Royal officials 'will examine Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's $150m Netflix deal' after they agreed to approval of any new commercial ventures when couple quit public life

Royal officials 'will examine Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Netflix deal' after they agreed to approval of any new commercial ventures when they quit public life.

A palace source claimed that despite ditching official duties any profit-oriented plans would be 'subject to discussion'.

There are questions over how it will look to the taxpayer when the Sussexes have still not paid off the £2.4million spent on refurbishing Frogmore Cottage in Windsor.

Harry and Meghan said on Wednesday they had founded a production company to make documentaries, feature films, scripted shows and children's programs.

They vowed to make 'impactful content that unlocks action' and name-checked Netflix chief executive Ted Sarandos and spoke of the firm's 'unprecedented reach'.

They are expected to make content including on 'mental health', an animated series about women, a nature documentary and shows on community service.

The source told the Mirror: 'Harry and Meghan did leave as working members of the family with everyone's best wishes and it is sincerely hoped they find the happiness that appeared to be lacking in their lives.

'However, it goes without saying any deals they are making will be scrutinised by the royal household.

'Under the terms of their deal to forgo their royal duties, they agreed any commercial deals would be subject to discussion.'

Harry and Meghan got the green light to broker commercial deals in January - but the moneymaking projects will be scrutinised by the Queen after a year.

The historic agreement ruled the couple will drop their HRH titles, pay back £2.4million of taxpayer cash and no longer receive public funds.

In exchange, they were allowed to quit frontline duties and given license to expand their Sussex Royal brand.

Yet Her Majesty, who is understood to be anxious the couple could use their royal credentials to line their pockets, will be watching them closely.

Insiders told Mail Online the blueprint thrashed out at Sandringham is subject to an annual review in the Spring of 2021, although a date has not yet been confirmed. 

The Netflix pact was compared to the Obamas $65m deal which saw the former president's production company win an Oscar with his first film American Factory.

The Sussexes, who recently bought a $14 million mansion in Santa Barbara on a mortgage, stepped into Hollywood after ditching royal duties in March.

But public relations expert Mark Borowski said the couple had put a lot of pressure on themselves to succeed.

He told Mail Online: 'An old Hollywood friend of mine once told me you can never have too big a hit. But you have got to manage expectations.

'When you switch on the hype machine you have got to deliver. If it's something that lets people down it's going to backfire.

'If you pull it apart, who wouldn't want Harry and Meghan – it's huge publicity for Netflix.

'But for Harry and Meghan, they just understand this media circus. They have been naïve. 

'This is a money-raising exercise. They have got this inferiority complex they are going to have to come back cap in hand to the Royal household.

'It all sounds great, but what have you got? What names are attracted, what is the first project?

'It's like someone in the pub saying 'I am going to start making productions for Netflix'.

'This is incredibly dangerous and overhyped, they have got no chance to fail, they have got to succeed. If they lose they have got a lot of egg on their face.

'For Harry and Meghan, this whole shooting match that they get involved with, it heaps a lot of pressure on them.

'They are looking for attention all the time. On this occasion I think they may have overstepped the mark.

'The proof is obviously in the pudding. It's going to be very difficult, hits are very hard to come by. How many Downton Abbeys, The Crowns and Ordinary Peoples are there? They are from British producers who will tell you that you have got to have a few flops to make before you get a hit.

'This is a naïve double-act, who are living on hype.'

Professor Jonathan Shalit OBE, Chairman of Inter Talent, said he thought the par would be a hit.

He told Mail Online: 'Of course they have to deliver. They are going to have a fantastic time working with them, they are both bright, intelligent, young people.

'I think it will be a huge success, when you are judging success on Netflix it's different from a terrestrial network.

'Netflix are not driven by ratings, it's more about the portfolio they offer.

'Meghan and Harry will be appealing to subscribers and they are alongside the Obamas.

'I think it's an equally brilliant deal for both the couple and Netflix. It also solves their financial problem overnight.'

British TV producer Gub Neal, of award-winning hit The Fall, said he thought it was a good move and Netflix could have been attracted to their woke credentials.

Mr Neal, creative director of Ringside Studios, told Mail Online: 'From a branding point of view Harry and Meghan, they are kind of woke and there is a lot of appetite for them.

'A lot of people have had very successful conversions in the market whether it's the Obamas or Michael Portillo, why should Harry and Meghan be any different?

'If I was at Netflix I would think the deal was a no-brainer. The question is really will Meghan and Harry be persuadable to the right people and right subjects.

'Viewers will by buying into them, not particularly their production skills. I think what Meghan and Harry will have the advantage of is being more relaxed and less restrained away from the Royal family.

'I would think it's a great deal for Netflix and it's not a bad deal for Meghan and Harry.

'To be seen to be working and not just living a 'playboy lifestyle' – this is a great way to declare they are working.

'This is conspicuous way of saying we do have a purpose. You can do woke and adventure at the same time.

'You can be environmentally crusading and at the same time making exciting programs.'

He added: 'For Netflix it is going to be very appealing – I think it's great recipe for both sides.'

Public paperwork for their Archewell firm in America, gives a flavor of the topics the Sussexes are likely to focus on in their films.

Filings mention the areas of sport, mental health, as well as physical fitness, children's programming and even cartoons.

Royal expert Ingrid Seward said: 'This proves it's not what you can do, it is who you are. It's very nice for them to be able to just step into that.