Royal Family

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry should have no problem becoming self-sufficient ... because there are huge sums to be made for speaking engagements and book deals.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex would easily command upwards of $500,000 each to speak in front of crowds ... according to folks who help celebs get such deals.

Lots of famous folks get paid huge sums to speak, and Meghan and Harry are obviously in demand. GDA Speakers, whose clients include Nicole Kidman and Diane Keaton, predicts baby Archie's parents could do a lot of business speaking in front of non-profit and volunteer-based organizations, and they'd get more than the standard $200,000 to $300,000 going to most celebs.

Vice Prez Mike Pence is feeling a big chill, courtesy of Prince Charles ... who blatantly dissed the veep -- but the only question is whether the cold shoulder was intentional.

Take a look -- the Prince walked down the line Thursday, greeting world leaders at the World Holocaust Forum in Jerusalem. Handshakes all around, until he got to VP Pence and his wife. Charles looked him right in the eye ... and moved right along.

No handshake, no shoulder pat, not even a head nod.

Pence appears to reach out and tap Charles on the arm, but the Prince was already engaged with Israel's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.

Snub or not, Pence's office is already on the defensive ... it released a photo of the VP and the Prince sharing a moment and claims they "spoke prior to entering the event floor and after his remarks as well."

It's unclear if the handshake snub happened before or after what appears to be a friendly greeting outside the event.

Tony Rock has another nickname for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's decision to trade their Royal Family roles for life in Canada -- think "Coming to America" sequel ... but lighter.

The comedian was in Bev Hills Wednesday night when we asked him about "Megxit" ... he tells us it's like a real-life version of the 1988 Eddie Murphy flick where he gives up his life as a prince to find true love.

Tony describes it a little differently for Harry and Meghan, but still ... it's an apt comparison.

Chris' younger brother also tells us he doesn't think Meghan's going to get her wish for more privacy for their son, Archie ... because the kid's just way too famous. Once again, he hilariously evokes a scene from "Coming to America" to make his point.

As for the actual sequel to the classic comedy -- scheduled to open wide in theaters in December 2020 -- Rock reveals he's not involved in the project at all ... and it seems like he feels a bit snubbed.

Oprah says she's 100% in support of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's exit from Royal life because she knows it was NOT an impulsive decision -- no matter what the British media says.

Oprah spoke out Tuesday night in NYC, telling Adam Glyn she has no issue with the Duke and Duchess stepping back and forging their own path, and more than that ... said everyone should respect it.

She says Harry -- and even Queen Elizabeth herself -- made it clear he and his wife had been thinking about this for a long time. O, who ya gotta remember is in business with Harry, says his move wasn't made lightly either. PH noted that last weekend during his speech.

You gotta see how Oprah frames her staunch defense of Megxit -- she says when someone chooses what they believe is best for them, who are we (the public) to criticize that?

Her pal, Gayle King, was there too, and says nobody in the Royal family was "blindsided" ... especially not QE2.

As we've reported, Prince Harry and Oprah are coproducing a mental health series for Apple TV -- so, we expected her to back him -- but her explanation for why might influence other opinions.

It's kinda what Oprah does.

Meghan Markle grew increasingly fed up with the media and the Palace as she fought for privacy for her son, Archie ... and this is one of several reasons she and Prince Harry decided to bail on the royals.

Sources close to the Duchess of Sussex tell TMZ ... she obviously knew she'd be world-famous when she married Harry, but underestimated how little control she'd have over the day-to-day media coverage ... and how much scrutiny she'd get for everything.

Things really began to sour, we're told, when baby Archie was born. The Duke and Duchess tried to be very private with him ... which irked the UK press.

Meghan Markle's already fuming mad over one aspect of her new life in Canada -- she's ready to sue over paparazzi shots of her and Archie hiking.

Lawyers for Prince Harry and Meghan fired off a cease and desist letter Tuesday to British media outlets saying legal action will be taken if they publish or purchase the pics of Meghan, Archie and 2 pups out for a walk on Vancouver Island.

The letter implies there's definitely going to be a lawsuit coming because the photos are already out there. Multiple outlets posted the pics in question on Monday ... and they're still up today.

The cease and desist letter says, "There are serious safety concerns about how the paparazzi are driving and the risk to life they pose" -- a clear reference to Princess Diana's tragic death in Paris.

Prince Harry is getting on with his non-Royal life, flying commercial like the commoners to the country he and Meghan Markle will call home, at least part-time.

The Duke of Sussex looked more like a regular dude from Sussex early Tuesday morning as he landed at Vancouver International Airport ... a stone's throw away from Vancouver Island, where Meg and baby Archie have been there for a week without him.

Welp, papa's back in town, and it looks like he's committed to fully sloughing off the perks of being a Royal. He traveled low-key in a beanie and puffer jacket aboard a British Airways flight -- and later a commuter jet to Vancouver Island.

Remember, the Sussexes were skewered last year for flying private -- plus, commercial travel will likely be their new norm ... after stepping down.

What's even more telling is that Harry skipped his brother and sister-in-law's Buckingham Palace reception to catch this flight. Another sign he's over it.

Harry's been across the pond of late figuring out the next steps for his family, and after a sit-down with grandma and his dad ... it's been decided he and Meghan will forgo their HRH titles and bypass public funding ... while still repping the Queen and British Commonwealth informally.

Meghan Markle's an expert at pushing the envelope when it comes to what's politically acceptable to the Palace, and she proved it with some covert statements on her Royal IG with Prince Harry.

During her time as a Senior Royal, the Duchess of Sussex used the only social media she's allowed to have to make her political opinions known, but she did it subtly, knowing she was wading into dangerous waters with the Crown ... sources close to Meghan tell TMZ.

If you don't know ... Queen Elizabeth and her family are supposed to refrain from expressing political opinions publicly, but we're told Meghan never gave up her previously strongly held political beliefs.

Our Meghan sources say she carefully crafted IG posts to avoid overtly saying what she was thinking or supporting, but the writing was on the wall ... or in the photos.

For example, when her friend and women's rights activist, Loujain al-Hathloul, was imprisoned in Saudi Arabia ... Markle knew she couldn't come out and condemn a foreign government.

Instead, Meghan showed subtle solidarity by sharing a photo of herself with Loujain as part of a bigger post about One Young World ... a UK-based charity which is described as a global forum for young leaders. Meghan's support for the charity began in 2014, before she married Harry. Loujain was imprisoned on the weekend of Meghan's wedding and it's clear that, despite the diplomatic nature of her royal role, Meghan was calling for her friend to be freed by the Saudi regime.

That same post included a photo of Markle sitting next to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, shortly after he won re-election -- a low-key shout-out of support for her friend.

Our sources say, for the most part, she knew how to walk up to the line without crossing it, which helped her dodge any issues with royal higher-ups. Call it effective self-censorship.

Pro tip for all future Serena Williams interviewers ... whatever you do, do NOT ask about her friend Meghan Markle ... 'cause you WILL get shut down.

The tennis superstar faced the media after her Australian Open match on Monday ... and the first question wasn't about her win over Anastasia Potapova, it was about Megxit.

“Your good friend, Meghan Markle, who attended your last 2 slams, and Harry, have taken a move, a stance that many people think is extraordinary and historic," the reporter said.

"What are your feelings about that? Have you spoken to her?”

Prince Harry -- or Henry Charles Albert David for short, now -- is carrying on without a royal title just fine ... and he's even looking the part of a smart, casual commoner too.

The Duke of Sussex was spotted Sunday in London heading into the Ivy Chelsea Garden restaurant, where a social event of some kind was going down. PH was in attendance, obviously, which is interesting considering he's no longer His Highness ... just Harry.

Fact is, Harry doesn't rep the Queen or the Commonwealth anymore after an agreement between him, his wife, Meghan, and his grandma was reached just this weekend. Buckingham Palace says they'll still uphold the Royal Family's values, just informally.

That said, it's clear Har here still has the access and privilege of being a Royal -- he continues to hit public events like this and is probably rubbing shoulders with folks along the way. And, while he comes from nobility, he doesn't have the added pressure anymore.

Queen Elizabeth doesn't seem to be shedding any tears after cutting the cord with Harry and Meghan, because she showed up with Prince Andrew, smiling and wearing a checkered coat.

And, speaking of checkered ... it's a big show of support for her son, who's smack in the middle of the Jeffrey Epstein pedophile scandal after that disastrous TV interview.

Her appearance comes a day after she 86'd the royal titles of Harry and Meghan. It's apparent ... H&M aren't coming back to England anytime soon, and they may be forever outsiders after their move to Canada.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are a lot more like the rest of us today -- ditching their Royal titles and are pivoting toward becoming commoners ... all with the Queen's blessing.

Buckingham Palace announced a path forward Saturday for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in the wake of "Megxit." They say as part of the new agreement reached between all parties, Meg and Harry will no longer formally rep Queen Elizabeth publicly ... and they will also not go by His or Her Highness, as they're no longer working members of the Royal Family.

Another thing they're losing ... public funds and military appointments. All that comes with being a full-time Royal, and since they're out -- all the perks are out too.

The palace says they'll maintain the private charities and causes they support -- and while they're no longer doing anything on behalf of the Queen ... they've agreed to uphold the values of Her Majesty.

Charlie Hunnam is applauding Prince Harry and Meghan Markle for going rogue on the Royals, and he's hoping he and Meghan cross paths on a movie set sometime.

We got the "Sons of Anarchy" star at LAX and asked the proper Englishman for his take on Megxit. After all, he's a royal subject ... so this stuff means more to him than the average Yankee.

Charlie says Harry and Meghan deserve their autonomy. The way he sees it, Queen Elizabeth's heirs didn't ask to be born into the Royal Family and all that entails. He also has a bone to pick with the British media and the way they treat the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Seems he's got a soft spot for Harry.

Most folks think Meghan's destined to return to showbiz -- Harry recently pitched her voice-over work to Disney's Bob Iger -- and Charlie's definitely on board with that.

Prince Harry doesn't seem too stressed after what was one of the most tumultuous weeks ever for the Royal Family ... in fact, looks like he's shrugging it all off.

The Duke of Sussex surfaced Thursday at Buckingham Palace to host the draw for the Rugby League World Cup 2021 -- his first sighting since he and his wife, Meghan Markle, announced they were stepping down from senior royal duties.

Harry's face kind of says it all ... it's no biggie!

Before the draw, Harry spent some time meeting with children who'd gathered to play some flag rugby ... and he put smiles on their faces. Looks like the kids are alright with his big life change decision.

As we reported ... Meghan also surfaced for the first time this week at a women's center in Vancouver, and everyone looked thrilled to be in her company too.

Meghan Markle and the other Royals need some fresh air -- so she and a few others are getting out and, seemingly, getting on with their lives ... all in good spirits too.

The Duchess of Sussex surfaced Tuesday in Vancouver -- she's reportedly living on the island across the way -- at a place called the Downtown Eastside Women's Centre, where she posed with the staff and was grinning from ear-to-ear front and center, in between everybody.

They wrote on Facebook, "Look who we had tea with today! The Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, visited us today to discuss issues affecting women in the community."

The DEWC is known for helping those less fortunate in the area, while also providing food and services to women specifically. Looks like these folks do some good work -- and, obviously, their cause caught Meg's eye. She's very much about supporting these efforts.

Across the pond, her in-laws, Kate Middleton and Prince William, were also spotted out and about in Bradford, where they were leaving the local City Hall for what appears to have been some sort of flower-worthy ceremony.

They also rubbed elbows with the locals inside a restaurant where the future King tried his hand at whipping up a smoothie.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle can still lay claim to the Sussex Royal brand across the pond -- despite the "Megxit" -- but here in the U.S. of A., someone's already calling dibs!!!

You might've heard the Duke and Duchess of Sussex filed trademark docs in the UK to use the phrase "Sussex Royal" for possible merch in the future -- including possible online sales on their recently launched site of the same name.

Doesn't look like anyone's fighting 'em for the brand in England, but it ain't gonna be so easy for 'em stateside thanks to a guy named Joel Fogelson ... who's already filed an application to own "Sussex Royal" in America.

Now, frankly, this could get complicated for Joel if he was dead set on keeping it because it's their name, after all. However, he tells us he only filed for it on digital platforms because he saw it was available, and simply couldn't believe it.