Despite being panned by critics as ‘toe-curling’ and ‘an exercise in narcissism’, Meghan Markle’s Netflix show has been renewed for a second season.
Last week, the 43-year-old Duchess of Sussex raised her arms in celebration in her sunny backyard to announce the renewal of ‘With Love, Meghan’.
Throughout the eight-part series, which premiered on March 4, Meghan shared lifestyle advice alongside various guests from a rented $8 million (£5 million) mansion located close to the Sussexes’ home in Montecito.
The decision to renew the ‘bland’ series has raised a few eyebrows – including that of the Daily Mail’s Diary Editor Richard Eden.
‘Let’s be clear what happened here,’ he said on the latest episode of Palace Confidential.
‘A location was secured for filming, and money was invested in a mansion for the production. Sufficient content for two seasons was recorded simultaneously, ensuring that the second season will be released by Netflix in the fall.’
‘I think they were always going to do that,’ Richard added. ‘It did make me wonder how bad reception would have had to be for Netflix not to broadcast a second.’
Agreeing with Richard, the popular YouTube show’s host Jo Elvin said: ‘I don’t think they’d ever not broadcast something when they had already spent the money on it.’
‘Exactly,’ Richard replied. ‘They’ve spent the money on it and crucially the thing to remember is Netflix have a financial interest in Meghan’s lifestyle company.
‘They will make money from it when people buy the jams and sprinkly flowers or whatever.’
The Sussexes reportedly signed a five-year agreement with Netflix in 2020 worth an estimated $100million (£80million).
The Duchess of Sussex’s eight-part series was watched by 526,000 households in the first five days it was available on Netflix since its release on March 4, according to data gathered by Samba TV.
But by comparison Harry & Meghan drew in 2.1 million households in approximately the same number of days – making it four times more successful.
A source close to the commercial arm of the California-based streaming giant confirmed bosses were ‘worried’ about the poor reception of the latest series.
‘I know they filmed the shows back-to-back,’ the insider said. ‘So, in theory there is no second season. It’s like with lots of Netflix shows, it is already in the bag at the same time as the first one.
‘What this does is allow edits to be made to the show from feedback from press and Netflix viewers. It’s clever and cost effective. So no, the overall contract hasn’t been renewed yet.
‘It’s not a runaway success’, the source added. ‘Netflix bosses are all worried now because they have invested a lot in the product line. They don’t know when and how to roll it all out.’
In the coming months, Netflix has plans to stock As Ever products in two of their brick and mortar stores: the King of Prussia Mall in Philadelphia and the giant Dallas Galleria.
But while details of Meghan’s products such as peppermint tea and shortbread cookie mix have emerged, the Daily Mail’s Royal Editor Rebecca English said that the full range and price points have not.
Speaking on the latest episode of Palace Confidential, she said: ‘Their website just says “Spring 2025”. I think it’s imminent but they’ve got the items up there, not with prices.
‘It does include jam, jam in special boxes and yes, those sprinkled edible flowers.
‘I think the trouble is because they had so many problems with American Riviera Orchard they’ve had to, as we say in the UK, turn on a sixpence again and try and come out with a new idea.
‘They just haven’t had time, I would have thought, to get the packaging, the design and all of that together.’
‘Don’t forget,’ she added. ‘We’ve got one more thing to come from her between now and the autumn which is in the spring we are going to have her new podcast series.’
Indeed, it was confirmed on Thursday that Meghan would return to the airwaves with a new podcast called ‘Confessions of a Female Founder’ with Lemonada Media – two years after her first project Archetypes was axed by Spotify.
Lemonada described the show as inviting listeners ‘to be a fly on the wall as Meghan sits down for candid conversations with female founders and friends about the success, the struggles, and the never-before-told stories of building a business’.
But Richard was not pleased with the prospect of having to sit through another series by the Duchess of Sussex.
Sighing loudly on Palace Confidential, he lamented: ‘The torment never ends!’
Laughing, Rebecca explained that Lemonada is a ‘small female-led firm’ and that royal fans should expect Meghan’s new podcast in the spring.
‘I think I might book a holiday for that period so I can avoid it,’ Richard jested.
‘No!’ Rebecca exclaimed. ‘Because then you’ll leave me to watch it on my own, Richard. I need some company.’
‘I still haven’t made a fruit rainbow yet or anything like that,’ she added, before Richard admitted to making ‘a few sandwiches’ after watching Meghan’s lifestyle series.
‘But I forgot to sprinkle anything on top,’ he said.
To share the laughs and hear all the insights from the Mail’s team of unrivalled royal experts, watch the full episode on YouTube now.
