The Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced they would be stepping back from royal duties on Wednesday evening, revealing they would focus on charity work and work with a select group of media outlets.
And Prince Harry, 35, and Meghan Markle, 38, certainly have the crème de la crème of power players at their disposal to forge their new identity, having formed close relationships with the likes of American CBS news anchor Gayle King and chat show host Ellen Degeneres, and garnered the support of the Obamas and the Clooneys, who have previously spoken out in their defence.
In their Sussex Royal announcement Harry and Meghan revealed they would work with selected journalists going forward, citing their work with publications such as Time Magazine, National Geographic and British Vogue as examples of a ‘free, strong and open media industry’.
This would indicate that British Vogue Editor-in-Chief Edward Enninful is one of the fashion industry figureheads they will work with going forward, as well as American chat show giant Oprah, who confirmed last April that she was working on an Apple docu-series about mental health with Harry.
We take a look at the players that could help forge their powerful new path.
Oprah
Prince Harry, 35, and Meghan Markle, 38, certainly have the crème de la crème of power players at their disposal to forge their new identity, having formed close relationships with Oprah. The chat show giant would work perfectly as their US media connection, and could help them work on carefully curated projects, appearances or interviews
Oprah, 65, was a guest at Harry and Meghan’s 2018 wedding, and continued to rally around them as their journey continued.
Last April their work together was announced, when Prince Harry revealed that they were collaborating on the multi-part documentary series for Apple’s new streaming service last April, signifying their budding relationship.
In the podcast episode, which is due to be released this year, he discussed his own mental health struggles after her mother Princess Diana died.
The American chat show giant is also friends with Meghan Markle’s mother Doria Ragland, and has previously taken a yoga class with the teacher on her lawn.
Oprah previously defended Meghan during an appearance on CBS This Morning.
The Queen of Daytime TV said that the American princess ‘is not only everything that we perceive of her as being – graceful and dynamic in holding that position – but she just has a wonderful, warm, giving, loving heart.’
Oprah would work perfectly as their US media connection, and could help them work on carefully curated projects, appearances or interviews.
Edward Enninful
British Vogue’s editor-in-chief Edward Enninful could be instrumental in helping to promote her work with fashion charities including Smart Works, after her work last year which saw her creating a capsule wardrobe with high street retailers with proceeds going to Smart Works
British Vogue’s Edward Enninful worked with Meghan to produce her guest-edited September issue of the publication, highlighting charitable causes.
The editor-in-chief and Meghan, 378 collaborated on a special ‘Forces for Change’ edition which featured a grid of 15 ‘incredible’ women on the cover with articles commissioned by the royal inside.
At the time Enninful told how he has always had ‘profound respect’ for the Duchess – before discussing why he thinks she is the ultimate force for change.
Speaking on a personal note, he wrote: ‘I can’t overstate how much it meant to me to see HRH The Duke of Sussex marry this brilliant, bi-racial, American powerhouse.’
Edward could be instrumental in helping to promote her work with fashion charities including Smart Works, after her work last year which saw her creating a capsule wardrobe with high street retailers with proceeds going to the Smart Works charity.
Jessica Mulroney
Jessica Mulroney is well-connected through her husband, who is a TV anchor, and the son of the former Canadian prime minister Brian Mulroney. These connections could prove important to Harry and Meghan for both their image, and as they work to bring their charity work to North America
Meghan has been close friends with her former stylist Jessica Mulroney for years, and she is based in the Duchess’ former home Toronto – where the royal couple could buy a base for their new transatlantic life.
Their children John, Brian, and Ivy were among the page boys and flower girls at the royal wedding and regard Meghan as an honorary aunt.
Jessica is well-connected through her husband, who is a TV anchor, and the son of the former Canadian prime minister Brian Mulroney.
These connections could prove important to Harry and Meghan for both their image, and as they work to bring their charity work to North America.
Ellen Degeneres
Ellen is believed to have become good friends with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, having visited the couple and three-month-old Archie Harrison in London in August. As one of Britain’s biggest TV stars, Ellen would work perfectly as the couple’s US media connection, as she has a plethora of A-list contacts in the industry
Ellen is believed to have become good friends with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, having visited the couple and three-month-old Archie Harrison in London in August.
The 61-year-old said the boy ‘looks like Harry’ and described Prince Harry and Meghan, who live at Frogmore Cottage in Windsor, as ‘the cutest couple’.
Speaking on The Ellen Show last month, DeGeneres also told how she talked with the couple about partnering on their conservation work plans.
She said she met the couple with her wife on a trip to England to ‘talk about their work on wildlife conservation’ and was very impressed.
Meghan’s relationship spans back before the royals, and DeGeneres claimed the Duchess adopted her first rescue dog because she told her, several years earlier.
As one of Britain’s biggest TV stars, Ellen would work perfectly as the couple’s US media connection, as she has a plethora of A-list contacts in the industry.
Michelle Obama
Michelle has spoken out in defence of the Duchess’ treatment, and would be the perfect candidate in helping the Sussexes carve out their US image, having previously been the First Lady
Barack and Michelle Obama are friends hold the Sussexes in dear esteem, with Michelle meeting Meghan while she was in the UK to promote her autobiography, Becoming, last year.
Michelle was reportedly ‘instrumental’ in the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s romance – although it’s not clear quite what part she played.
The Obamas and Harry were first brought together by the Invictus Games, created by Harry for injured, sick or disabled military personnel and veterans.
At the second Games in Florida in 2016, Michelle took part in numerous events and said of Harry: ‘He truly is Prince Charming’. In return, the Prince lent support to her ‘Full Effect’ education programme for under-privileged teenagers.
Michelle has spoken out in defence of the Duchess’ treatment, and would be the perfect candidate in helping the Sussexes carve out their US image, having previously been the First Lady.
Gayle King
CBS news anchor Gayle King is another great US media contact to help Harry and Meghan, and could help ensure reports on them are fair and accurate (seen at Meghan’s baby shower last year)
Meghan is also very close to Oprah’s best friend and confidante Gayle King, a TV news anchor with CBS. Gayle spent time with the couple at Frogmore as they awaited the birth of Archie.
American CBS news anchor Gayle King was a guest at the Sussex wedding, and Meghan Markle’s New York baby shower.
Gayle is another great US media contact to help, who could help ensure reports on them are fair and accurate.
Desmond Tutu
The Archbishop could help them with their international connections, helping them to highlight their charity work and connect them with influential oversees contacts
Meghan and Harry met Archbishop Desmond Tutu and his daughter at their legacy foundation in Cape Town last September.
The Archbishop could help them with their international connections, helping them to highlight their charity work and connect them with influential oversees contacts.
Amal Clooney
Being a human rights lawyer, Amal Clooney shares common values with the couple, and could advise Meghan and Harry on charity causes and legal advice
George and Amal Clooney attended the royal wedding in May 2018, with barrister Amal being introduced to Meghan by mutual friends at the exclusive London private members club, Soho House.
She has since opened her contacts book to Meghan, recommending everyone from hair stylists to interior designers and key staff members.
In August 2018, the pair spent a long weekend with actor George and Amal at the Clooneys holiday home on Lake Como, Italy.
Being a human rights lawyer, Amal shares common values with the couple, and could advise them on charity causes and legal advice.
Beyonce and Jay Z
Beyoncé and her husband Jay-Z have been vocal supporters of the Sussexes, even offering the Duke and Duchess parenting advice as they attended the glittering European premiere of The Lion King last July. Having perfected the art of leading a private life despite their staggering level of fame, the power couple are well placed on how to advise the Sussexes to create a carefully crafted image away from the spotlight
Beyoncé and her husband Jay-Z have been vocal supporters of the Sussexes, posting a picture of a portrait of Meghan to Beyonce’s Instagram, paying tribute to her on her website during Black History Month last year.
The couple even offered the Duke and Duchess parenting advice as they attended the glittering European premiere of The Lion King last July, telling them to ‘always make time for themselves’.
Having perfected the art of leading a private life despite their staggering level of fame, the power couple are well placed on how to advise the Sussexes to create a carefully crafted image away from the spotlight.
Markus Anderson
Meghan’s best friend, Markus Anderson, who works for the Soho House group, remains a key member of the Duchess’s support team and regularly socialises with the royal couple. He could be instrumental in handling the couple’s international PR affairs
Meghan’s best friend, Markus Anderson, who works for the Soho House group, remains a key member of the Duchess’s support team and regularly socialises with the royal couple.
It was Anderson who invited her to join Soho House in Toronto four years ago when she was a Suits star based there, and he facilitated Harry and Meghan’s early dates at Soho Houses in London and in Oxfordshire.
He also arranged her low-key hen weekend celebrations – at Soho Farmhous –and persuaded the pair to attend the boozy launch of the new Soho House in Amsterdam.
He could be instrumental in handling the couple’s international PR affairs.