Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are facing increasing pressure to secure a renewed deal with Netflix as their existing agreement approaches its 2025 expiration date. While the streaming giant has yet to confirm the couple's future with the platform, royal commentators suggest that Netflix is unlikely to offer them the same lucrative terms they previously enjoyed.
The couple's initial collaboration with Netflix produced Harry & Meghan, a self-titled documentary released in December 2022, which became a record-breaking success. However, subsequent projects, including Heart of Invictus in 2023 and Polo in 2024, failed to generate similar levels of viewership. Polo, released in December, was executively produced by the Sussexes but featured neither of them prominently.
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams told GB News that their lack of recent success has placed added significance on their upcoming series, With Love, Meghan, which premieres March 4. The eight-episode cooking show will showcase the Duchess of Sussex as she hosts celebrity guests and promotes her new lifestyle brand, As Ever. "Everything rests for the Sussexes on Netflix," Fitzwilliams said, noting that the couple's failure to sustain audience interest could jeopardize their future with the platform.
Netflix has partnered with As Ever, and some of Meghan's products will be stocked in the company's new shopping malls, according to Fitzwilliams. He suggested that this collaboration strengthens the likelihood of a contract renewal but warned that any new deal would come with reduced terms. "All the indications are that a deal of some sort will be renewed when the contract expires," he said. "It almost certainly will not be on the terms that were originally agreed."
The Sussexes have already experienced setbacks in the media industry. In 2023, their high-profile partnership with Spotify came to an abrupt end, with the platform canceling Meghan's Archetypes podcast after just one season. Their Netflix deal remains one of their most significant sources of revenue since stepping down as senior royals and relocating to the United States in 2020.
While Harry & Meghan was a commercial success, critics argue that their recent projects lack the widespread appeal needed to justify a multi-million-dollar contract renewal. Fitzwilliams characterized Heart of Invictus as "worthy enough, but people did not want to watch it," and dismissed Polo as "never going to be a hit."
Netflix is reportedly waiting to gauge audience reception to With Love, Meghan before making a final decision on whether to renew the Sussexes' contract. If the series proves successful, it could bolster their standing with the company. If not, the couple may struggle to maintain their footing in the competitive streaming landscape.
