Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are poised to enter a "new era" with their upcoming Netflix shows, which experts believe will help improve the couple's popularity. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who have faced declining favorability in the UK since their departure as senior working royals, are gearing up to work on two separate factual series as part of their multi-million-dollar deal with the streaming platform.
According to Deadline, one series will delve into the world of professional polo, primarily focusing on the U.S. Open Polo Championship in Wellington, Florida. The show is set to explore the sport's aesthetic and social scene, drawing on Prince Harry's lifelong passion for polo, as reported by the Mirror.
"Unless you move in those circles, not many people get a behind-the-scenes look at the Polo world," noted Lynn Carratt from Press Box PR. "Harry is close with Nacho Figueras, who is known as the David of the Polo world and many other figures in the sport, so the access he will have for the series will be phenomenal and it is something he is very knowledgeable on and it will play to his strength."
The second series, headed by Meghan Markle, will celebrate "the joys of cooking, gardening, entertaining, and friendship." This announcement comes on the heels of the Duchess unveiling her new brand, American Riviera Orchard, which is rumored to offer a wide range of products, including home decor items and cooking condiments. Carratt believes the show will provide viewers with an insight into Meghan's life and passions, drawing comparisons to her former blog, The Tig.
"I believe it will be a very American-style show, and it will be interesting to see how it fares with viewers. I think it will do well as she does have a very loyal fan base," Carratt added.
As the Sussexes embark on these new TV ventures, an exclusive poll by IPSOS for the Daily Express has revealed a slight uptick in their popularity among the British public. Prince Harry's favorability now stands at 28 percent, up from 23 percent, while Meghan's ranking has risen to 23 percent from 18 percent. Despite this boost, 45 percent of the 1,089 British adults polled still hold an unfavorable view of Prince Harry, and 49 percent have an unfavorable opinion of Meghan.
The poll also revealed that the Princess of Wales maintains the highest popularity ranking at 61 percent, followed closely by the Prince of Wales at 60 percent. The Royal Family as a whole stands at a favorability rating of 48 percent, with Prince Andrew ranking the lowest at 11 percent.
The new poll ratings come just weeks before Prince Harry's planned visit to the UK next month to speak at an event honoring the tenth anniversary of the Invictus Games. Meghan is rumored to be joining her husband on the visit, along with their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, although her appearance is yet to be confirmed.
As the Duke and Duchess of Sussex continue to forge their own path in the United States, their upcoming Netflix shows offer a glimpse into their personal passions and interests. While the British public's opinion of the couple remains divided, the new series may help to humanize the Sussexes and boost their popularity in this "new era" of their post-royal lives. As Carratt noted, "Meghan and Harry embarking on new TV ventures seems like a new era for the couple as they seem to moving away from their Royal connections and exploring their individual passions and the hope is that they will improve their brand and popularity."
