Palace officials will be watching Prince Harry’s new roles ‘very, very closely,’ royal expert claims

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Palace officials will watch Prince Harry’s new roles ‘very, very closely’ to make sure they don’t go against his agreement with The Queen ‘not to trade off his Royal status,’ royal expert claims

  • Palace officials will watch Prince Harry’s new roles ‘closely,’ royal expert claims
  • Russell Myers says they’ll see if they go against the agreement with The Queen that he would not trade off his Royal status 
  • The Duke of Sussex was unveiled on Tuesday as chief impact officer at BetterUp

By Chloe Morgan For Mailonline

Published: | Updated:

Palace officials will be watching Prince Harry’s new roles ‘very, very closely’ to see if they go against the agreement with The Queen that he would not trade off his Royal status,’ a royal expert has claimed.

Speaking on this week’s edition of True Royalty TV’s weekly programme The Royal Beat, Daily Mirror royal editor Russell Myers discusses Prince Harry’s new role as Chief Impact Officer at US coaching firm BetterUP.

‘There is the argument that if he is “Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex” in all the published materials for [the firm], is that trading off the royal brand which they said they wouldn’t do to uphold the values of The Queen?’ he explains. 

‘So it is very debatable at the moment. People at the Palace will be watching this very, very closely.’ 

Palace officials will be watching Prince Harry’s new roles ‘very, very closely,’ royal expert Russell Myers claims. Pictured, The Duke of Sussex was unveiled on Tuesday morning as the chief impact officer at BetterUp with this corporate black and white photograph of Harry released at the same time

Russell Myers (pictured) explains: 'There is the argument that if he is "Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex" in all the published materials for [the firm], is that trading off the royal brand which they said they wouldn't do to uphold the values of The Queen?'

Russell Myers (pictured) explains: ‘There is the argument that if he is “Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex” in all the published materials for [the firm], is that trading off the royal brand which they said they wouldn’t do to uphold the values of The Queen?’

Her Majesty, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry watch a flypast to mark the centenary of the Royal Air Force from the balcony of Buckingham Palace on July 10, 2018 in London

Her Majesty, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry watch a flypast to mark the centenary of the Royal Air Force from the balcony of Buckingham Palace on July 10, 2018 in London

On Tuesday, Prince Harry announced his first job in the corporate world by revealing he had taken an executive position at a Silicon Valley start-up that claims to be worth $1.7billion.

The Duke of Sussex will be ‘chief impact officer’ at mental health services business BetterUp, where he will help promote an app used by corporate giants including Hilton, Facebook and oil firm Chevron to improve the wellbeing of their staff.

The company’s chief executive Alexi Robichaux has declined to say how much the royal will be paid, although similar roles at other California firms would command six or seven-figure salaries.

Author and Sunday Times Royal Correspondent Roya Nikkhah moves the conversation on discuss a claim made by Prince Harry during the bombshell Oprah Winfrey interview.

Author and Sunday Times Royal Correspondent Roya Nikkhah also makes a reference back to Prince Harry saying how difficult it was for him and Meghan Markle to access mental health support during their bombshell Oprah Winfrey interview (pictured)

Author and Sunday Times Royal Correspondent Roya Nikkhah also makes a reference back to Prince Harry saying how difficult it was for him and Meghan Markle to access mental health support during their bombshell Oprah Winfrey interview (pictured)

Harry was introduced to CEO Alexi Robichaux (top left) through a mutual friend. He has refused to say how much Harry (top right) will be paid. Harry is listed on the company website with Mr Robichaux's co-founder, Eduardo Medina (top centre)

Harry was introduced to CEO Alexi Robichaux (top left) through a mutual friend. He has refused to say how much Harry (top right) will be paid. Harry is listed on the company website with Mr Robichaux’s co-founder, Eduardo Medina (top centre)

Making reference to the Duke of Sussex’s comment regarding how difficult it was for the couple to access mental health support, Nikkhah says: ‘Harry is the most literate and clued-up person on mental health that I have ever met, going back many years.’

‘He has every single organisation plugged into [mental health] at his fingertips. He talks to them all the time. 

‘He knows about mental health. Which is why I was so struck and confused by those comments he made in the interview that he didn’t know where to turn.’  

Nikkhah then discusses Prince William’s reaction to Harry’s comment about the future king and Prince Charles both feeling ‘trapped’ in the Royal Family.

‘[William] doesn’t feel trapped. That comment from Harry really didn’t go down well,’ she explains. 

Silicon Valley start-up that has hired Prince Harry 

What is BetterUp?

BetterUp describes itself as company that ‘combines coaching with dynamic and personalized digital experiences to accelerate members’ long-term professional development and drive personal growth’.

In practice, they sell executive coaching and therapy services to individuals and large companies.

It employs clinical therapists and ‘executive coaches’ on contract to provide those services. 

One blue chip company that recently employed their services was charged $2,000 for six months of unlimited coaching for each employee. 

Those who sign up for their app can receive one-to-one video therapy or coaching through the app.

Who was it founded by?

It was founded by two USC graduates Alexi Robichaux and Eduardo Medina. Robinchaux grew up in Dallas, Texas, and has described growing up with his father a biblical linguist who translates from Greek, Aramaic and Hebrew. His mother is an immigrant from Greece who was an executive assistant at Texas Instruments. In high school he started a non-profit called Youth Leadership for America.

Medina is also a USC graduate who worked at management consultant companies Altamont Capital Partners and Bain & Company before starting BetterUp.

How big is BetterUp?

BetterUp says it has raised a total of $300m in venture capital, and claims to be valued at $1.7bn. It has not reported any corporate results or profits.

Last year, Robinchaux told Inc that the company had 200 employees and more than a thousand therapists and executive coaches on contract. 

Its investors include snowboarder Sean White, NBA player Pau Gasol and a series of venture capital companies including frims called ICONIQ Growth, Lightspeed Venture and Mubadala Capital. 

Who has invested in BetterUp?

The company lists 10 Silicon Valley venture capital companies among its investors, including the UAE sovereign wealth fund Mubadala Capital.

It also names Olympic snowboarder Shaun White and NBA player Pau Gasol as individual investors.

‘It didn’t chime with how William feels …. [William] has come up against the men in grey suits as Meghan and other people have called them, but there is a way to navigate your way round that if you feel strongly enough about it.’ 

Discussing how comments from private conversations between Meghan and her friends continue to appear in the media, royal biographer and Editor-in-Chief of Majesty Magazine Ingrid Seward tells the programme: ‘The Royals hate private conversations being repeated in any form in the press and I think that is really going to cause a problem.’ 

On the rumour that Meghan may look to run for the Presidency of the United States, Myers tells the programme: ‘It may be fanciable to say that Meghan has [political desire] to run for the highest office in the world but nothing is off limits. 

The Americans love her at the moment, they love both of them. Nothing is off limits.’ 

Nikkhah jokes: ‘Would the Queen have to host Harry and Meghan for a state visit?!’  

The Royal Beat – available on True Royalty TV