PRINCE Harry and Meghan Markle are "blatantly" after a deal with media giant Paramount just as a key Archewell Productions member has quit, experts have said.
With their reported £80million Netflix deal drawing to a close in 2025, and only two projects under their belt, the Sussexes have sparked rumours a contract with rival Paramount Pictures is in the pipeline.
It comes as the Duke and Duchess' trip to Jamaica to attend the Paramount film Bob Marley: One Love premier last Tuesday raised some eyebrows.
It is understood the "desperate" couple, had been flown out by the media giant on a private Gulfstream IV jet.
They were thought to have stayed in a £3,300-a-night resort while on the luxury trip.
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And while in Jamaica the Sussexes took the opportunity to cosy up to Paramount's CEO Brian Robbins in a bid to revive Meghan's failed acting pursuits, claimed Royal experts.
Experts now say that Harry and Meghan's appearance was "blatantly" pushing for a deal with the media giant as their Netflix deal winds to a close.
Royal expert Angela Levin said that the Sussexes were "brutal" with the Royal Family and would have that attitude in their business negotiations.
She says: "What they're showing is they are not being loyal to Netflix because they're still signed up to Netflix.
"They haven't been loyal to the Royal Family, they've been brutal and that's family."
Levin said it was perfectly normal for Harry and Meghan to bargain and pursue contracts, but: "If they want to move to Paramount they shouldn't have had this type of exposure, it's very unsubtle.
"Move quietly with dignity, people see she's there fluttering her eyes [at the Paramount CEO] because that's what she likes to do, be slightly flirty."
"It's not very nice behaviour.
"Whoever pays the most will get the goods, there's nothing wrong with that, you just don't show it to the world.
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"It's not very tasteful."
Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams said he believed a deal with Paramount could be "a distinct possibility".
He said: “They’ve not done much for Netflix, the only two things were the Harry and Meghan documentary – which of course was widely watched but Heart of Invictus people didn’t watch."
The couple were spotted chatting to Paramount CEO, Brian Robbins, who lives close to the Sussexes in a £13million Montecito mansion.
It sparked rumours the pair could be forming a deal with the entertainment company - although nothing has been made official.
Mr Fitzwilliams continued: “With the Netflix contract coming to an end in 2025, undoubtedly this is the message it sends.
“What can they offer Paramount? They’re not doing anything substantial that we know.”
If Meghan went back to Suits it would be very ironic, it would be retrogressive, rather comical."
Richard Fitzwilliams
The pair have their own production company called Archewell Productions which produces their content for the streamers.
It was launched in 2020 by the Sussexes in a bid to create "programming that informs, elevates, and inspires".
But now manager Bennett Levine - who worked on the flop docuseries Harry and Meghan - confirmed he was quitting, after less than two years in the role.
It follows a string of staff leaving the company, amid rumours circulating the Duke and Duchess are about to have their Netflix deal scrapped.
In a statement on social media he wrote: "I'm happy to share that I'm starting a new position at Cinetic Media."
The Archewell Foundation operated at a £536,357 loss but kept in the black thanks to earlier donations.
A single donation of $10m — 77% of Archewell’s total 2021 income — came from one unidentified wealthy donor.
Archewell claimed it is not unusual for donations to drop off after the first year and say they have $8m in the bank.
Mr Fitzwilliams told The Sun: “I don’t think this is good news at all.
“The fact their manager is leaving, very clearly Archewell you could say is not so well, its accounts for 2022 were singularly unimpressive."
The Sussexes much-hyped foundation Archewell, revealed a hole in the accounts in December last year after it received almost £9m less in donations than in a previous year.
The expert continued: “Look at their message ‘each of us can change our community, we can all change the world’ – but Harry and Meg aren’t changing the world.
“It could suggest he got a better offer elsewhere, it could suggest they’re difficult to work with – we don’t know that – but it could suggest he didn’t see much future in it – they’ve not done much.
“The Hollywood reporter called them losers, they haven’t done anything for many months, they’ve only made appearances.
“The fact Harry got the Legend of Aviation means nothing in my opinion.
“The fact we’re waiting for them to show they can produce films and television programmes, and possible philanthropic endeavors, or the idea that Meghan might go into politics – none of this is happening.
“They haven’t changed the world they’ve just trashed the Royal Family.”
Meanwhile, reports have circulated that Meghan could have a role in a Suits spin-off.
The Duchess may even land herself in the director's seat on at least one episode of Suits: Los Angeles.
As reported by Daily Express, Megan's pal and original creator of Suits, Aaron Korsch has already written some new episodes, as NBCUniversal gives it the go-ahead.
A senior production source claimed there have been contract talks between the Duchess' agent and the studio giant.
“This is shaping up to be one of the biggest TV deals of the year," they added.
The insider also claimed execs are "prepared to pay what it takes" to secure the actress.
However, Mr Fitzwilliams believes this would be a "comical" and "backwards" step for the Duchess.
He explained: “That’s going backwards, but we’ve had so many reports she could be doing something and nothing happens.
“It would fit perfectly because if you look at the three charities Harry is known for, he was attached to them before he was married.
“If Meghan went back to Suits it would be very ironic, it would be retrogressive, rather comical.
“You have Southpark and other comedians making fun of them.
“But you shouldn’t write them off because they’re unpredictable, they love surprising.”
