MEGHAN Markle and Prince Harry have featured Elton John, James Corden and other wellness icons in their first podcast episode after signing a £30m deal with Spotify.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex released their holiday special podcast – the first in their Archewell Audio series – this afternoon.
And the couple began their show by paying tribute to healthcare and frontline workers for their “sacrifices” and remembered those who have lived through “uncertainty and unthinkable loss” during the coronavirus pandemic.
Baby Archie, the couple’s one-year-old son, even had his podcast debut – heard laughing with his parents as he wished listeners a happy new year.
Meghan, 39, and Harry, 36, signed the lucrative deal with Spotify to host and produce podcasts, estimated to be worth £30 million.
The working partnership comes a few months after the couple signed a Netflix deal, to produce a range of programmes and series, rumoured to be worth more than £100 million.
And the couple today launched their podcast with a message to frontline workers and those who had lost loved ones during the coronavirus pandemic.
But they urged people to have hope, with Meghan telling their listeners: “No matter what life throws at you guys, trust us when we say – love wins.
Harry added: “Love always wins.”
The poignant message came after the couple hosted a string of well-known names talking about 2020 including Sir Elton John, James Corden and Tyler Perry to speak about how they had kept motivated and positive during 2020.
Introducing the first episode, Harry told listeners: “We’re glad you’re here. As we all know, it’s been a year. And we really want to honour the compassion and kindness that has helped so many people get through it.”
While Meghan added: “And at the same time, to honour those who have experienced uncertainty and unthinkable loss. Our thoughts have been with you, especially during this holiday season.”
The duke continued: “And in too many instances people weren’t able to be at a loved one’s side or say goodbye as they would have wished.”
His wife said: “We also want to thank healthcare workers, frontline service workers, and so many others for their sacrifices.”
Sir Elton was a friend of Harry’s mother Diana, Princess of Wales and has regularly supported her son over the years, while Corden was a guest at Harry and Meghan’s wedding and was asked by the duke to perform at the couple’s evening celebration.
Other guests included activist and tennis star Naomi Osaka, American filmmaker and actor Tyler Perry – who had allowed the couple to stay at his mansion when they first moved to the US – wellness icon Deepak Chopra and teenage activist Christina Adane from London, who campaigns on food issues.
Harry said in the podcast: “As we come to the end of this year and look to the future… let’s hold onto the lessons we’ve learned about how important it is to take care of one another, and how meaningful our connections are… even when they’re physically impossible.”
Meghan added they had asked people who “inspire us” to appear on the podcast and give “their thoughts on what they learned from 2020”.
The podcast ends with the couple broadcasting the gospel song This Little Light of Mine which was played at the end of their wedding.
Meghan said: “From us I’ll say no matter what life throws at you guys, trust us when we say, love wins.”
She added: “This Little Light of Mine played at the very end of our wedding… while we were walking down the steps of the church.”
Quoting Martin Luther King she went on to say: “It was the music that we wanted playing when we started our lives together. Because as we all know, ‘darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that…'”
Harry added: “The message of this song is one we hold so dearly. It’s about using the power we each have within us to make this world a better place.”
It comes after the Sun revealed the couple lodged documents to prevent others cashing in on the name.
US copyright attorneys are already looking over papers from the couple asking for exclusive rights to their charity Archewell and Archewell Foundation.
And official papers filed regarding Archewell Audio revealed it will provide: “Downloadable podcasts, audio programs, and audio books, all in the field of current and topical events, education, science, literature, racial justice, gender equity, environmental stewardship, youth empowerment, health, mental health, and commentary on topics of current and general interest.”
