Meghan Markle’s 40th birthday will see the start of her creating a ‘business empire’ and look to take Oprah Winfrey’s crown as queen of Hollywood, PR gurus have claimed.
The Duchess of Sussex today unveiled her latest initiative – a campaign branded ’40×40′ to help women back into work – during a very woke video birthday message shared on the Archewell website.
Filmed in the study of her and Prince Harry’s £11million Montecito mansion, it featured A-list actress Melissa McCarthy and a comedy cameo by Prince Harry.
Talent manager Professor Jonathan Shalit OBE, who worked with the couple’s friend Elton John along with a whole host of other A-list stars, said Meghan’s 40th birthday will see the start of her creating an ’empire’.
The Duchess of Sussex today unveiled her latest initiative – a campaign branded ’40×40′ to help women back into work – during a very woke video birthday message shared on the Archewell website
‘Meghan’s 40th will be the beginning of a huge decade for her – it’ll be the start of building her business empire,’ he told Closer magazine.
Andy Barr, PR expert and founder of 10 Yetis, added that ‘ambitious’ Meghan is driving force between her and Harry’s career choices and future goals.
‘I fully expect them to have their own production company within five years and to be bigger than their A-list peers who are floating around Hollywood right now,’ he told the publication.
‘I believe she’s looking to take Oprah’s crown – which is ironic, considering she’s given them a foothold in America.’
Andy even went so far as to suggest it’s ‘not inconceivable’ that Harry and Meghan may have a joint TV show together to raise awareness around humanitarian issues, adding that it’s a ‘rumour’ he’s heard.
Andy Barr, PR expert and founder of 10 Yetis, added that ‘ambitious’ Meghan is driving force between her and Harry’s career choices and future goals. Pictured: the Duchess in September 2019 during her and Harry’s tour of South Africa
Professor Shalit said he believes Meghan will be one of the most important and ‘in-demand’ people in Hollywood within five years, with a raft of international awards for her filmmaking and humanitarian work under her belt.
The couple’s explosive two-hour tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey, in which they laid bare their rift with the Royal Family, has already been nominated for an Emmy Award in the ‘Outstanding Hosted Nonfiction Series Or Special’ category.
The Duchess recently announced she is working on a new animated Netflix series that will be based – at least in part – on her own childhood, with its title character called Pearl, the origin meaning of her name.
She also published a children’s book earlier this year called The Bench which made it onto the New York Times bestseller list (however it failed to hit the UK Official Top 50 chart after selling just 3,212 copies in its first week).
Professor Shalit told Closer the couple – who have secured multi-million dollar deals with Netflix and Spotify – are in a ‘really exciting’ position right now, with an ‘astonishing’ business portfolio.
The couple’s explosive two-hour tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey, in which they laid bare their rift with the Royal Family, has already been nominated for an Emmy Award in the ‘Outstanding Hosted Nonfiction Series Or Special’ category
He added: ‘Remember, how the Brits see them is not how the Americans see them. They are two of the most in-demand people in the Hollywood community. They have built up a close-knit circle of friends and a substantial team that will work with them to help them achieve what they set out to do.’
Meanwhile Andy said he wouldn’t be surprised if Meghan has even bigger ambitions within the political sphere, and may well run for President.
Now the couple have had their second child – daughter Lilibet Diana, who was born in June – Andy said it’s ‘all systems go’.
‘I think we’ll see a really heavy focus on their masterplan – solidifying their position as America’s ‘royal family’ – so there will definitely be more TV appearances,’ he told Closer.
Last month it was reported Prince Harry has clinched a lucrative four-book deal – with the second due out only after the Queen has died.
Industry insiders said the initial ‘tell-all’ tome unveiled by Harry is only the ‘tip of the iceberg’.
The duchess, who two months ago gave birth to her second child daughter Lilibet, claimed globally tens of millions of women had left the workforce during the past two years, in a large part due to the pandemic, during her birthday message
Sources said the Duke of Sussex oversaw the bidding and told publishing houses to begin at £18million, with the final figure possibly reaching £29million.
The deal will see a memoir released next year – when it is the Queen’s platinum jubilee – with the second book to be held back until after her death.
Meanwhile Meghan is to pen a ‘wellness’ guide as part of the contract with Penguin Random House. The subject and author of the fourth title is unknown.
For her new ’40×40′ campaign, Meghan has asked 40 activists, athletes, artists and world leaders to participate by contributing 40 minutes of mentorship to women re-entering the workforce, saying that millions of women have been ‘shouldered the brunt’ of the Covid-19 pandemic and need help returning or regaining work.
Meghan has written a statement of intent about her new initiative 40×40 on the website of her charitable foundation Archewell.
She says when reflecting on turning 40, and the many things she is ‘grateful for’, she was struck that ‘time’ is ‘among our greatest and most essential gifts’, especially ‘time spent in service to others knowing that it can contribute to incredible change’.
In a statement on the Archewell website, Meghan describes how the scheme is meant to empower the millions of women who have lost their jobs during the Covid pandemic and get them back into the workplace
The duchess, who two months ago gave birth to her second child daughter Lilibet, claimed globally tens of millions of women had left the workforce during the past two years, in a large part due to the pandemic.
Meghan Markle shares sweet tribute to Archie and Lilibet with necklace featuring their star signs
The Duchess of Sussex wore a dainty silver necklace resembling the astrological signs of Taurus Archie, who was born in May 2018 and Lilibet, who is a Gemini having been born in June this year
Meghan Markle shared a sweet tribute to her two children today as she marked her 40th birthday in a necklace featuring their star sign constellations.
The Duchess of Sussex wore a dainty silver necklace resembling the astrological signs of Taurus Archie, who was born in May 2018 and Lilibet, who is a Gemini having been born in June this year.
She donned the necklace in a clip posted on the Archwell website, where she chatted over video call to Hollywood actress Melissa McCarthy from her California mansion.
The $1,785 (£1,283) accessory is by LA-based designer Logan Hollowell is available in 14k gold and diamond or white sapphire.
Meghan opted for a relaxed look, pairing the thoughtful accessory with a white vest and pair of linen trousers, teamed with a loose over the shoulders white cardigan.
But many were still in unpaid roles like carers and she claimed research has shown fewer women than men will return to work as the pandemic recovery begins.
Meghan wrote: ‘In reflecting on my 40th birthday and the many things I am grateful for, I’m struck that TIME IS AMONG OUR GREATEST AND MOST ESSENTIAL GIFTS: Time with our loved ones, time doing the things we love, time spent learning, laughing, growing, and the sacred time we have on this earth.
‘Amongst the most valuable gifts of time is also time spent in service to others knowing that it can contribute to incredible change. To that last point, and with my 40th lap around the sun in mind, it made me wonder: what would happen if we all committed 40 minutes to helping someone else or to mentoring someone in need? And then what would happen if we asked our friends to do the same?
‘In the past two years, and in large part because of the COVID-19 pandemic, TENS OF MILLIONS OF women around the world have left the workforce, including over two million women in the U.S.
‘So many of these women are also SHOULDERING THE BRUNT OF THE CRISIS when it comes to unpaid labor, including schooling and caring for family members. And the latest research shows that FEWER WOMEN THAN MEN WILL REGAIN WORK as we recover from the pandemic.
‘I believe mentorship is one way to help women regain confidence and rebuild their economic strength, and for my birthday, I have asked 40 friends, activists, athletes, artists, and world leaders to help kickoff a global effort by contributing 40 MINUTES OF MENTORSHIP to support women re-entering the workforce. With this time, I hope they each help someone advance a professional life on her own terms, and, I hope that they inspire countless others to give 40 minutes of their time as well.
‘If you are able, please JOIN US and pledge 40 minutes today in service of others in the way that feels right to you. The time that you donate can contribute to a GLOBAL WAVE OF SERVICE and set in motion meaningful impact in our own communities, and across the world.’
The full list of celebrity mentors has not yet been released. However, those who are part of Meghan’s programme include Adele, Amanda Gorman, Amanda Nguyen, Deepak Chopra, Dr Ibram X Kendi, Gloria Steinem, José Andrés, Dr Nadine Burke Harris, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, Stella McCartney and Melissa McCarthy.