this is so much bigger than just us.”
While the couple endured constant public and media criticism, according to a report from TMZ, their need to protect their son Archie’s privacy forced them to make this drastic decision to exit the royal family.
A source told TMZ that “things really began to sour” after Archie’s birth, as their attempts to keep him out of the spotlight were met with criticism. The British press wasn’t happy with the way the Sussexes controlled the media’s access to their son, from abandoning the typical public photocall after his birth to keeping details of his christening private.
TMZ reports that “the final straw” came after Archie’s christening, with a source sharing: “They think if the British public aren’t contributing financially then they don’t have the same right to comment on their private life.”
Now that they’ve moved to Canada, according to The New York Times, the Sussexes’ lawyers sent a letter to British news outlets threatening a lawsuit after paparazzi captured personal photos of Markle walking with Archie and their dogs.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have started their journey to become financially independent from the crown, but Prince Charles has reportedly warned them that there will be some restrictions when it comes to their brand. A source close to the situation claims that Prince Charles told Harry and Meghan that there will be limits on what kind of products they can endorse under their title as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. How will these restrictions affect the couple’s plan to finance their lives?
Last summer, Harry and Meghan applied for a trademark for Sussex Royal, the foundation they launched after leaving Prince William and Kate Middleton’s The Royal Foundation. The trademark application covered a wide range of areas, including allowing the couple to use their name on merchandise.
While Harry and Meghan could probably make a killing using the trademark, Prince Charles reportedly warned them against endorsing certain products.
“There will be strict instructions on branding,” the source stated. “For example, no one wants to see the Sussexes’ name on a tub of margarine.”
In their shocking announcement last week, Harry and Meghan revealed that they want to become financially independent from the crown. The move has been heavily criticized by royal watchers as the majority of the couple’s ventures are made possible via public funding.
According to Express, Harry and Meghan receive an annual allowance from the Sovereign Grant Fund. This is how the two were able to pay for the renovations of Frogmore Cottage, which cost them over $2 million.
The couple hopes to break free from the Sovereign Grant Fund in the near future and start earning a professional income.
Harry and Meghan have considerable fortunes that could pay for the majority of their expenses in the short term. But they will need to find a steady source of income for their long-term plans, especially considering their current needs.
Meghan made millions during her acting career and pulled down over $37,000 per episode of Suits. Harry, meanwhile, inherited tens of millions from his late mother, Princess Diana.
While the two sort out the financial aspects of the new lives, Prince Charles is reportedly going to give them money from the Duchy of Cornwall. We do not know how much Charles is willing to give the couple, but they will likely be on a short leash.
Part of Harry and Meghan’s plan is to move to Canada, where they will spend part of the year. Aside from purchasing a new home (which will likely cost millions), the two will also need to provide full-time security.
Shortly after Harry and Meghan’s surprise announcement, Queen Elizabeth called an emergency meeting at her Sandringham estate. Present for the gathering were Prince Charles, Prince Harry, and Prince William.
Once the meeting concluded, Queen Elizabeth issued a statement about how she supports Harry and Meghan’s decision to step down as senior members of the royal family.
While the royals seemed united, inside sources claim that Charles was “livid” when he found out about Harry and Meghan’s announcement. He also reportedly blames Meghan for pushing Harry to leave the royal spotlight and believes they are distancing themselves from the family.
Prior to their exit, Harry and Meghan were getting a yearly stipend of around $6 million from Charles. The source says that Prince Charles is still mulling over how much he will give the couple now that they are stepping down.
A lot of royal watchers blamed Harry’s alleged feud with William for his exit, but experts believe that Harry’s strained relationship with Charles is the real reason he decided to leave.
Last month, Harry reportedly talked to Prince Charles about his plans to move to North America for part of the year. Charles allegedly told Harry that he needed a more concrete plan of action before making an announcement, which did not sit well with Harry.
The Duke of Sussex tried to call a meeting with Queen Elizabeth, but he was blocked by Charles’ courtiers. Harry then feared that his plan would get leaked to the public, which is why he announced it on social media without warning the rest of the royals.
Prince Harry has not commented on the rumors surrounding his relationship with Prince Charles.
Just hours into season one of Star Trek: Picard, the eponymous and beloved Starfleet officer is told, “This is no longer your house, Jean-Luc.” While it’s true that Picard, played indelibly and with renewed soulfulness by Patrick Stewart, doesn’t have quite the same standing in the year 2399 that he did in 2385, the character and actor still look very much at home in the newest Star Trek series. In many ways, Picard is the leader we remember, a man whose compassion and intelligence preceded him, who believed that the progression of humanity could, with concerted effort, keep up with that of technology. But 20 years after the events of Nemesis, there’s been a considerable change in circumstance: he’s now a man with no crew or starship, just a long memory and a mission (and a vineyard and a great dog, but we digress).
The same sense of purpose that sends the erstwhile Enterprise captain journeying through the stars once more also extends to the wider series, and keeps Picard from being a mere exercise in nostalgia or repackaging of intellectual property. The series, Alex Kurtzman’s latest foray into this particular sci-fi universe, shares its lead character’s penchant for delving into history, but keeps its eyes trained forward, seeking out new ways to tell classic Trek stories—among them, exploring what it means to be human.
Finding a balance between old and new, between the past and the future, is as much a thematic concern as it is an offscreen imperative for Kurtzman, Stewart, and their fellow executive producers Michael Chabon, Akiva Goldsman, and Heather Kadin. No one on screen or behind the scenes believes this story can just pick up where The Next Generation (or even the big-screen adventures) left off, narratively or otherwise. The passage of time, both on the show and in real life, is seen and felt everywhere, from Picard’s strained relationship with Starfleet to the Federation’s current state of intergalactic affairs to the more somber tone of the series.
But even with such an esteemed history and noble intentions, Star Trek: Picard struggles at times to fly true in its first three episodes. Attempts to marry the sensibilities of big-screen (specifically, Kelvin timeline) Trek with those of its TV counterpart result create discord; there is a slickness to the pilot, particularly in the big action set-pieces, that doesn’t quite jibe with the more pensive nature of the small-screen franchises. But veteran TV director Hanelle M. Culpepper, who helmed the first three episodes, eventually settles into a more familiar speed, one that allows each new discovery to land before moving on to the next.
Picard is also so packed with plot and backstories, it’ll have you wishing you had the memory banks of Data (Brent Spiner), the dearly departed android whose cinematic death still haunts Picard. In just the first three hours, the series sprints through decades of history, including the tragic events of the Romulan supernova that killed billions and made refugees of millions more. The details of Picard’s rift with Starfleet are gradually revealed, and we also learn more about his retirement, his vineyard employees, and his old (but new to us) comrades, like Raffi Musiker (Michelle Hurd), who is one of a surprising number of people on this show who won’t readily forgive the old Francophone. Kurtzman et. al. insist that you can walk into Picard a Trek novice, which is probably true, though we should note that being versed in the history only enriches jokes about Picard’s indifference to science fiction and makes transparent the wary reactions to the mere mention of the Tal Shiar.
In addition to all that world-building, Picard season one has conspiracies within conspiracies—though we suppose that’s to be expected in any storyline with this many Romulans involved, including Narek (Harry Treadway). There are flashbacks and previously unheard-of destinations, as well as new characters with just as much to lose the iconic captain, but whose motives aren’t nearly as obvious to us. Alison Pill co-stars as Dr. Agnes Jurati, the Earth’s leading expert on synthetic life forms—the same synthetic life forms (or “synths”) that were outlawed following an attack on a Mars space station that was first glimpsed in Short Treks. As Cristobal Rios, Big Little Lies’ Santiago Cabrera gets to play buttoned-up and swashbuckling, occasionally even in the same scene. But most intriguingly, Picard introduces Dahj (Isa Briones), a brilliant young woman who, despite meeting Jean-Luc in the premiere, has deep connections to his past.
At times, it’s difficult to keep the people and machinations straight, not to mention maintain interest in them. But all of these moving parts make up the engine that drives Picard the man and Picard the series, from the real-life events that inform the isolationism and refugee crisis depicted on the show to the search for compassionate and right-minded leaders. Regret is a powerful motivator, and Jean-Luc’s list of regrets is nearly as long as his list of accomplishments, but Picard is more opening salvo than it is a requiem for a starship captain. War, or some other cataclysmic event, is brewing, and no one gets to sit it out; not even the man who once thwarted the Borg. Soon, Picard’s return makes all the more sense—the reunion of the actor and the role, of the character and the battlefront is truly, as Dahj says at one point, “like lightning seeking the ground.” It’s immediately, undeniably comforting to see Stewart playing Picard once again, even as dulcet-toned actor brings new layers of vulnerability and insecurity to the role.
But though Picard acts as a beacon for his companions and viewers at home, the series doesn’t paint him as a savior. Picard carves out a distinct place for him—which is, at times, on the bridge of a starship—while also expanding the roles of his new comrades. It’s hard to pick a favorite among the new castmates, who bring wide-eyed energy (Pill), charisma (Cabrera), pathos (Hurd), and star quality (Briones) to familiar environs. But they’re ready to chart a new course within the universe of Star Trek, just as that universe welcomes back its most inspiring hero. Together, these stories make for one of the most rousing installments in the franchise, and potentially one of the most powerful.
Reviews by Zack Handlen will run weekly beginning Thursday, January 23.
Trekkies rejoice! Patrick Stewart will be beamed to our screens once again as Jean-Luc Picard, former Captain of the USS-Enterprise. Given the actor said he was done playing the character after the film Star Trek: Nemesis, there’s a guaranteed thrill for fans who watch Star Trek: Picard online as Stewart reprises the iconic role and reunites with The Next Generation cast members Brent Spiner, Jonathan Frakes, and Marina Sirtis after 18 years.
Picard’s return will stream exclusively on CBS All Access starting from Thursday, January 23 and available at one minute past midnight in the early hours of the morning (or late on Wednesday night).
A new episode of ten total will be available every Thursday morning from 12.01am PT / 3am ET.
The new series won’t be all phasers blazing and warp speeds, however. Executive producer Alex Kurtzman has promised a more “contemplative show” with a “real-world” look, and the final Star Trek: Picard trailer certainly establishes a wistful mood in addition to impressive visual spectacle.
Beginning in the late 24th century, we find a retired Picard living a quiet life on Earth. Romulus has been destroyed and the former captain is still haunted by the unfortunate events at the conclusion of Star Trek: Nemesis. So, when a young woman named Dahj comes to him for help, he finds himself entering the intergalactic fray once more.
Read on to 'make it so' and watch Star Trek: Picard online wherever you are.
If you find yourself far from home when the latest episode drops – abroad on business or taking an extended vacation – don’t let geo-blocks ruin your fun. “There’s a way out of every box, a solution to every puzzle” Captain Picard once said, and rightly so.
Say you’re in a country where this content isn’t available. Utilizing a VPN will allow you to watch Star Trek: Picard online no matter where you’re situated. This simple piece of software changes your IP address, so you can access each episode live or catch-up with the series, just as if you were at home.
There are hundreds of VPNs to choose from. Our personal favorite is ExpressVPN. It's quick, secure and uncomplicated to use. It's compatible with numerous devices, including Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV Stick, the Xbox, PlayStation, and both iOS and Android software.
What makes ExpressVPN even more enticing is its flexible 30-day money back guarantee. But then again, if you sign up for an annual plan you'll get a 49% discount and 3 months extra FREE - a brilliant deal on an essential bit of software.
Once downloaded, search for the location of your home country or select it from the pre-defined list, and then connect. You should then be able to watch Star Trek: Picard online without any difficulty.
This much-anticipated series is exclusive to CBS All Access in the US, so you’ll have to register to its streaming site to keep-up with the intrigues of Starfleet in the late 24th century.
It’s $5.99 for their Limited Commercials plan, or $9.99 to stream without interruption. Both options come with one week FREE and you can cancel any time, so you could watch episodes free of charge.
Expecting to stick around? You’ll save 15% if you purchase an annual subscription.
UK viewers will need to wait 24-hours after the US broadcast to see the new Star Trek. Available from Friday, January 24 and exclusive to Amazon Prime Video, a new episode will be uploaded to the service every Friday over a period of ten weeks.
With Amazon Prime Video you get lots of benefits in addition to access to thousands of films and TV series, all for £7.99 a month. There’s also a 30-day free trial. This means you could watch four episodes of the series as they go live, or wait ten weeks and binge them all in one go, without spending a penny.
Canadian Trekkies have two options available. Firstly, cable channels CTV Sci-Fi and the French-language speciality channel Z will air Star Trek: Picard at 9pm ET / 6pm PT every single Thursday, starting from January 23.
If you don’t have access to cable (or don't want it), streaming service Crave has your back. It’s $9.99 per month, and includes hit TV series and premium channel Showtime. There are also a number of upgrade options available for an additional fee.
Thanks to Amazon Prime Video you can also watch Star Trek: Picard online in Australia from January 24, with the OTT service distributing the show internationally to over 200 countries.
Antipodeans can subscribe to Prime for $6.99 per month. If you’re new to Amazon Prime, however, you’re eligible for a 30-day free trial and could to watch about four episodes of this weekly drama as they become available, for nothing!
Stepping into what mustt have been the most awkward conversation held between a band and their drummer since the last time a band was forced to have a conversation with its drummer, a judge has blocked Joey Kramer’s legal efforts to force Aerosmith to let him play with them at the Grammys this weekend. Per Deadline, a Massachusetts judge ruled tonight that Aerosmith’s decision not to allow Kramer—who hasn’t performed with the group since last year, when he suffered unnamed “minor injuries”—to play when they receive an award on Sunday night does not constitute breach of contract, as he and his lawyers were asserting.
In fact, the judge essentially said what Aerosmith said in their statement yesterday: If Kramer wanted to play at the Grammys this year, he probably should have gotten all of this in place before the band was just days away from playing together on national TV. To quote: “Given that Kramer has not played with the band in 6 months and the dearth of available rehearsal time before the upcoming performances, Kramer has not shown a realistic alternative course of action sufficient to protect the band’s business interests.”
Kramer, of course, says he’s been trying, and that the band has been stopping him, up to and including forcing him to record an “audition” to return, which they then rejected for lacking “energy.”. The other members of Aerosmith, meanwhile, maintain that they would love for their bandmate of 50 years to come back into the fold—just not with zero rehearsal time ahead of a major event. They’ve also been vocal about their desire to have Kramer at the Grammys alongside them, just not performing with them on stage. (Although to be fair, they made that statement before today’s legal ruling; who knows how well the whole “suing to get back into the band thing” is going with people behind the scenes.)
Still, though, we have to say this sets a good precedent: Once suing your way into Aerosmith becomes an acceptable legal maneuver, who knows how far it’d go? Soon we’d all be hiring lawyers to score us plum spots in Boston or Steely Dan. Anarchy would reign, as lawyers then began suing themselves into the ranks of Cheap Trick or the Who. Madness in the streets! Love in an elevator! Revolution X!
Members of the royal family are avoiding questions about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s royal exit like the plague, which is why Camilla Parker Bowles’ recent reaction to Megxit is so interesting. Camilla was asked about the couple’s stunning exit during a recent royal engagement, and while she was clearly not expecting the question, her reaction has sparked questions about how she really feels about the situation. So what did Camilla have to say about Harry and Meghan stepping down as senior members of the royal family?
A journalist named Chris Ship surprised Camilla outside a royal engagement at Buckingham Palace. According to Marie Claire, Ship asked Camilla if she was going to miss Harry and Meghan now that they are not senior members of the royal family.
In response, Camilla hesitated before saying, “Hmmmm, ‘Course.” Camilla then walked on and did her best to not react to any further questioning.
Camilla Parker Bowles was obviously surprised by the question, and her answer was brief due to the fact that she was already walking away when it was asked. Even still, the fact that she hesitated is interesting and offers an insight into what she really thinks about the drama.
It might also indicate that the royals are still rather shocked by Harry and Meghan’s decision, which reportedly blindsided everyone in the royal family.
Another point of intrigue is how Camilla did not mention how she is still going to see Harry and Meghan. The two have stepped down from their posts, but it’s not like they are permanently moving away and will never see his side of the family anymore.
While royal watchers continue to pick apart Camilla’s response, there is a chance that Camilla played a part in determining Harry and Meghan’s fate. In the days following their stunning announcement, Harry met with senior members of the royal family to further discuss his decision.
Although Camilla Parker Bowles is a Privy Councillor, she did not make the meetings, which included Queen Elizabeth, Prince Charles, and Prince William. For those that are not aware, the Privy Council is a group of advisors that guide Queen Elizabeth.
We do not know if Queen Elizabeth sought the advice of the Privy Council before stripping Harry and Meghan of their formal titles.
Moving forward, Harry and Meghan will no longer be referred to as his or her royal highness. They will, however, keep their titles as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, as well as the name of their charity, Sussex Royal.
While the royals are still dealing with the aftermath of their exit, Harry and Meghan are currently in Canada.
Harry and Meghan ultimately stepped down as senior members of the royal family because of all the drama they have faced in the media since tying the knot in 2018. While some royal watchers have sympathized with their plight, they are hardly the first royals who have faced intense scrutiny by the press.
In fact, Camilla is one of the few members of the royal family who understands exactly what Harry and Meghan are going through. The only difference is that Camilla weathered the storm and remained a senior member of the royal family through it all.
As fans will recall, Camilla Parker Bowles faced a lot of negative reports after she rekindled her romance with Charles, who was also put through the wringer after his affair with Camilla ruined his marriage to Princess Diana.
But instead of quitting the royal family, Camilla and Charles stuck to their guns and slowly repaired their public image.
“Charles is a man who, after the death of Diana and his marriage to Camilla, suffered more adverse publicity than any member of the Royal Family in modern times,” Arthur Edwards, a royal photographer, shared. “He didn’t run away. He didn’t hide. He didn’t criticize. He didn’t ban anybody from the Rota.”
In their official statement, Harry and Meghan revealed that they want to become financially independent from the crown and spend part of their time in Canada each year.
The two recently reunited on Vancouver Island and are reportedly looking to purchase a home in the area.
They are also no longer relying on public funding and are expected to pay back the money that was used to renovate their home in Windsor, Frogmore Cottage.
Camilla Parker Bowles, along with other senior members of the royal family, have returned to their busy schedules as Meghan and Harry are setting up a hopefully quieter life in Canada.
