Meghan Markle has released a new photo of herself wearing Princess Diana's old watch just hours after launching her new website Sussex.com to announce a podcast deal.
The Duchess of Sussex said she is “over the moon” to be making a “dynamic” new series after teaming up with female-founded US podcast network Lemonada Media, which aims to provide shows around sex, grief and LGBTQ issues “making life less crappy.” .
The move, which comes after the couple's £18million Spotify deal ended early last year, will see Lemonada also distribute Meghan's previous series Archetypes.
She made the announcement just 24 hours after launching the website on Sussex.com, alongside a new headshot taken by her friend Misan Harriman.
Meghan wore a £310 gray totem dress and a £17,800 gold Cartier watch that once belonged to her husband Prince Harry's late mother, Princess Diana.
She also owned a £5,000 Cartier Love bracelet which she had worn many times in the past and was said to have been a gift from Harry in the early days of their romance.
The Duchess had her dark brown hair styled in large curls and wore this look and dress last September at the Invictus Games 2023 in Düsseldorf.
Meghan hinted that more projects could be in the pipeline, saying the deal was a “fantastic start to 2024” and that she was “eager” to share the new podcast.
It came as Harry and Meghan landed in Vancouver yesterday to begin a three-day trip to Canada from today until Friday, tied to next year's Invictus Games.
Lemonada Media announces new partnership with Meghan, Duchess of Sussex.
The award-winning podcast “Archetypes” will be available to stream on all audio platforms for the first time this spring, with Lemonada overseeing ad sales and distribution.https://t.co/U5tJxiDbLu… pic.twitter.com/U3WABJmQTE
– Misan Harriman (@misanharriman) February 13, 2024
Photographer Misan Harriman tweeted the portrait photo he took of Meghan Markle
Misan Harriman and Meghan Markle are seen at an event in Montecito on November 15, 2023
Work has already begun on the new series, which Meghan will host. The amount she received was not disclosed. However, given that Lemonada Media is a much smaller player in the podcast market, it's unlikely to be as big as the Spotify deal.
Lemonada Media was founded in 2019 by Jessica Cordova Kramer, an executive producer, and Stephanie Wittels Wachs, co-founder of a theater company.
Meghan said in a statement on Sussex.com: “I'm proud to now announce that I'm joining the brilliant team at Lemonada to continue my love of podcasting.”
“The opportunity to support a woman-founded business with a series of thought-provoking and highly entertaining podcasts is a fantastic way to start 2024.”
“Our plan to re-release Archetypes so more people can access it now, as well as the release of a dynamic new podcast, is well underway.” I'm so excited to be able to share it soon and I'm overjoyed to thank the Lemonada family to join.”
The new deal comes after the Sussexes and Spotify “mutually agreed to part ways” in June last year, three years after the contract began in 2020.
The audio company said it would not renew Archetypes, which featured 12 episodes as of August 2022, for a second series.
Meghan wore the Cartier Tank watch gifted by Harry, which once belonged to Princess Diana
Meghan's watch originally belonged to Prince Harry's late mother Princess Diana, who wore it on her wrist during an engagement at the British Lung Foundation in London in 1997
Meghan also wore a Cartier Love bracelet, which is believed to have been a gift from Harry
Bill Simmons, Spotify's top podcast exec, then called Harry and Meghan “f***ing frauds” and added: “One night I'm going to have to get drunk and tell the story of the Zoom I had with Harry to help him at one Problem to help.” Podcast idea. It's one of my best stories.'
Archetypes drew around one million listens per episode and debuted as Spotify's number one podcast in 47 countries around the world when it launched in 2022.
The series examined the labels that try to hold women back and included guests like Mariah Carey, Serena Williams, Jameela Jamil and Pamela Adlon.
The series won a People's Choice Award for Pop Podcast of the Year 2022 and Meghan was named Best Entertainment Podcast Host at the Gracie Awards.
Under the new deal, this show will now be available on all audio platforms, with Lemonada handling distribution.
Ms. Kramer said: “We are extremely honored that Meghan has trusted us to democratize access to Archetypes and that so many more people around the world will soon have access to the series.”
“Meghan’s talent as a host, creator and conversationalist is unparalleled and we are excited to partner with her to create a new series that furthers her approach to creating art that matters.”
Meghan Markle can be seen recording her Spotify podcast, which launched in August 2022
The end of the couple's Spotify contract was announced in 2023, three years after it was signed
And Ms Wittels Wachs added: “As we began development with the Duchess of Sussex, we were overwhelmed by her collaborative spirit and clear vision, as well as her deep desire to build compassion and community through this work.”
“The Lemonada team immediately felt a connection with Meghan and the team at Archewell Productions and we are excited to work together.”
Lemonada produces shows around sex, grief, and LGBTQ issues to help make life suck less.
The company was founded in 2019 by Ms. Kramer and Ms. Wittels Wachs, who joined forces after both lost their brothers to overdoses.
The pair now work with a variety of celebrities, from Sarah Silverman to Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and have major supporters including Stephanie Hannon, who served as chief technology officer for Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign.
Ms. Hannon has joined Lemonada's advisory board, which already includes former US Democrat Patrick J. Kennedy – the nephew of former President John F. Kennedy – and activist DeRay Mckesson.
Ms. Wittels Wachs said in a 2022 interview that they recognized that “people are struggling and feeling really alone,” adding: The mission for Lemonada was born. Our desire to make the difficult things easier.'
Lemonada Media founders Jessica Cordova Kramer (left) and Stephanie Wittels Wachs (right)
Prince Harry and Meghan at the film premiere of Bob Marley: One Love on January 23 in Jamaica
One of Lemonada's most popular shows is Wiser Than Me with Julia Louis-Dreyfus, which has topped the Apple Podcast charts for 29 days in a row.
In the podcast, she sits down with Jane Fonda, Carol Burnett, Amy Tan, Diane von Fürstenberg, Isabel Allende and Fran Lebowitz “to learn how to live a fulfilling and meaningful life.”
Another podcast, Being Trans, follows a group of transgender people as they navigate their everyday lives and promises, “Over the course of the season, you'll experience what it's like to be transgender.”
Also on Lemonada is “Raised by Ricki,” a reboot of the iconic ’90s talk show The Ricki Lake Show, hosted by Ricki himself.
Meanwhile, Burnout, hosted by Connor Franta, looks at “how society got to a breaking point and what we can do – really, actually do – to break the cycle.”
Ms. Kramer and Ms. Wittels Wachs have previously said they try to select difficult issues that affect many people and offer solutions.
Before Lemonada, Ms. Kramer worked as a lawyer on Wall Street and then at Teach For America, while Ms. Wittels Wachs worked as a theater director and author.
In their company, they focus on workplace culture and said in an interview in 2022: “We want life to be less boring for our listeners, but also for our employees.” We lead with empathy.
The new Sussex.com homepage features a picture of Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, at the closing ceremony of the Invictus Games in September 2023
“We have a generous PTO (paid time off) policy and paternity and bereavement leave.”
In 2021, The New York Times reported that “every production meeting begins with an all-round mental health check-in.”
On Monday evening, Harry and Meghan launched a new website – their previous site, Archewell, now automatically redirects to “Sussex.com”, where the couple are consistently referred to by their official royal titles.
An image of the couple dominates the main website, overlaid with the text: “The office of Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.” It also features Meghan's royal crest.
In the “About” section, the website states: “The office of Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, is shaping the future through business and philanthropy.”
“This includes: The Archewell Foundation, Archewell Productions, patronages, ventures and organizations that receive the couple’s support individually and/or collectively.”
Individual biographies of the couple highlight Harry as a “humanitarian, military veteran, mental health advocate and environmental activist,” while Meghan is described as a “feminist and advocate for human rights and gender equality,” who is called “some of the most influential women.” of the World” in a series of rankings.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex with Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace in June 2018
Archewell replaced Harry and Meghan's previous brand, Sussex Royal, after they stepped down from royal duties.
The name was inspired by her son Archie – a combination of “arche”, the Greek word for source of action, and “well” meaning “an abundant source or supply”. a place we go to dig deep.
The new website links to the couple's nonprofit organization, the Archewell Foundation, and their production company, Archewell Productions.
The launch of the site comes at a time when the King's slimmed-down monarchy has come under unprecedented pressure, with Charles deferring all public duties due to his cancer diagnosis and the Princess of Wales out of action for the immediate future an abdominal operation.
Harry, who lives in California with his wife and two children – Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet – flew to Britain last week to meet with the royal following his diagnosis.
He made the visit without Meghan and their children, less than 24 hours after Buckingham Palace informed the nation of Charles' health.
But there was no meeting with his brother, the Prince of Wales, after Harry spent about 45 minutes at Clarence House meeting Charles.