Meghan Markle's New Netflix Deal Hints That She and Prince Harry Have 'Split Professionally'

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle weren't afraid to tell their story after they left the royal family. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex sat down for several interviews and signed a documentary series with streaming giant Netflix to share their 'truth'. In the aftermath of the same, as their popularity tanked, the couple parted ways professionally, pursuing individual passions and ventures instead. The Duchess's new deal with Netflix has us even more convinced of this 'split'.

First, some context. Harry and Markle, after their move to the US, worked as executive producers on various projects to build their Sussex brand. In the face of setbacks, the two allegedly decided to work on their individual brands. According to The Sun, Markle's new Netflix show With Love, Meghan is to be renewed for a third season. For the unversed, the show’s second season was greenlit despite poor reviews and is to launch in autumn. What became the most talked-about issue was Harry's absence from the show. The Duke featured only for a few minutes in the final episode. A source told the publication, “The relationship between Netflix and Meghan goes far deeper than many people realize.”

The Sussexes had landed a $100 million deal with Netflix, which was to span five years. Since their collaboration, five major projects have come out, including the couple’s explosive documentary series Harry & Meghan and Heart Of Invictus, which followed Harry's Invictus Games of 2020. Under the deal, Harry and Markle also served as executive producers of Live to Lead and Polo. Markle's latest collaboration, With Love, Meghan, ended up ranking on the Top 10 charts in 47 countries. The source has also claimed that the platform’s CEO, Ted Sarandos, plans on featuring only Markle, whom he dubs a ‘rock star,’ in future projects.

In an interview with Variety, Sarandos defended Markle, saying she is “underestimated in terms of her influence on culture.” He continued to praise Markle and added, “When we dropped the trailer for the Harry & Meghan doc series [in 2022], everything on-screen was dissected in the press for days. The shoes she was wearing sold out all over the world. The Hermès blanket that was on the chair behind her sold out everywhere in the world. People are fascinated with Meghan Markle. She and Harry are overly dismissed.”

Netflix is also a partner in the Duchess’ brand, As Ever. The company’s first product drop took place last month, and the entire line-up was reportedly sold out in just 45 minutes. Markle talked about the milestone in her podcast, Confessions of a Female Founder, and threw light on the impact of partnering with the streaming service. She said, “Just having a global powerhouse that believed in me, and the site selling out in the first 45 minutes of launch—everything, every single piece that we had been working on. That told me that customers, people, believed in me and this vision. That’s all you really want as a founder. That becomes your proof point that those late nights and the midnight musings are worth it.”