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 royal duties in 2020, Meghan Markle has sought to carve out a new identity as a content creator, entrepreneur, and advocate. 

With steadfast ambition the Duchess of Sussex appeared poised to dominate the worlds of entertainment and lifestyle. 

Armed with multi-million-dollar deals with Netflix and Spotify, and whispers of a forthcoming lifestyle brand, the former actress seemed ready to write her next chapter in bold, glittering strokes.

However, the reality has proven far more challenging than the fairytale narrative Meghan may have envisioned. 

A series of high-profile missteps and cancellations have cast a shadow over her post-royal ventures, leaving many to question whether her brand can recover. 

From the axing of her Netflix series ‘Pearl’ to the discontinuation of her Spotify podcast ‘Archetypes’ and the still-unrealised promise of her lifestyle brand, Meghan’s attempts to reshape her public persona have met with limited success.

This comes as the Duchess launched her personal Instagram account today with a video – filmed by husband Harry – of herself laughing on a beach near their home in Montecito.

Back in 2020, when Meghan Markle and Prince Harry signed a lucrative deal with Netflix reportedly worth up to $100million, expectations were sky-high. 

‘Polo’ is the third documentary from Prince Harry and Meghan (pictured here with son Archie in 2022) to disappoint both viewers and critics

Fans and detractors alike anticipated a slate of content that would combine the Duchess’s storytelling flair with the couple’s philanthropic values. 

But the fairytale began to sour in May 2022, when Netflix scrapped ‘Pearl,’ an animated series co-created by Meghan. The project was meant to focus on the adventures of a young girl inspired by influential women in history, but it was allegedly axed during a company-wide budget tightening.

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 dwindled.

In June 2023, Spotify and the Sussexes’ production company, Archewell Audio, announced they were parting ways. 

Reports of behind-the-scenes disagreements surfaced, with some sources alleging that Spotify had higher expectations for the amount of content produced. 

The Duchess of Sussex has dumped her dreams of trademarking her podcast Archetypes

Meghan’s (pictured on the podcast) multi-million-pound Spotify deal was axed in June this year after it was announced that the Archetypes podcast would not be renewed for a second season

Meghan and Harry, pictured during a visit to Colombia last month, have also reportedly ‘struggled’ to find a CEO for Meghan’s new home goods and lifestyle venture. However, sources close to the Duchess have insisted she is happy to run the business herself

Meanwhile, Meghan faced criticism for failing to carve out a distinct identity for the podcast, leaving many to wonder if her content lacked the substance to sustain audience interest.

Meghan’s foray into the lifestyle sector with American Riviera Orchard has encountered several obstacles. 

Launched with the ambition to rival established brands like Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop, the brand focuses on home, garden, food, and general lifestyle products. However, it has faced trademark issues, staffing challenges, and delays in product launches.

In March 2024, Meghan filed for a patent for American Riviera Orchard, followed by a soft launch on social media. 

However, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) rejected the trademark request due to inconsistencies in the application. 

Further complications arose when the food company Harry & David filed a protest, claiming that American Riviera Orchard is too similar to their own Royal Riviera trademark.

Additionally, reports have surfaced about difficulties in staffing. In August 2024, it was reported that 18 staff members had exited the business, and by November, a CEO had allegedly not been found to lead the brand. 

Some sources claimed that Meghan appointed herself as CEO after a fruitless search for a suitable candidate.

Many of her celebrity pals, including Kris Jenner, have sampled the jam

Chrissy Teigen and her husband John Legend were among the A-listers to join Meghan Markle’s select circle of ‘jamfluencers’ who were given a chance to sample her new product 

The mixed outcomes of these ventures have impacted public perception of Meghan’s brand. 

For approaching a year there have been rumours that Meghan is making her own show celebrating ‘the joys of cooking, gardening, entertaining, and friendship’.

But there is no sign of any release date for the series, which was also set to complement American Riviera Orchard.

A Netflix insider told MailOnline today that Meghan’s cookery show may not see the light of day. Others suggest it might, especially if it boosts Meghan’s lifestyle brand, but it will be ‘make or break’ for the couple who had hopes of building a TV dynasty.

And after their Polo show flopped, the source said: ‘There won’t be another deal. There may be one offs but that’s it’.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Netflix documentary series on the sport of polo failed to 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 on the five-part series simply called ‘Polo’ that dropped on December 10, which received damning reviews. 

‘Unintentionally hilarious,’ said one, who half-wondered whether it was a spoof. ‘Tedious,’ was a further verdict – while, bruisingly, another just deemed it ‘tacky’.

The Guardian, whose staff have praised the couple for Megxit in the past, were scathing.

‘It’s a show about privileged people showing us exactly how privileged they are, which means there isn’t a lot of drama to be found’, their review exclaimed.

TV critic Stuart Heritage gave it two stars and said: ‘They made one reality show about how hard they had it, and then they stuttered. The Harry & Meghan show was followed by two forgettable documentaries, one about the Invictus Games and one about some nebulous concept of leadership. At some point in the future there will be a Meghan cookery show that Netflix seems reluctant to show’.

Prince Harry is pictured playing polo at the event in Florida in April 2024

‘Heart of Invictus’ came out in 2023 and followed a group of competitors in the Invictus Games, a global sporting event for wounded service members founded by Prince Harry.

Like ‘Polo’, the Invictus documentary failed to crack Netflix’s top ten list and was similarly panned by critics.

‘Harry & Meghan,’ the 2022 documentary where the couple revisited their decision to step down as working British royals, was a notable exception to the years-long trend of lacklustre releases.

It had 81.6million hours of viewing time in its first four days, making it one of Netflix’s biggest documentary debuts ever.

A recent poll indicates that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have lost popularity in the United States, with many Americans disliking them for allegedly letting down the late Queen Elizabeth II. 

Despite these setbacks, Meghan appears 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. 

This move is seen as the beginning of a potential comeback year, with plans to premiere a new show on a streaming service and launch the American Riviera Orchard brand in early 2025.

The upcoming Netflix show is expected to focus on cooking, gardening, and entertaining, aligning with the themes of her lifestyle brand.