Meghan Markle and Prince Harry will be returning onscreen soon. The couple is set to debut two new projects for Netflix, including a polo documentary and a cooking show. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex signed a multi-year, $100 million deal with the streaming service in 2020. Since then they’ve released three documentaries, including the highly-watched Harry & Meghan, detailing the couple’s relationship and exit from The Royal Family. Although their upcoming shows are a good sign about the couple’s partnership with the streaming platform, a royal expert doesn’t predict success.
While the Harry & Meghan docuseries was a hit, royal author Phil Dampier tells The Sun that “making documentaries has never really gone well for the royals.” Dampier says it’s important for Harry “not to sort of fall into the same trap.” One way the prince can do that is by “not slagging off the royal family in his documentaries.”
The couple’s first Netflix documentary drew a lot of attention because they spilled royal secrets. However, their next documentaries Live to Lead and Heart of Invictus focused on social issues important to the couple.
Harry’s next project focuses on his love of polo and will give viewers a behind-the-scenes look at the sport. But Dampier is already hearing negative reactions to the documentary.
The Polo one, I don’t think it’s gone down that well.
Netflix aren’t very happy because there’s hardly anything of the prince in it.
As for Meghan’s cooking show, Dampier doesn’t expect that to fare well.
I think we’re going to see her in the kitchen knocking up some of her favorite pasta dishes or something, and pouring out some of her favorite red wine, and this, that and the other.
Let’s see how she does with that.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Are About the Money, Not Good Deeds
Although royals often aren’t successful with documentaries, Queen Camilla and Prince William are receiving praise for recent films. Camilla’s doc Her Majesty The Queen: Behind Closed Doors, raises awareness about domestic abuse. Meanwhile, William’s film is trying to end the homelessness situation.
Camilla and William’s documentaries are already being compared to Meghan and Harry’s new Netflix projects. As expected, many are critical of the couple’s venture. During Dampier’s conversation with The Sun editor Matt Wilkinson, the two men discussed the stark contrast between the documentaries.
Wilkinson says The Sussexes seem more about “showing off this wonderful lifestyle you have in California.” But the royals are “meeting survivors of domestic violence and people who are living on the street, and that’s who wants to make a difference.”
Dampier echoed Wilkinson’s sentiments.
The contrast is they’re coming across as they’re trying to make money out of it and instead of doing good deeds, but that’s where we are, isn’t it unfortunately.
Prince Harry’s polo documentary will premiere in December 2024, while Meghan Markle’s cooking show is slated for a spring 2025 release date.
