Prince Harry will not appear in Meghan Markle's upcoming Netflix series or her new podcast, marking a clear professional separation between the Duke and Duchess of Sussex as they pursue individual projects. The decision comes amid reported concerns from Netflix executives over the lukewarm reception of Meghan's content and the uncertain future of their multimillion-dollar media partnership.
A source confirmed that Harry, 40, will be absent from the second season of With Love, Meghan, which was filmed back-to-back with the first season. "He's not in it. It's her and more friends. More of the same," the source told the Daily Mail. Their children, Archie and Lilibet, will also not appear in the show.
Meghan, 43, is simultaneously reviving her podcasting career with Confessions of a Female Founder, an eight-part series produced by Lemonada Media. Announcing the project on Instagram, she wrote, "I'm so excited to share with you something else I've been working on: Confessions of a Female Founder, my new podcast with @lemonadamedia!" The series will feature candid conversations with female entrepreneurs about their successes and challenges.
Lemonada's co-founders praised Meghan's role in the project. "Meghan is such a warm and welcoming person, and you feel that in her interviews," said Stephanie Wittels Wachs, the company's Chief Creative Officer. CEO Jessica Cordova Kramer added, "As female founders ourselves, Steph and I are grateful to get a chance to build alongside Meghan the exact podcast we needed when we started Lemonada."
Prince Harry, meanwhile, has focused on his own projects, including Polo, a Netflix documentary series. Public relations experts say the couple's professional split is a strategic move following a turbulent few years for their joint brand. "They are correct to be rebranding as separate entities. Once their individual popularities have increased again, then they can go about reinvigorating their joint brand," said Edward Coram James, CEO of Go Up, in an interview with GB News.
The couple has faced significant public backlash since their 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, with critics arguing that their media presence has been overexposed. "When you think 'Meghan and Harry,' most will think of the rollercoaster since that terribly ill-advised Oprah interview," Coram James said. "For now, they must rebrand themselves professionally as 'Meghan' and 'Harry.' When the time is right, they can become 'Meghan and Harry' again."
Despite Meghan's continued work with Netflix, insiders suggest the streaming platform remains cautious about its partnership with the Duchess. "Netflix bosses are all worried now because they have invested a lot in the product line," an industry insider told the Daily Mail. The company has also committed to carrying products from Meghan's upcoming lifestyle brand, As Ever, adding financial pressure to the partnership.
While the couple's five-year deal with Netflix, signed in 2020, remains active, sources say the streaming giant is weighing its options carefully. "The industry bibles like The Hollywood Reporter and Variety are not keen on it," an insider noted, referencing mixed reviews for With Love, Meghan.
