Harry and Meghan’s Return to Britain Marks a Turning Point in Their Media Journey

After establishing themselves in California following their decisive departure from the royal family in 2020, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced a partnership that seemed to define their new life beyond the House of Windsor.

For Harry, the desire to return to the United Kingdom—though perhaps not permanently—has long been evident.

He has expressed his affection for his homeland and, in a 2023 interview with The Guardian, admitted a yearning for home.

“I have always loved the UK, and I always will. It has been rewarding to reconnect with the causes I care about, and to spend time with longtime acquaintances—though doing so from afar presents challenges.”

This sentiment has become more pronounced recently, particularly as his father, King Charles, has faced health challenges. Moreover, recent professional circumstances have added complexity.

Six years in the content arena illustrate the challenges of navigating a rapidly evolving media landscape—an environment where even a Hollywood star or a British prince cannot assume sustained success.

They arrived in Hollywood with almost every advantage imaginable, but audiences now effectively have infinite choice

Matt Navarra, social media consultant

Those years have demonstrated that the Sussex brand retains one reliable asset: an enduring fascination with their connection to the royal family that can be monetized on a massive scale. Yet, building lifestyle brands or philanthropic initiatives that depend solely on name recognition—despite a network of A‑list contacts—cannot ensure consistent success in today’s fiercely competitive attention economy.

“The Sussexes have found themselves entangled in what Evan Shapiro, a former US media executive and creator‑economy analyst, describes as the media’s awkward teenage phase,” he explained. “Being famous is no longer sufficient; the landscape has changed dramatically. When Meghan Markle last performed in show business—starring in the legal series *Suits*—the model is now obsolete.”

“That era is over. Competing now is extraordinarily challenging; the playing field includes every human on the planet. Eight billion individuals with phones are all vying for attention alongside Meghan Markle.”

The Sussexes arrived at a particularly opportune moment for their high‑profile 2020 Netflix agreement, facilitated by their Archewell Productions venture—at a time when global streamers were aggressively seeking marquee names to attract subscribers.

Prior to finalizing the Netflix agreement, they were in high demand, engaging with companies such as Disney and Apple. Similarly, Spotify was courting prominent creators when it secured the partnership with the Sussexes.

Although the Netflix announcement hinted at a wide array of potential projects, the primary attraction remained the narrative of the Sussexes’ relationship with the royal family. This culminated in the 2022 documentary series *Harry & Meghan*, which achieved record‑breaking viewership for a documentary premiere and stands among the most successful docuseries to date.

Subsequent Netflix projects have included the *Live to Lead* interview series, a documentary on Harry’s polo pursuits, and two seasons of the cooking and lifestyle program *With Love, Meghan*.

Predictably, content that lacks royal intrigue has struggled to reach the heights of *Harry & Meghan*. The polo documentary failed to break into Netflix’s global top‑10 lists, and viewership for the second season of *With Love, Meghan* declined, slipping to the 1,217th most‑watched title in the platform’s second half of last year. An proposed animated children’s series, *Pearl*, was subsequently cancelled.

Netflix also terminated its partnership with Meghan’s lifestyle brand, *As Ever*, after seven months, citing a pre‑arranged plan to relinquish full control. Nevertheless, the collaboration persists; Netflix renewed its relationship with the Sussexes, albeit under a reduced “first‑look” agreement.

Regarding podcasting, the Spotify partnership concluded in 2023 by mutual agreement, having produced only Meghan’s twelve‑episode *Archetypes* series, which featured interviews with personalities such as tennis champion Serena Williams and pop icon Mariah Carey.

Meghan later launched another podcast series, *Confessions of a Female Founder*, in 2025, in collaboration with Lemonada Media. She disclosed last year that a second series would not be produced, as she is concentrating on *As Ever*.

Consistent with the broader critical reception of their media endeavors, the Sussexes have faced sharp commentary; notably, Spotify executive Bill Simmons described them as “fucking grifters” after the partnership concluded.

More measured industry analysts attribute this shift to timing; the narrowing of the Sussexes’ Netflix agreement and the termination of their Spotify deal coincided with a broader pullback by content providers from high‑profile celebrity investments and the upheaval caused by the swift rise of the creator economy.

“This is not a story of waning interest in the Sussexes,” said Matt Navarra, a social‑media consultant with broadcasting experience. “On the contrary, they can generate attention on demand. The greater challenge lies in converting that attention into a sustainable, repeatable media proposition.”

“Harry and Meghan entered Hollywood with nearly every advantage imaginable, yet audiences today possess virtually limitless choice. They are indifferent to the size of a deal or the fame of an individual.”

“I believe this is one of the harsh lessons of the new media environment: fame may secure the first click, but only compelling content earns the second. Their inaugural *Harry & Meghan* series was a blockbuster, but they have struggled to achieve repeatable success.”

Several industry insiders have drawn parallels with the Obamas, whose Higher Ground production company’s multi‑year Netflix agreement was similarly reduced to a “first‑look” arrangement in 2024, and whose Spotify deal also concluded in 2022.

Shapiro argued that the Sussexes have yet to demonstrate the ability to attract sizable audiences outside content tied to their royal connections. “It is not their fault,” he said. “Beyond marrying a prince, Meghan Markle is not inherently exceptional, and Harry, aside from his royal birth, is not inherently compelling.”

Navarra added: “While immense curiosity surrounds them, interest in a person does not automatically translate into demand for all of their output. Celebrity can provide distribution benefits, but it is not a standalone content strategy.”

It is therefore unsurprising that Meghan is reportedly re‑entering a commercially viable acting career that she set aside after marrying Harry. Initial reports from Australia of a UK‑based role for her were reinforced by Tina Brown, former Vanity Fair editor and founder of The Daily Beast.

Brown noted that this shift was fueled by Meghan’s recent positive experience as a celebrity judge on *MasterChef Australia* last month. “She finally realized how much easier—and more enjoyable—it is to perform in a hit produced by someone else,” Brown wrote.

“She was back on the market, and it did not take long for Hollywood’s mega‑deal infrastructure, WME—still her representing agency—to secure a role for her.”

Representatives of the Sussexes have not refuted these reports.

On Friday night, reports emerged that Meghan is in talks to reprise acting in Netflix’s series *The Gentlemen*. Variety indicates she is being considered for a role in the show’s third season, which is created by Guy Ritchie.

Nevertheless, the couple remains active in media production. Archewell has transitioned into a more conventional production company, with upcoming Netflix projects including a polo‑themed drama and a film adaptation of the romantic novel *Meet Me at the Lake*. Sources close to the firm suggest additional projects are also in development beyond Netflix.

Practically speaking, their return to the UK poses few obstacles for their media ambitions. It is common for major production companies to operate outside Hollywood and produce content from the UK, which remains a central hub for filming.

As for Harry, replicating the immense media triumph of his memoir *Spare* will be challenging. He is concentrating on the upcoming Invictus Games in Birmingham next year. Meanwhile, Meghan has indicated that any future return as a business podcaster may hinge on the progress of her lifestyle brand.

“I would love to bring the show back when I am at a different stage of my founder journey,” she said last summer, explaining why she paused the *Confessions of a Female Founder* podcast. “I think a later time will be incredibly exciting to compare and contrast.”

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