Meghan Markle & Prince Harry latest: Bidding war sees ITV emerge as frontrunner to host bombshell Oprah interview
- Meghan & Harry seen for 1st time since losing titles
- Queen ‘decided long ago’ who'd get Harry's titles
A BIDDING war is said to have erupted among TV channels over which gets to host Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's bombshell interview - with ITV emerging as the frontrunner.
Meghan and Harry's sitdown interview with chatshow queen will air on CBS in the US on March 7.
And it has now sparked a bidding war between broadcasters over who will be able to air it in the UK.
today claimed Sky was out of the running, with the BBC not involved in the bidding war.
And it has been claimed ITV has emerged as the frontrunner for the interview.
It’s understood that ViacomCBS Global Distribution Group, which has the role of selling the interview to overseas broadcasters, wants the interview to be aired on a free-to-air channel.
This means that platforms like Amazon Prime and Netflix - who has already signed a £112m deal with the Sussexes - would be out of the running.
Follow our Harry and Meghan live blog below for the very latest news and gossip about the royal couple...
THE COUPLE’S NET WORTH
When Harry and Meghan Markle officially stepped down as senior members of the Royal Family they vowed to be financially independent.
Prince Harry’s net worth comes in at £30,500,000.
And before she tied the knot with Harry, Meghan was worth an estimated £3.5million, thanks to her role in American drama Suits.
She pocketed a reported £500,000 pay-check for her role as Rachel Zane in the legal drama.
Marriage to a royal has certainly boosted her finances though – and her assets: she now has a 91-piece jewellery collection worth £600,000.
WHAT NATIONALITY WILL MEGHAN AND HARRY’S SECOND BABY BE?
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s baby will be of dual nationality – British and American.
Meghan gave birth to baby Archie at the Portland Hospital in London in May of 2019.
Her current due date and planned place of birth is unknown, but it is thought to be in California in early spring.
MEGHAN AND HARRY ‘WON’T BE PAID’ FOR THEIR 90-MINUTE SPECIAL WITH OPRAH
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry won’t be paid for their appearance on Oprah, it’s been claimed.
The pair, who scored multi-million deals with Netflix and Spotify, will be sitting down for a – where they are expected to reveal details about their new life.
According to the Telegraph, the couple will not be paid for the interview which will be aired on March 7.
It has been billed as a prime time special that will see Meghan, 39, speak about topics ranging from “stepping into life as a royal, marriage, motherhood, philanthropic work, to how she is handling life under intense public pressure”.
COUPLE WARNED OF ‘OPRAH EFFECT’
Harry and Meghan have been warned of the ‘Oprah effect’ as they prepare for the airing of their prime time interview.
Marketing expert Jonathan Gabay told the pair have reached the point of no return as they leave their British lives behind for ‘an LA zip code’.
He added they are taking a “pretty risky” decision in taking part in the sit-down chat, which airs in America on March 7.
PRINCE HARRY’S PALS FEAR HE WILL REGRET DECISION TO QUIT FIRM
Prince Harry’s friend Martyn Compton fears his former Army comrade will live to regret his decision to halt his royal duties.
Martyn — badly burned in Afghanistan in 2006 and a pal of Harry’s for 15 years — says losing his honorary military titles as a result is bound to hurt the prince.
But here the ex-Household Cavalry Lance Corporal tells The Sun on Sunday’s Executive Features Editor Ben Griffiths that no royal can be seen to cash in.
Read the full story here
NEARLY HALF OF BRITS THINK INTERVIEW IS ‘INAPPROPRIATE’
Nearly half of Brits think Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s explosive Oprah Winfrey interview is “inappropriate”.
The interview, titled Oprah with Meghan and Harry, will air on CBS on March 7 – but Brits have been unimpressed with news of the show.
According to a YouGov survey, 46% of surveyed Brits said it was inappropriate for the couple to give the interview to discuss their experiences with the Royal Family.
Another 29% said it was appropriate, with those aged 18 to 24 most likely to say it was OK.
Meanwhile, 25% of those surveyed said they “don’t know”.
HARRY AND MEG PICTURED AFTER LOSING TITLES
PREGNANT Meghan Markle and Prince Harry were today seen for the first time since being stripped of their Royal titles as they appeared at an "inspiring" Spotify online event.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex today gushed over sharing vulnerabilities as they promoted their new podcast series.
Pregnant Meghan, 39, stunned in a £2,478 Oscar de la Renta for the online video while sitting close to her husband on a couch.
They appeared alongside other A-listers including Justin Bieber, J Balvin, Brené Brown and Blackpink to feature during today’s the #SpotifyStreamOn event.
The couple - who have signed multi-million pound deals with Spotify and Netflix - said they wanted to "elevate voices" that weren't being heard.
TELL-ALL INTERVIEW HAS BEEN ‘IN WORKS FOR THREE YEARS’
Meghan Markle’s explosive tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey has reportedly been in the works for three years as they played “a long game”.
The Duchess’s decision to open up publicly came after a ‘three-year courtship by the chatshow host,’ .
Oprah, 67, came into Meghan’s life in early 2018, having reportedly got in touch through the US TV network, CBS.
Oprah said she was happy to offer the Duchess friendship and guidance.
The Times writes: “Winfrey played a long game. For some time neither spoke about doing an interview.”
HARRY'S CALL WITH THE QUEEN
PRINCE Harry called the Queen to ask about Prince Philip's health last week, it was reported.
The Duke of Sussex spoke with his 94-year-old grandmother as his 99-year-old grandfather was taken to hospital.
The Duke of Edinburgh has now spent a fifth night in hospital after being admitted to London’s King Edward VII Hospital last week.
And the today reported the 36-year-old royal called the Queen last week to ask about Prince Philip's health.
Harry is said to be self-isolating in his LA mansion with Meghan Markle and baby Archie in case he needs to return to Britain.
And the duke has made plans to fly back to the UK by private jet and is being kept "regularly informed" of Prince Philip's health, previously reported.
WILL HOPES TO REPAIR 'RIFT' WITH HARRY
PRINCE William hopes to repair his rift with Prince Harry now Megxit is done, but only if Meghan Markle doesn't "unleash" on Oprah, royal sources have claimed.
The brothers' relationship is understood to remain fragile after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were officially stripped of their royal patronages last week.
William was said to be "really sad and genuinely shocked" by how his brother reacted as the Sussexes insisted they could still ";live a life of service".
Sources close to William said he believed Harry, 36, and Meghan, 39, had been “insulting and disrespectful”, and he was “very upset by what has happened”.
But the Duke of Cambridge is now keen to focus on "purely family matters" with his brother in order to repair their bond, palace sources have said.
QUEEN IN RARE TV SPECIAL
THE Queen will make a rare televised address just hours before Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's explosive tell-all interview with Oprah.
The 94-year-old monarch will address the nation to mark Commonwealth Day on March 7 as the church service has been cancelled due to Covid-19.
And her address is expected to air on the BBC One on March 7 - just before Meghan and Harry's tell-all with the queen of American chat shows is aired in the US.
It was last week announced the couple would speak with Oprah in a "wide-ranging interview" that could cover subjects including "life as a Royal, marriage, motherhood".
The primetime special is expected to air on CBS at 8pm Eastern Standard time on March 7, meaning it will be at 1am the following morning in the UK.
MEG A DONATION
MEGHAN Markle and Prince Harry have donated to a women's shelter devastated by a huge storm in Texas after breaking away from the Royal Family.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex made the unknown donation to the Genesis Women's Shelter and Support in Dallas.
It was badly damaged by Winter Storm Uri, which has gripped Texas, with its ceiling collapsing and burst pipes causing flooding.
As a result, women homed at the shelter were relocated to hotels, other shelters and homes of friends and family as the centre closed for the first time in 35 years.
The couple, who are expecting a second child, made a donation through their non-profit Archwell Foundation days after declaring: "Service is universal".
JUDY FINNIGAN SLAMS 'SILLY, SPOILT' PRINCE HARRY
Judy Finnigan has branded Prince Harry "silly and spoilt" for agreeing to be interviewed by Oprah Winfrey with wife Meghan Markle.
The former This Morning host, 72, claimed Harry has "totally rejected us" after turning his back on life as a royal in Britain for a new start in America
She wrote in yesterday's : "He’s just a silly, spoiled Prince who thinks he can have it all. You’re not a Prince without a country, just a rich playboy with a Netflix contract.
"If he ever comes back home, I fear he’s in for a nasty shock."
It comes as it was claimed Harry didn't tell the Queen about his planned 90-minute interview with US chat show queen Oprah.
ROLE CALL
The Queen reportedly decided long ago which royals will take on Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's patronages - even before they officially quit.
The monarch will make the announcement to the Royal Family in the next few weeks, the reported.
The Queen reportedly made the decision before the announcement that Harry, 36, and Meghan, 39, would not return to the Royal Family.
A royal source said: “When the writing was on the wall and it was clear the Duke and Duchess had no intention of coming back into the fold and being part of the team, the Queen made her mind up long ago over her preferred candidates for the roles they vacated.”
Princess Anne is tipped to take over from Prince Harry as Captain General of the Royal Marines.
ROYALS TOLD TO ‘HIDE BEHIND SOFA’ FOR OPRAH CHAT
The Royal Family have been warned to “hide behind the sofa” when Harry and Meghan’s tell-all chat with Oprah Winfrey airs next month.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have sat down with the chat show queen in a 90-minute interview — with Oprah’s pals suggesting “nothing will be off-limits”.
It is believed the couple used the interview to “get what they want to say off their chests” before they announced they have permanently quit as frontline royals on Friday.
It was filmed on Tuesday — the same day the Duke of Edinburgh, 99, was taken to the hospital — in the Californian enclave where Harry and Meghan are neighbours of 67-year-old Oprah Winfrey, reports the Times.
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BABY'S SEX KNOWN
MEGHAN Markle and Prince Harry already "know the sex of their baby" and "will ditch" a traditional royal name, a royal biographer has claimed.
On Valentine's Day, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced they were expecting their second child with a black-and-white photo taken in the garden of their £11m Californian estate.
Although the couple haven't revealed when their baby is due, royal expert Camilla Tominey speculated Meghan is already five months pregnant on Today Extra.
MEGHAN AND HARRY SEEN FOR FIRST TIME
PREGNANT Meghan Markle and Prince Harry were today seen for the first time since being stripped of their Royal titles as they appeared at an "inspiring" Spotify online event.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex today gushed over sharing vulnerabilities as they promoted their new podcast series.
Pregnant Meghan, 39, stunned in a £2,478 Oscar de la Renta for the online video while sitting close to her husband on a couch.
QUEEN'S DECISION
THE Queen reportedly decided long ago which royals will take on Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's patronages - even before they officially quit.
The monarch will make the announcement to the Royal Family in the next few weeks, the reported.
The Queen reportedly made the decision before the announcement that Harry, 36, and Meghan, 39, would not return to the Royal Family.
WILLIAM HOPES TO 'REPAIR RIFT WITH HARRY' NOW MEGXIT IS DONE
William hopes to repair his rift with Prince Harry now Megxit is done, but only if Meghan Markle doesn't "unleash" on Oprah, royal sources have claimed.
The brothers' relationship is understood to remain fragile after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were officially stripped of their royal patronages last week.
William was said to be "really sad and genuinely shocked" by how his brother reacted as the Sussexes insisted they could still "live a life of service".
Sources close to William said he believed Harry, 36, and Meghan, 39, had been “insulting and disrespectful”, and he was “very upset by what has happened”.
But the Duke of Cambridge is now keen to focus on "purely family matters" with his brother in order to repair their bond, palace sources have said.
'FURIOUS' WILLIAM 'REFUSED' TO HAVE LUNCH WITH HARRY BEFORE SANDRINGHAM SUMMIT
Back in January 2020, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry dropped the bombshell that they were quitting the Royal Family.
In the days that followed, the Queen, Prince Charles, Prince William and Prince Harry held crisis talks at the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk to negotiate the terms of Megixt.
And now royal expert Robert Lacey has claimed that Prince William was so "furious" with his brother, he refused to have lunch with the family beforehand.
Speaking to ELLE, the expert said: "One prince said no, I’m not coming to that, I’m not sitting with my brother, and the prince who said that was William. Most people were shocked.
"This is not Royal gossip; we saw William turning up late just in time for the 2 o’clock meeting, so there’s no doubt at all that was his position then.
"Friends suggest he was so furious with Harry that he couldn’t trust himself to sit at the same table. This is the depth to which the anger has gone."