According to multiple sources, Netflix co-CEOs Ted Sarandos and Reed Hastings recently paid a private visit to Buckingham Palace for urgent discussions with King Charles III.
The reason for this highly unusual meeting is reported to be the delivery of secretly recorded audio footage of Meghan Markle, dating back to before her marriage to Prince Harry. This recording allegedly portrays the Duchess in a highly unflattering light, capturing her using crude language to badmouth several senior members of the Royal Family and making other incendiary claims against the institution as a whole.
Unsurprisingly, these revelations have deeply enraged King Charles, who feels profoundly betrayed by his son's wife. Sources say he views this as yet another blow from the Sussex camp, compounding previous tensions and grievances.
The origins of this damaging recording are traced back to one of Meghan's pre-royal confidants and advisers who managed her publicity at the time. Resentful over their falling out, this individual secretly recorded conversations where Meghan expressed her frustrations about the royals, unbeknownst to her. When rumors of Prince Harry's budding romance with the "Suits" actress first surfaced, the adviser attempted to sell the recording to various media outlets. However, these efforts were unsuccessful due to legal concerns and the potential for invasion of privacy lawsuits.
After Meghan and Harry's lucrative Netflix deal was announced last year, the adviser saw an opportunity for revenge and approached the streaming service with the recording. It's believed that a substantial sum changed hands as Netflix acquired the footage, seeing its potential propaganda value and its capacity to damage public opinion against the royal family if ever leaked. However, Sarandos and Hastings soon realized that holding such explosive material posed significant legal risks and could damage their brand. In a strategic move, they decided to disclose the recording's existence privately to King Charles during the palace meeting, hoping to gain insider favor and avoid future hostility.
Upon hearing Meghan's unguarded rants against the institution he now leads, King Charles was reportedly livid. While he remains protective of his son, reliable sources indicate that Charles now harbors serious doubts about Meghan's motives and sincerity in marrying into the family. Some experts believe this incident could mark a turning point, irreparably damaging her already fragile relationship with the palace.
To exacerbate matters for the Sussexes, palace aides were quick to leak news of the Netflix betrayal to British tabloids, which are now having a field day with lurid, speculative reports about Meghan's alleged taped remarks. Headlines like "The Real Meghan Exposed" and "Insider Reveals Shocking Audio of Markle's Vicious Royal Tirades" are shredding her image across front pages globally. This renewed scrutiny isn't helped by reminders of Meghan's past associations with unfavorable stories portrayed in unauthorized biographies like "Finding Freedom." While the Sussexes have denied cooperating with these books, the sheer level of private details reported raises suspicions.
In light of the recording controversy, major publishers are reportedly rethinking lucrative book deals for Meghan's upcoming projects. Sources reveal that one deal, valued at over $25 million, was abruptly canceled due to liability concerns. Others are conducting intensive scrutiny before committing, which has cast doubt on Meghan's professional ambitions.
The most significant threat to the Sussexes' interests might be regarding Prince Harry's forthcoming memoir, due for release in late 2023. Palace insiders speculate that the shocking details of Meghan's taped conversations could inspire Harry to reconsider including further private anecdotes about his family that might damage their standing. Rumors are swirling that King Charles is exerting diplomatic pressure on certain publishers to scrap the memoir altogether in light of the new climate.
With potential additional skeletons now lurking behind palace doors due to the Netflix betrayal, the stakes are much higher for what Harry might choose to reveal or omit in print. Some experts suggest that Charles may adopt a more aggressive legal stance if any sections cross boundaries. In any case, legal teams on both sides are likely being retained as tensions mount ahead of the book's intended release.
