How ‘Meghan 3.0’ relaunch comes after ‘false start’ year of ‘flops’ including axed podcast, panned Netflix series and delayed lifestyle brand
Since stepping back from her royal duties in 2020, Meghan Markle has tried to carve out a new identity as a content creator, entrepreneur and advocate.
With steadfast ambition, the Duchess of Sussex looked poised to dominate the world of entertainment and lifestyle.
Armed with multi-million dollar contracts with Netflix and Spotify, and rumors of an upcoming lifestyle brand, the former actress seemed ready to write her next chapter in bold, glittering strokes.
However, the reality has proven to be much more challenging than the fairytale story Meghan might have imagined.
A series of high-profile missteps and cancellations have cast a shadow over her post-royal ventures, leaving many wondering if her brand can recover.
From the cancellation of her Netflix series “Pearl” to the cancellation of her Spotify podcast “Archetypes” and the still-unrealized promise of her lifestyle brand, Meghan’s attempts to reshape her public persona have had limited success.
This comes as the Duchess today launched her personal Instagram account with a video – filmed by husband Harry – of herself laughing on a beach near their home in Montecito.
When Meghan Markle and Prince Harry signed a lucrative deal with Netflix in 2020, reportedly worth up to $100 million, expectations were sky high.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are pictured at the Royal Salute Polo Challenge in Wellington, Florida. Clips of them at the charity tournament were featured in the couple’s latest flop documentary ‘Polo’
‘Polo’ is the third documentary from Prince Harry and Meghan (pictured here with son Archie in 2022) that disappoints viewers and critics alike
Fans and detractors alike expected a range of content that would combine the Duchess’s storytelling flair with the couple’s philanthropic values.
But the fairy tale began to sour in May 2022, when Netflix canceled “Pearl,” an animated series co-created by Meghan. The project was intended to focus on the adventures of a young girl inspired by influential women from history, but was reportedly halted during a company-wide budget cut.
Another disappointment came with the abrupt cancellation of Meghan’s Spotify podcast “Archetypes.”
Launched in August 2022, the show aimed to explore the labels and stereotypes that hold women back.
Despite a star-studded guest list that included Serena Williams and Mariah Carey, the podcast’s initial buzz quickly waned.
In June 2023, Spotify and the Sussexes’ production company, Archewell Audio, announced their split.
Reports emerged of behind-the-scenes disagreements, with some sources claiming Spotify had higher expectations for the amount of content produced.
The Duchess of Sussex has abandoned her dreams of trademarking her podcast Archetypes
Meghan’s (pictured on the podcast) multi-million pound Spotify deal was halted in June this year after it was announced that the Archetypes podcast would not be renewed for a second season
Meghan and Harry, pictured on a visit to Colombia last month, have also reportedly ‘struggled’ to find a CEO for Meghan’s new homewares and lifestyle venture. However, sources close to the Duchess have insisted that she is keen to run the business herself
Meanwhile, Meghan was criticized for failing to create a clear identity for the podcast, leading many to wonder if her content lacked the substance to keep the audience interested.
Meghan’s foray into the lifestyle sector with American Riviera Orchard encountered several obstacles.
The brand was launched with the ambition to rival established brands such as Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop and focuses on home, garden, food and general lifestyle products. However, it has faced trademark issues, staffing issues and delays in product launches.
In March 2024, Meghan filed a patent for American Riviera Orchard, followed by a soft launch on social media.
However, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) denied the trademark request due to inconsistencies in the application.
Further complications arose when food company Harry & David filed a protest, claiming that American Riviera Orchard was too similar to their own Royal Riviera trademark.
In addition, there have been reports of staffing issues. In August 2024, it was reported that 18 staff members had left the company, and by November no CEO had reportedly been found to lead the brand.
Some sources claimed that Meghan appointed herself CEO after a fruitless search for a suitable candidate.
Many of her famous friends, including Kris Jenner, have tasted the jam
Chrissy Teigen and her husband John Legend were among the A-listers who joined Meghan Markle’s select circle of ‘jamfluencers’ who got the chance to sample her new product
The mixed results of these ventures have affected public perception of Meghan’s brand.
Rumors have been swirling for almost a year that Meghan will create her own show to celebrate “the joys of cooking, gardening, entertaining and friendship.”
But there’s no sign of a release date for the series, which would also complement American Riviera Orchard.
A Netflix insider told MailOnline today that Meghan’s cooking show may not see the light of day. Others suggest so, especially if it boosts Meghan’s lifestyle brand, but it will be make or break for the couple who hoped to build a TV dynasty.
And after their Polo show flopped, the source said: ‘There will be no new deal. There may be one-off issues, but that’s it.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Netflix documentary series about the sport of polo did not make the top ten in Britain, America or any of the streaming giant’s other regional markets.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were listed as executive producers of the five-part series simply called ‘Polo’, which was released on December 10 to scathing reviews.
“Unintentionally hilarious,” said one, half wondering if it was a parody. ‘Annoying’ was another assessment, while another found it, painfully enough, simply ‘tacky’.
The Guardian, whose staff have praised the couple for Megxit in the past, was scathing.
“It’s a show about privileged people who show us exactly how privileged they are, which means there’s not much drama to be found,” their review read.
TV critic Stuart Heritage gave it two stars, saying, “They made one reality show about how hard they were having it, and then they stuttered.” The Harry & Meghan show was followed by two forgettable documentaries, one about the Invictus Games and one about a vague concept of leadership. At some point in the future, there will be a Meghan cooking show that Netflix is reluctant to show.”
Prince Harry will play polo at the event in Florida in April 2024
‘Heart of Invictus’ was released in 2023 and followed a group of participants in the Invictus Games, a global sporting event for wounded soldiers founded by Prince Harry.
Like ‘Polo’, the Invictus documentary failed to crack Netflix’s top ten and was similarly panned by critics.
“Harry & Meghan,” the 2022 documentary in which the couple revisited their decision to step down as working British royals, was a notable exception to the years-long trend of lackluster releases.
It had 81.6 million hours of viewing time in its first four days, making it one of Netflix’s biggest documentary debuts ever.
A recent poll shows that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have lost popularity in the United States, with many Americans hating them for allegedly abandoning the late Queen Elizabeth II.
Despite these setbacks, Meghan seems determined to continue her entrepreneurial journey. She has returned to social media, launching a new Instagram account on New Year’s Day with a beach video reportedly filmed by Prince Harry.
The move is seen as the start of a potential comeback year, with plans to premiere a new show on a streaming service in early 2025 and launch the American Riviera Orchard brand.
The upcoming Netflix show is expected to focus on cooking, gardening and entertaining, in line with the themes of her lifestyle brand.