Harry & Meghan Demand $1M for ‘virtual events’

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have outlined a strict set of conditions for booking the couple as “virtual” speakers, a leaked document has revealed.

Event organisers will be required to specify in advance the exact fee being offered, according to the document, seen by the Telegraph, and Harry and Meghan have also outlined that it is up to the speakers to decide who introduces them and moderates any discussion with them.

The four-page “Virtual Event Request Form” has been issued by The Harry Walker Agency, which describes itself as “the world’s leading speakers’ bureau”.

The couple could reportedly charge $1 million per speech with the agency, whose clients include Barack Obama, Bill Clinton and Oprah Winfrey.

The form also demands advance knowledge of all sponsors associated with the event, and also requests the “connection format” which will be used for the event.

Questions are asked about how the speaker will access the platform, and what the booker’s “contingency plan” is in the event of “connectivity issues”.

Bookers are also asked to outline other speakers at the event and whether the event will be publicly advertised.

The news comes after Harry and Meghan reimbursed £2.4 million of public money used to renovate the property near Windsor Castle after signing a major deal to produce documentaries for Netflix.

A spokesman for Harry confirmed the duke had paid the bill in full by making a contribution to the Sovereign Grant.

The payment was made possible thanks to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s new multi-million pound Netflix deal, a source said.

“A contribution has been made to the Sovereign Grant by the Duke of Sussex,” Harry’s spokesman said.

“This contribution as originally offered by Prince Harry has fully covered the necessary renovation costs of Frogmore Cottage, a property of Her Majesty The Queen, and will remain the UK residence of the duke and his family.”

The couple faced a public backlash when the cost of refurbishing the Grade-II listed property close to Windsor Castle fell to the taxpayer.

Last year’s royal accounts showed the cost of the renovations was £2.4 million.

Harry and Meghan agreed to pay back the money and start paying commercial rent as part of the plans drawn up when they quit as senior working royals in March.

Republic, which campaigns for an elected head of state, heavily criticised the amount spent at the time, and said following news of Harry’s payment that he should have paid the bill from the start.

Graham Smith of Republic said: “Harry should have paid this bill from the outset, rather than expecting the taxpayer to stump up the cash.

“They’ve now paid for the refurbishment while continuing to use the home whenever they stay in the UK.

“Their statement claims the cottage is the Queen’s property, which is untrue.

“It belongs to the Crown Estate, which is there to raise revenue for the Treasury, so we have a right to know what rent they are paying for the place.”

A source said the couple will still base themselves at Frogmore Cottage with their son Archie when visiting the UK.

“It’s still the plan for Frogmore Cottage to be their main family home in the UK,” the source said.

Harry and former Suits actress Meghan, who have recently bought an £11 million house in Montecito, Santa Barbara, are now based in the US as they pursue a life of personal and financial freedom away from the monarchy.