Exclusive: Harry and Meghan demand total control over who introduces their lucrative US speeches
Form issued by 'the worldâs leading speakers bureau' outlines the lengths bookers must go to if they want to secure a talk
By Camilla Tominey, Associate Editor8 September 2020 ⢠9:00pm
Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex Credit: AFP
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will be able to dictate who moderates any discussion with them according to a leaked document outlining the conditions for booking the couple as "virtual" speakers.
Event organisers will also be required to specify in advance the exact fee being offered and give full details of any sponsors, including âwhat they are receiving in return for their sponsorshipâ before even issuing an invitation to Harry, 35, and Meghan, 39.
The four-page âVirtual Event Request Formâ issued by The Harry Walker Agency (HWA), seen by The Telegraph, shows the lengths bookers will have to go to to secure an online audience with the Royals.
One of the conditions specified in the form is that it is up to the speakers to decide who introduces them and moderates any discussion with them.
âThe choice of Introducer and Moderator will be at the final discretion of the Speaker,â it reads. âThe Fee will need to be paid directly from the contracting organizationâs account,â it adds.
In June, it was reported that the Sussexes had signed up with the New York-based agency, which represents A-listers including Barack and Michelle Obama, Bill and Hillary Clinton and Oprah Winfrey.
It has been suggested they could charge $1 million per speech with the agency, which describes itself as âthe worldâs leading speakersâ bureauâ.
The couple last week
signed a rumoured $150 million deal to produce programmes for Netflix after stepping down as senior Royals in March to seek âfinancial independenceâ. They have agreed that they will not engage in any commercial activities that could cause the Queen embarrassment.
As well as requesting all the basic details for the booking, the HWA form demands advance knowledge of all sponsors associated with the event, including âcorporations, individuals, members of the organisation and government entities or organisationsâ.
Stressing that details must be given of sponsors even if they are not directly involved with the speakerâs presentation, the form asks: âIf you were to lose one or more of the above sponsors, would your organisation still be able to move forward with this event?â
In order to spare Harry and Meghanâs blushes in the event of a technological failure, the form demands to know what âconnection formatâ will be used for the event (ie. satellite, video conference, or other), how the speaker will access the platform and what the bookerâs âcontingency planâ is in the event of âconnectivity issuesâ.
The form asks: âWhat will the audience see on screen? Will you incorporate any branding? What will the Speaker see on screen immediately prior to and during their presentation?â
Bookers are also asked to specify whether "any live or pre-recorded programme elements will run concurrently with the Speakerâs presentation" and to list the names of any additional speakers who have been invited.
The anticipated number of attendees also needs to be specified in advance along with a description of âwho they areâ.
âIs the event accessible to the public or is access restricted?â the form asks. âHow will access to your event be determined and monitored? (ie registration and unique log in). Will there be a cost associated with participation either through ticket sales or registration fees?â
The form also asks if the event will be publicly advertised, and where - and requests details of any past speakers who have participated.
It also demands advance details of whether the speakerâs attire will need to be âbusiness or casualâ.
In February, Harry and Meghan attended a JP Morgan event in Miami
where the Duke is thought to have been paid a six-figure sum after giving a speech about being in therapy for seven years following the death of his mother