The pair are taking further steps to plan their post-royal lives.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are preparing for their post-COVID-19 lockdown life in a pretty major way – namely, by signing a speaking engagements contract with the Harry Walker Agency, a New York-based firm that also represents the Obamas, the Clintons and Oprah.
As reported by the Los Angeles Times, the couple “will be engaging in moderated discussions and keynote speeches with trade associations, corporations and community forums.” Focus topics will include racial justice, gender equality, environmental concerns and mental health. It is thought that these subjects will tie in with the work the pair will do through their non-profit organization, Archewell.
It is expected that the contract could prove to be quite lucrative for the couple. Though their rates are unknown, President Obama reportedly earned USD$400,000 for a 2017 speech, whilst the Clintons reportedly averaged USD$250,000 per appearance in 2014. It remains to be seen whether or not the pair will undertake any public speaking engagements before the year’s end.
They did however pay a visit to Homeboy Industries, a 32-year old non-profit organization thats helps former gang members and incarcerated persons to improve their lives, on Tuesday. Harry and Meghan dropped by the organization’s kitchen to help prepare food for its #FeedHOPE program which provides meals to food-insecure seniors and youths across LA amid the Coronavirus pandemic.
Sharing a trio of pictures of the former royals with its staff on Instagram, Homeboy Industries wrote, “Thank you to Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, for visiting and standing in kinship with our cafe and bakery teams yesterday.” It added, “Each year, we provide support to nearly 9,000 individuals through job training and free services such as tattoo removal, mental health services, GED classes, legal services, and more. Above all, we provide space for our clients to heal from intergenerational cycles of violence in a community of radical compassion.”
The organization is run by Father Greg Boyle, who has worked with Meghan’s former high school, Immaculate Heart. He was also joined by Meghan and her mother Doria Ragland for a cooking workshop almost 20 years ago. In a statement to press, he said, “The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were just ‘Harry and Meghan’ to the homies. They rolled up their sleeves and deeply engaged with our workers in the bakery and cafe. it was immediate kinship and heartening in its mutuality.”