Prince Harry And Meghan 'Have To Make Money' To Survive, Sussex Source Insists Amid 'Hypocrisy' Claims

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are defending their financial independence after criticism that it contradicts Archewell's new report, which emphasizes authenticity over profit.

Supporters argue that the couple must earn a living and use their income to support charitable causes. However, the report's findings on performative influencer culture reignited scrutiny of their multimillion-dollar deals.

Despite this, insiders say the Sussexes function as an activism-driven brand. Recently, the family volunteered at an L.A. kitchen, with Meghan Markle sharing photos captioned, "Show up, do good."

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle "have to make money" just like everyone else except the royals in Britain, a source supportive of the couple has argued, following renewed criticism that the pair are being hypocritical.

The defence comes after the couple's Archewell Foundation released a report revealing that young people across the globe want role models who aren't motivated by profit.

The document also took aim at "performative" and "inauthentic" online personalities, insisting that "true leadership is not about money or followers."

Critics were quick to point out that Harry and Meghan have signed major commercial deals since stepping back from royal duties, including high-value agreements with Netflix and Spotify worth an estimated $120 million.

Meghan has also revived her Instagram presence to promote her Netflix projects and her lifestyle brand, As Ever, though she rejects the influencer label, preferring to call herself an entrepreneur and founder.

These deals, combined with paid speaking engagements and other business ventures, have helped the couple establish a comfortable life in their $14 million Montecito home with their two children.

Yet an insider says the criticism ignores a simple reality: "That they have to make money is a moot point. We all do, unless you're a member of the institution."

According to the Daily Mail, the source also claimed that the couple's financial independence enables them to give far more to charity than the average person.

The conversation reignited following Archewell's new Insight Report, published November 20, which involved interviews with more than 100 young people aged 10 to 25 from the U.S., U.K., Australia, Canada, and Panama. Many expressed exhaustion with influencer culture, which they described as fake, shallow, and "driven by profit."

According to the report, young people consistently referred to influencers as "performative," "inauthentic," and "profit-motivated," noting that meaningful perspectives often get "drowned out by harmful or shallow content."

Newsweek observed that this "pivot to authenticity" places Harry and Meghan in a vulnerable position, given their own high-profile commercial ventures.

Chief Royal Correspondent Jack Royston wrote that the report's findings echo "numerous major criticisms of the couple throughout their post-royal lives."

He wrote: "The findings are striking but make difficult reading alongside the facts of the first five years of Harry and Meghan's US lives, which saw them sign multimillion-dollar deals for content creation."

Despite the criticism, a source sympathetic to the Sussexes insists the couple's financial choices align with their values.

Following their departure from royal duties, the insider argues, Harry and Meghan have evolved into a globally recognized, activism-driven brand comparable to Patagonia or Ben & Jerry's, using commercial success to "give a disproportionate amount of their wealth" to good causes.

The insider dismissed the idea that young people would criticize the couple simply for making money, calling it an "oversimplified assessment" of both the report's findings and who the Sussexes are.

According to the source, "Young people, as it relates to the brands and the things that they associate with or feel an affinity to, are largely driven by activism. It's why young people love Ben and Jerry's. It's why young people love Patagonia."

Seen through that perspective, the source argued, Harry and Meghan fit neatly into the category of activism-led public figures who are focused on showing up, doing good, and handing over a disproportionate amount of their wealth compared to the average Joe to good causes."

Harry and Meghan were last spotted publicly just before Thanksgiving while lending their support to a local charity.

This year, the couple turned their volunteer work into a family moment, bringing along Prince Archie, 6, and Princess Lilibet, 4, for a hands-on day of service at Our Big Kitchen Los Angeles.

The group helped prepare meals for people experiencing food insecurity, an outing later featured on the Archewell website with adorable photos of the children getting involved.

In one picture, Meghan, 44, and Harry, 41, carefully spooned cookie dough onto a baking tray while Lilibet watched a nearby volunteer copy their movements.

With her back to the camera, the young princess Lilibet wore a red plaid dress and a black baseball cap, her hair styled in a neat braid.

Archie, dressed in a bright yellow long-sleeve top, enthusiastically worked on his own dough.

Another snapshot shared on Meghan's Instagram Story captured him rolling dough in cinnamon sugar.

Meghan accompanied the post with a simple message: "Show up, do good."

The rare shots of the young royals left many fans in awe of the children's resemblance to their father, Harry.