Money matters

'Bachelor Nation' contestants reveal salary secrets

Can't buy me love?

While it's no secret that the "Bachelor" franchise pays its lovestruck hopefuls, there's long been wonder as to exactly how much these men and women actually make. Earlier this week, Bachelor Nation alums Jason Tartick and Dean Unglert gave fans a peek behind the curtain.

Dean, who first appeared on "The Bachelorette" in 2017 and was later asked to join "Bachelor in Paradise," fondly remembers his negotiation.

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"They hit me up and they were like, 'Hey, do you want to do 'Bachelor in Paradise,' this other show that pays $400 a day, and you could be there for up to 30 days,' something like that," he recalled while on Jason's "Trading Secrets" podcast. "They're like, 'Well, you should get more money because you're kind of like the guy coming off the show… you're who they want most from your season to go to 'Paradise,' minus like [runner-up] Peter [Kraus], obviously.'"

Dean countered for $800 a day, but he eventually settled on a daily rate of $600.

"At that point, I was like, out of principle, I just wanted them to pay — it could have been one dollar more — out of principle, I wanted them to pay me more than they were offering everybody else just cause I thought I was hot s**t for some reason," he said.

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Some time after, Dean said he was offered $75,000 to become the lead in season 22 of "The Bachelor," which eventually went to Arie Luyendyk Jr.

He later come back for "Paradise" in 2019, and remembers asking for $20,000 an episode, which he admits is an "absurd amount." 

"When I said it, too, I was so vindicated. I was like, 'They're not going to get me for a dollar less than what I need,'" he said. "Then, eventually, as time wore on, I was like, 'Screw it.' I think I went down to like $602 a day."

On his second stint in "Paradise," he met current girlfriend Caelynn Miller-Keyes.

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Jason, meanwhile, touched on his financial experience, too. After his run on Becca Kufrin's season of "The Bachelorette," Jason said that he, Blake Horstmann and Colton Underwood were all offered $100,000 to become "The Bachelor," which eventually went to Colton.

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Jason, who's now engaged to former "Bachelorette" Kaitlyn Bristowe, never went on "Paradise," but it was in cards at one point, as he said he negotiated a daily rate of $600, but with a $5,000 guarantee in case he didn't make it the first week.

Diana's final regret about William and Harry revealed

Princess Diana made a shocking confession in the days before her death.

According to a friend, the late Princess of Wales believed she made one major mistake regarding her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry.

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Diana regretted the Panorama interview

During an August 1997 trip to Greece, Diana allegedly told friend Rosa Monckton that she felt guilty about how her bombshell Panorama interview would affect her kids.

"She told me she regretted doing it because of the harm she thought it had done to her boys," Monckton told People.

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What Diana said in the interview

The 1995 sit-down with journalist Martin Bashir shocked the world as the mother of two talked candidly about the infidelity in her marriage to King Charles III and her personal struggles with herself and The Firm.

"We went abroad, we had separate apartments, albeit we were on the same floor, so of course that was leaked and that caused complications," Diana revealed about the illusion of her relationship with the monarch.

"But Charles and I had our duty to perform and that was paramount," she continued. "We were a very good team in public."

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Revelations about the interview

A 2021 inquiry led by senior judge Lord Dyson revealed that Bashir allegedly used fake documents and lies to secure the interview with Diana. BBC executives reportedly covered up the scheme.

The media personality allegedly scared the philanthropist by telling her that Charles wanted to kill her and was spying on her via William's wristwatch.

"She was frail and that made her susceptible to Bashir," Monckton told People. "[Bashir] told her she couldn't talk about it. She cut people out because of that."

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William's take on the interview

Both William and Harry have spoken publicly about their mother's tell-all interview. The 43-year-old Prince of Wales claimed Diana was lured to talk to Bashir by "fear, paranoia and isolation."

"What saddens me most is that if the BBC had properly investigated the complaints and concerns first raised in 1995, my mother would have known that she had been deceived," William said in a public statement following Dyson's investigation.

"She was failed not just by a rogue reporter but by leaders at the BBC who looked the other way rather than asking the tough questions," he added.

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Harry blames interview for Diana's death

The Duke of Sussex directly linked the interview to the car crash that took his mother's life at 36.

"[Our] mother was an incredible woman who dedicated her life to service. She was resilient, brave and unquestionably honest. The ripple effect of a culture of exploitation and unethical practices ultimately took her life," Harry said in a 2021 statement.

"To those who have taken some form of accountability, thank you for owning it," he noted of the inquiry. "That is the first step towards justice and truth. Yet what deeply concerns me is that practices like these — and even worse — are still widespread today."

"Then and now, it's bigger than one outlet, one network, or one publication," he added.

"Our mother lost her life because of this, and nothing has changed," Harry concluded. "By protecting her legacy, we protect everyone and uphold the dignity with which she lived her life. Let's remember who she was and what she stood for."

Meghan's 'lack of boundaries' on full display in latest 'provocative' move

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Meghan Markle, who was recently featured in Harper's Bazaar, has been accused of copying Princess Diana for a photoshoot.

"[When I first heard about it] I thought, no way, surely she would never lean into that. Then I saw the photos, and it is undeniable," PR expert Renae Smith told Daily Express. "These are not gentle references or sweet tributes. They are copies. That cross-legged one on the floor? Stop it!"

"From a PR perspective, it is such a bad idea," Smith continued. "It is confusing, it is provocative in the wrong way, and it puts her straight back beneath the royal shadow she always bloody insists she wants to get away from."

Meghan, who has publicly criticized the royal family in the past, continues to use her title as the Duchess of Sussex in the U.S.

"It's not hard to avoid anything royal. But she can't go two weeks without doing something related to the royal family," Smith noted. "I guess Harry might love it. I would assume she checked with him first, and he probably told her it was lovely. It is his mother and his wife merged into one visual, so emotionally it might make sense for them."

"Strategically, it is terrible. It makes her look completely directionless. I genuinely do not know who is advising her or if they even have a plan," Smith continued.

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Some think Meghan, whose feature focused on her emerging lifestyle brand, As Ever, is not being upfront about her motives.

"For me, this is beyond a simple bad PR move. It shows a lack of boundaries both personally and professionally," Smith stated. "She keeps saying she wants distance from the royal world, yet she keeps inserting herself directly into the legacy of the most powerful royal symbol of all time and the mother of her husband. The contradiction is glaring, and the emotional implications are concerning."

Over the years, Meghan has been seen as trying to become "Diana 2.0," and Harry often compares his wife to his mother.

"So much of what Meghan is and how she is is so similar to my mom," Harry said in Harry & Meghan. "She has the same compassion. She has the same empathy. She has the same confidence. She has this warmth about her."

Andrew spends final days 'humiliated and angry'

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Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is entering his final days at Royal Lodge after his ties to Jeffrey Epstein cost him his titles and mansion.

"I'm sure he's feeling humiliated and, by all accounts, angry. You have to remember that he has consistently protested his innocence," royal correspondent Jennie Bond told The Mirror. "Therefore, he feels wronged. But the reality is he now has just a few weeks left before he has to leave Royal Lodge, which has been his home for more than 20 years."

"One thing he could do to show some remorse (for, at the very least, his bad judgment in befriending Epstein) is to cooperate with the Congressional committee and tell them what he saw and what he knows. At the moment, though, that seems unlikely," Bond continued.

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Mountbatten-Windsor stepped back from public duties when his association with the convicted abuser became public, and his reputation further deteriorated after Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre accused him of assault. Mountbatten-Windsor adamantly denied the claims, but Giuffre's posthumous memoir reignited the scandal. Following the book's release, King Charles III announced his brother will no longer stay at Royal Lodge.

As Charles makes moves to protect the crown, the U.S. House of Representatives is working to expose Epstein's network. Mountbatten-Windsor was summoned by the Congressional House Oversight Committee, which said in a letter that it wants the ex-prince to "uncover the identities of Mr. Epstein's co-conspirators and enablers."

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US congressman Suhas Subramanyam, who signed a letter to Andrew requesting an interview about his links to Jeffrey Epstein, tells Sky's David Blevins that the former prince 'doesn't have to respond' but should to 'do right by the victims'. #skynews

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Democrat Suhas Subramanyam, who is a member of the committee, said the former duke "has been hiding from us, and I think he will continue to try to hide from people doing meaningful investigations of this matter."

"It seems like every time we find more evidence, Andrew seems to be in the documents," Subramanyam told The Guardian. "And so I think if he is hoping that the story will just go away by ignoring us and being silent, he will be sorely disappointed, as we continue to pursue this over the next year and beyond."

Andrew faces heartbreak as Sarah Ferguson sets her sights on 'finding a proper gentleman'

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor might still have feelings for Sarah Ferguson.

According to a source, Princess Beatrice is worried for her father as her mother sets her sights on finding a new man to provide for her following her recent scandal.

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Ferguson wants to find love

After Ferguson and Mountbatten-Windsor, who divorced in 1996, were stripped of their titles and evicted from their home due to their ties to Jeffrey Epstein, the former Duchess of York wants to move on with her life.

"Sarah's told Beatrice and her inner circle that she's been devastated by recent events, but she's never going to give up on love. She's been open about finding a proper gentleman to help her enjoy life. Someone successful, kind and financially secure," a source told Closer magazine.

"She's always been independent, but she knows she's got expensive taste and she jokes she needs a man who can keep up," the insider said.

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Worry over Mountbatten-Windsor

Although the former Duke of York and his ex-spouse split years ago, their eldest daughter is reportedly worried about how Mountbatten-Windsor will adjust.

"Beatrice wants her mom to move on, but also fears how Andrew would take it. She knows her dad would be crushed if Sarah met someone new and fears the thought of being alone will break his heart," the source told the publication.

"But at the same time, she just wants her parents to find their own peace. They've been separated for decades and clinging to the past isn't healthy," the insider said.

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Ferguson abandons Mountbatten-Windsor

Commentator Richard Fitzwilliams thinks the 66-year-old is giving up on her ex-husband after years of defending him.

"She is discredited and appears to have abandoned Andrew insofar as we know," the expert told Daily Express.

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Will Ferguson spill royal secrets?

As Ferguson finds new ways to support herself, Fitzwilliams believes a tell-all isn't out of the question.

"If she is after a fast buck, she might well go back on Oprah or choose another outlet. This would give her publicity," he said. "In the past, she was able to make comebacks after she was hit by scandals and was admired for this, with charities deserting her after it was proved that she lied regarding her links with Epstein.  This seems highly unlikely. It depends on what her priorities are, how much money she actually has and what her plans are."

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Will Ferguson embarrass herself?

If the matriarch decides to spill The Firm's secrets, she could find that it comes with consequences. "We will doubtless discover soon, she was a disaster as a working royal and is totally shameless," Fitzwilliams said.

"Also, if the interviews given by Andrew Lownie, author of Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York, are anything to go by, a large amount is yet to be revealed, which could prove extremely embarrassing to her," he added.

Beatrice 'genuinely upset' Will and Kate

Princess Beatrice might have made a major mistake.

According to a source, Prince William and Kate Middleton were blindsided when they learned their cousin hosted an official afternoon tea at Riyadh's Ritz-Carlton hotel in Saudi Arabia.

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Why is Beatrice's Saudi Arabia gathering controversial?

The establishment where Beatrice held the alleged event was the site of Saudi Arabia's crackdown, where royals and business figures were detained and allegedly mistreated in 2017.

The appearance was also ill-timed, as the 37-year-old's parents, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson, were being stripped of their titles for their friendship with Jeffrey Epstein.

"It was seen as tone-deaf, especially given the venue's reputation and the recent controversies surrounding Andrew and Sarah," the source told Closer magazine.

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William and Kate 'upset' by Beatrice

The Prince and Princess of Wales were shocked by Beatrice's carelessness. "William and Kate were genuinely upset when the pictures emerged," the insider told the publication.

"They have been very supportive of Beatrice and Princess Eugenie and hope now that they will tow the Palace line," the source said.

Despite the former Duke of York and his ex-wife's banishment from royal life, King Charles III allowed Beatrice and her younger sister to retain their titles.

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Repercussions for the mistake

The Firm is now laying down the law on royal outings. "The Palace has made it crystal clear. Every appearance must now be approved and vetted by senior aides before anyone gives it the go-ahead," the source said.

"There's now a push inside the Palace to impose an 'office-style' approval system on Beatrice and Eugenie's future activities, to ensure there's no repeat of such headlines. They can't risk another scandal linked to the York name," the insider added.

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Did William threaten Beatrice's title?

BBC journalist Emily Maitlis previously alleged William held Beatrice and Eugenie's titles over their head to get their father to leave Royal Lodge before his honors were removed.  

"There was a question over whether there had been, earlier in the day, a meeting between Prince William and the princesses, Beatrice and Eugenie, saying, 'You guys have to get your dad to move out of Royal Lodge, otherwise we will start re-examining the state of your own titles,'" she claimed during a broadcast.

According to The Mirror, the allegation is untrue. A representative for Kensington Palace insisted the future king never met with his relatives about the matter.

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Charles keeps Beatrice and Eugenie in the royal fold

Despite their parents' public scandal, Charles wants to keep his nieces in the inner circle. "I think that Charles feels quite responsible for these two girls, because it's been a hideous time for them. Really hideous," Ingrid Seward told The Sun.

"They've both got young children, and I know they've got supportive husbands, but they've both got young children, and I think it's been very, very difficult," she noted.

Elizabeth was one of Epstein's clients

Did Queen Elizabeth II have a connection to Jeffrey Epstein?

According to the 23,000 documents released by the United States House Oversight Committee, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor wasn't the only royal with ties to the late criminal.

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Elizbeth's alleged connection to Epstein

In one document, Nobel Prize-winning scientist Murray Gell-Mann claimed he was "under the impression that Epstein's clients include the Queen of England."

The files alleged the late monarch was taking "financial advice" from Epstein.

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Other legal papers claim the financier attended a bash held in Elizabeth's honor.

"Epstein had been invited to Windsor Castle to celebrate the queen's birthday," a document read. "Six months later, Epstein flew to Sandringham, the queen's estate in Norfolk, England, for a party Andrew threw for [Epstein accomplice] Ghislaine Maxwell's 39th birthday."

Andrew loses his titles

King Charles III stripped Andrew of his titles and evicted him from Royal Lodge over his friendship with Epstein and allegations of misconduct against them both.

The late queen previously removed the former Duke of York's military and charity patronages in 2022 but didn't take further action.

"King Charles has proven he's a bit more of a doer, not just a talker. Definitely not as silent as his mother Queen Elizabeth II," public relations expert Renae Smith told Daily Express.

"He's more decisive than people give him credit for and this shows he's willing to make uncomfortable calls when it protects the institution. It's a very different energy from the 'keep calm and carry on' approach of previous generations, it's firmer, cleaner and more modern," she continued, adding, "I'm a fan."

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Elizabeth let Andrew's behavior slide

In The Windsor Legacy: A Royal Dynasty, writer Robert Jobson claims that Andrew requested $42,000 to cover the cost of live-in spiritual gurus to treat him at his home.

When Charles received the request, he was reportedly "horrified" and said no to his brother's outlandish ask.

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This was a change for the disgraced duke, as Elizabeth reportedly "passed the request through."

Camilla gave her son the 'worst present' ever

Queen Camilla's son has revealed that the former Duchess of Cornwall doesn't always hit the nail on the head when it comes to gift-giving.

In a column for You Magazine, Tom Parker Bowles reflected on a present his mother gave him when he was a teenager.

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Camilla gave her son the 'worst present' ever

King Charles III's stepson recalled the awkward moment with his mother: "The worst present I ever received (worse than that hideous 'gin o'clock' sign) was back in 1991, when I asked my mother for a leather jacket," Parker Bowles wrote.

"I wanted a proper black one with zips and attitude and swagger. Marlon Brando in The Wild Ones or Arnold Schwarzenegger in The Terminator. I don't think my mother got the hint," the food critic said.

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"What I unwrapped was a toffee-brown Marks [and] Spencer monster, blouson-style with a naff tartan lining. Lovejoy by way of Alan Partridge," he recalled.

"Worse still, I had to pretend to adore it and wear the thing all day long. The shame still burns as fierce as brandy-damned plum pudding," he added.

Parker Bowles doesn't want a royal title

Despite Camilla being part of the royal family, Parker Bowles — whose father is retired army officer Andrew Parker Bowles — does not want a title.

"I tell you, that would be the quickest way to revolution," he said on the "Good Food" podcast when questioned on the topic.

"I think we're a fairly balanced and sober and sensible country on the whole," he continued. "But if I suddenly became a prince, I think that Buckingham Palace gates would be stormed. It would be appalling. I think that would put back the long and glorious cause of the monarchy in Britain by many years."

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Parker Bowles feels for William and Harry

While Parker Bowles gets to live a somewhat private life, the same cannot be said for his stepbrothers Prince William and Prince Harry.

"I learned a long time ago not to put my fat fingers into the world of William and Harry," the writer told The Telegraph in 2024.

"It was appalling what they went through. I've had a billionth of what they've had to go through, but I sympathize," he added. "Counting how many paps were at the gates, to see who was watching us and taking photographs, it was all as normal as bacon and eggs in the morning. You didn't think of it in any other way. [But] it was barbaric."

Philip was 'one of the very few wary' of Meghan

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Prince Philip gave Prince Harry a stern warning about Meghan Markle before they got married.

"One steps out with actresses, one doesn't marry them," Philip reportedly told his grandson.

According to royal biographer Ingrid Seward, Philip was "one of the very few wary" of the Suits star. In My Mother and I, Seward wrote that the Duke of Edinburgh viewed Meghan as a Wallis Simpson-like figure. Edward VIII famously abdicated the throne to marry the American socialite and divorcee.

Meghan's previous marriage and nationality reminded the patriarch of Simpson, whose union reshaped the monarchy. In private, Philip referred to Harry's bride as "DOW," an abbreviation for Duchess of Windsor. 

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Seward hinted at Philip being saddened by the pair leaving the U.K., which was later dubbed "Megxit."

"I think he's very, very disappointed because I think he feels he gave up his naval career in order to stand by the Queen and help the monarchy," Seward told Sky News

"And why can't Meghan just give up her acting career, support her husband and support the monarchy?" Seward continued. "He just cannot understand why she couldn't support Harry and help him rather than wanting to have her voice."

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Similar to his grandfather, Prince William had his own concerns about Meghan. In Spare, Harry revealed William thought the Sussexes' romance moved too quickly.

"'It's too fast,' he'd told me. 'Too soon.' In fact, he'd actually been pretty discouraging about me even dating Meg," Harry wrote.

As a result, William and Harry's relationship is now fractured. Though Meghan and Harry avoided speaking ill of Philip and Queen Elizabeth II in their tell-alls, they painted William and Kate Middleton as cold toward Meghan.

"I was a hugger and have always been a hugger. I didn't realize that that was really jarring for a lot of Brits," Meghan said in Harry & Meghan, referring to her first time meeting William and Kate. "I guess I started to understand very quickly that the formality on the outside carried through on the inside."

"There is a forward-facing way of being, and then you close the door and you are like, 'Oh, great. We can relax now.' But that formality carries over on both sides. And that was surprising to me," the Northwestern alum continued.

Charles thought Harry 'crossed a line' with Camilla

King Charles III was reportedly enraged over what Prince Harry said about Queen Camilla in his memoir.

According to a source, His Majesty asked the Duke of Sussex and Meghan Markle to leave Frogmore Cottage after learning what his son wrote about the former Duchess of Cornwall in his 2023 tell-all Spare.

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What did Harry write about Camilla?

In the bombshell book, Harry labeled Camilla "the other woman" and his "wicked stepmother." He also accused her of interfering in his parents' marriage.

"In a funny way, I even wanted Camilla to be happy. Maybe she'd be less dangerous if she were happy?" the 41-year-old wrote.

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Harry claimed that he and his older brother, Prince William, begged their father not to marry Camilla, but the couple tied the knot in 2005.

Charles claims Harry 'crossed the line'

Charles wasn't thrilled with Harry's remarks about his second wife.

"It was the last straw. Harry was well aware how Camilla would be a red line for his father and he crossed it with flagrant disregard anyway," a source told Daily Express.

"The king felt without a doubt it crossed a line. It was the ultimate act of disrespect," the insider said.

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Sympathy for Harry

According to royal expert and historian Dr. Tessa Dunlop, Harry's constant need to speak out about his family comes from a place of sadness.

"The optics are terrible," she told Daily Express.

"Britain's response to the news has, on the whole, been gleeful. On one level the vitriol is understandable. Prince Harry had just lobbed several verbal hand grenades at his family and the former institution to which he belonged. But he did so from a position of weakness, on the outside, in pain and feeling side-lined," she explained.

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Harry tries to make amends with Charles

Harry tried to patch things up with his dad during a recent trip to England. However, after the New York Times best-selling author accused Charles' royal staffers of leaking information about their meeting to the press, things between them soured again.

"The relationship between the duke and His Majesty the king is a matter for the two of them and the two of them only," an additional source told DailyMail.com.

"The men in grey suits should stay out of it," the insider added, referring to Charles' advisors.