Meghan Markle’s ‘With Love, Meghan’ Roasted By Critics—The Royal Couple’s Latest Media Venture Struggle
Meghan Markle's fresh lifestyle Netflix program, "With Love, Meghan," has faced harsh criticism from British press reviewers after its Tuesday launch on the streaming platform. This represents another media project by Markle and Prince Harry that has failed to resonate with audiences.
All eight episodes of "With Love, Meghan" debuted Tuesday following a postponement during the Los Angeles wildfires in January—the latest creation from the royal pair's Netflix partnership reportedly valued at $100 million.
Each episode features Markle hosting famous friends at her residence, where she shares homemaking and cooking advice, prompting many critics to draw parallels to Martha Stewart's work. Her guest list includes writer-actress Mindy Kaling, former "Suits" colleague Abigail Spencer, Argentine sports figure Delfina Blaquier, and renowned chefs Roy Choi and Alice Waters.
Reviewers, especially from British publications, expressed strong disapproval. The Independent critic Katie Rosseinsky awarded the series just one star out of five, describing it as "queasy and exhausting" and noting it "strains for aspiration and relatability in a way that never gels." The Guardian's Stuart Heritage labeled the show "gormless lifestyle filler" and the "third consecutive disappointment" from the couple's Netflix productions, referring to their previous "Heart of Invictus" and "Polo" series.
The Times gave a two-star review acknowledging Markle's skill at creative presentation but criticized the show's "desperate upbeatness" and faulted it for "presenting her extreme wealth and mind-bogglingly exclusive lifestyle as if it is available to anyone." The Telegraph also gave two stars, calling it an "exercise in narcissism" and simplifying the concept as: "Meghan invites people to her pretend house" where "they tell her how amazing she is. This happens for eight episodes."
Some outlets offered milder assessments, with Vogue finding certain segments "interesting and relatable" and showing Markle's "passion." Harper's Bazaar suggested the series shows Markle returning "to her roots," referencing her former lifestyle blog The Tig, and strikes a "fine balance between friendly lifestyle voyeurism" and "true service content."
After stepping back from royal duties in 2020 amid British media criticism and royal family tensions, Markle and Prince Harry shifted to media ventures, including their Netflix partnership. They have produced five series for the platform, beginning with "Harry & Meghan," a six-part documentary from 2022 chronicling their royal exit.
Critical Reception and Media Ventures
The series achieved remarkable viewing stats, becoming Netflix's most successful documentary debut with 81.5 million hours viewed during its first four days, though audience and critic reactions were divided. On Rotten Tomatoes, the show received a 45% critics score and just 19% audience score, while a Savanta survey revealed nearly six in ten British adults believed releasing the documentary was poor judgment. A YouGov poll from December 2022 indicated the pair's popularity among Britons declined after the documentary release, positioning them among the least favored royals, only ranking above Prince Andrew.
The couple has also created "Live to Lead," a documentary series about global leaders, "Heart of Invictus," focusing on the games for injured veterans, and "Polo," highlighting the equestrian sport. In February 2024, The Wrap described the Netflix arrangement as a "Hollywood miss," quoting unnamed insiders who claimed the royal duo had "worn out their welcome in Hollywood with an iron-fisted desire for control, combined with a lack of experience."
Harry and Markle have experienced varied outcomes with other media endeavors, including Markle's brief Spotify podcast, "Archetypes." She produced only 12 episodes before separating from the streaming service in June 2023, which both parties stated was a joint decision. However, shortly after, Spotify's podcast head Bill Simmons criticized the couple on his own show, labeling them "grifters" and stating: "'The F—ing Grifters.' That's the podcast we should have launched with them." He added: "I have got to get drunk one night and tell the story of the Zoom I had with Harry to try and help him with a podcast idea. It's one of my best stories... F— them."
Harry also published a memoir, "Spare," in 2023, which broke sales records for nonfiction titles but received mixed reviews from literary critics according to the review aggregator Book Marks.
Markle does not directly address the royal family in the series, according to Variety. However, some media outlets have interpreted certain comments throughout the show as veiled references to her royal experience. In one scene, she toasts to a "new chapter" of her life, which is "part of that creativity that I've missed so much," possibly alluding to her time as a royal when she paused her entertainment career. In another instance, Markle introduces her makeup artist, Daniel Martin, noting he has been present "for the before, during and after, shall we say," potentially another reference to her royal period. During a scene with Kaling, when addressed as "Meghan Markle," Markle reacted to the use of her full name.
Royal Identity and Personal Connections
"You know, I'm Sussex now," Markle responded, adding that sharing this surname with her husband and children feels "meaningful" to her. Prince Harry makes a quick appearance in the closing minutes of the final episode during a brunch hosted by Markle.
