Prince Harry and Meghan Markle‘s finances seem to be everybody’s business these days.
On the heels of their Netflix deal being called into question by Variety, NewsNation sources are claiming that their Penguin Random House book deal has gone belly up. “The executives at Penguin Random House are fielding near weekly calls from camp Sussex asking for more money,” a publishing insider told the media outlet. “They think there are royalties, but there aren’t. Penguin overpaid and, with marketing, printing, and other costs, even with millions of copies sold, they will never earn out or get royalties.”
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The source went on to describe the couple as “annoying,” with the Duke of Sussex having a “fundamental disconnect to the concept of money.” Harry’s 2023 memoir, Spare, sold over six million copies for the publishing house, and he earned a reported $20 million to write his story.
The news was announced in July 2021 by Penguin Random House, but Page Six shared that the deal included up to four publications, including a book from Meghan on wellness and another on “leadership and philanthropy” co-authored by both of them. Nothing ever came to fruition on that end, and Harry reportedly turned down the opportunity to update his memoir timed to its paperback release.
That was a far cry from what the Duke of Sussex told The Telegraph in 2023 — he had more stories to tell.
“The first draft was different. It was 800 pages, and now it’s down to 400 pages. It could have been two books, put it that way. And the hard bit was taking things out,” he explained.
The publishing house probably wanted an update, but given the complicated reaction from King Charles and Prince William in the wake of his book’s success, Harry opted out. Still, he stood by his account of his royal life and the fallout.
“I don’t want to tell anyone what to think of it, and that includes my family,” Harry explained to People. “This book and its truths are in many ways a continuation of my own mental health journey. It’s a raw account of my life.”
Penguin Random House has yet to confirm the split with the Sussexes, but the NewsNation source alleged that it’s a done deal.
“Penguin Random House is done with [Harry and Meghan],” they said. “It will never publish another book by them. They were (financially) burned.”
More on the royal family:
Before you go, click here to see more of Meghan Markle & Prince Harry’s milestones since leaving the royal family.
