Free Souls in Royal Estrangement

"Brand Sussex is a global brand and could end up making an absolute fortune, from public speaking to Meghan reinventing her lifestyle blog, to merchandising or brand endorsements."
Nick Bullen, editor-in-chief, True Royalty TV

"The Obamas are a great model for how to make money and keep it classy."
"They could find projects that are moving and sometimes Meghan could be in them. If it's a documentary, maybe Harry could narrate it."
Howard Bragman, veteran Hollywood public relations strategist 

"Big-name speakers get well into six figures to make an appearance or give a speech at an event."
"If they choose to pursue that avenue, they would be considered in the top echelon of speakers."
Jeff Jacobson, co-founder, Talent Bureau, Canada

"Harry and Meghan have a combined Instagram following of 10 million."
"The Meghan and Harry brand is like a startup. There is lots of potential but no proven value yet."
Jeetendr Sehdev, branding expert, Los Angeles

Prince Charles, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Queen Elizabeth II, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry, Prince William, and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge watch the RAF flypast on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, July 10, 2018 in London.

The biggest news stories of the moment couldn't be more different from one another than the latest scandal of family dysfunction from the British royal family, versus the sad fate of passengers aboard an international flight from Tehran, Iran to Ukraine en route to Canada. Both stories involve Canada. The two royals with their infant son are chafing at the duties imposed upon them as part of the inner branch of the British royal family and seem determined to fly the bedazzling coop of confined luxury and public engagement.

Heading, it would appear, for Canada.

Queen Elizabeth's new granddaughter-by-marriage, 36-year-old Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex is already back in Canada, having helped her husband Harry, Duke of Sussex to light a royal fire under the backsides of besotted royal watchers and the news media. Indignation on one hand that they would upset the Queen and dispense with protocol, admiration on the other (amongst their generational peers) that they have decided to strike out on their own, leaving royal duties -- but definitely not privilege -- in the dust bin.

Harry and Meghan step back from royal duties:

Except of course, they haven't. They plan to retain their royal titles and the prestige attached to them, although their wax figures have already been removed from the Tussaud Wax Museum. They claim to be planning to earn their own livelihood, but expect that the royal privilege of tax funding for their private and very costly security continue to be covered. Speculation abounds. So does condemnation and approval, mostly neatly divided by age demographic.

But the young Royals are determined to "step back" from the family commitment to Rule Britannia by Royal decree, leaving it all to Buckingham Palace. Financial independence awaits them, for this, as they have stated, is their goal. They "value the ability to earn a professional income", the profession of Royalty no longer appeals; too personally constraining. No longer, they explain on their website Sussex-royal.com will they graciously accept funding from the Sovereign Fund, up to the present covering five percent of their expenses.

Daddy Charles has provided the rest, around $6.5 million out of his Duchy of Cornwall estate, sufficient to cover their remaining 95 percent expense accounting. On the other hand, it seems that Harry's bank account has around $39-million nicely stuffed mostly inherited from his mother Princess Diana's estate, while wife Meghan's net worth is around $6 million, so neither they nor little Archibald will be starving anytime soon, wherever they live, Britain or Canada.

Chris Jackson via Getty Images

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex depart Canada House on Jan. 7, 2020 in London

Evidently, Harry is working with Oprah Winfrey in the production of a documentary whose focus is on mental health for Apple's new streaming service. He knows a bit about mental health, having confessed his own delicate state, another inheritance from his mother, doubtless. As for the duchess, she appears to be in discussion with French fashion house Givenchy over a project, so they will without a doubt survive.

Royal memorabilia featuring Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, is displayed for sale in a store near Buckingham Palace, in London, on Jan. 10, 2020.

DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP/Getty Images

Canadians appear to be wildly enthusiastic about the potential of welcoming new immigrants of a decidedly royal celebrity status. But are they willing to pay for it? That is, considerably over what is already demanded in the care and settling in of refugees, both legal and illegal? None of which, other than the royals will require a level of security expenses that will be demanded by the presence of Harry and Meghan, say in the neighbourhood of millions yearly.

Not to worry. A survey has revealed that a slim majority of Canadians are ready to put the Sussex's to work; he as a new Governor-General, and she as the gracious host of the GG's palatial residence in Ottawa, from whence they may be jaunting around the world representing their grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, at a remove.