Meghan in talks with Netflix to run her lifestyle brand

THE Duchess of Sussex was unable to fulfil her ambitions within the Royal Family. Now, she seems to be struggling to achieve them outside it as well.

I hear that Meghan has failed to find a chief executive officer (CEO) for her new cooking and lifestyle business, American Riviera Orchard, despite having interviewed several candidates for the position. She began the search five weeks ago, as I disclosed at the time.

‘The initial CEO search has not panned out so far,’ a Californiabased source tells me.

And the Duchess’s difficulties have led to an intriguing new development: she has begun negotiations with Netflix about the U.S. streaming giant entering into a commercial partnership with American Riviera Orchard.

‘This is something new for Netflix,’ the source says. ‘It would run the lifestyle business with Meghan, developing products as spin- offs from her show.

‘If a partnership is agreed, it’s likely that Netflix would install its own CEO to run operations.’ The model for the potential partnership is said to be the deal that American TV stars Chip and Joanna Gaines have with HGTV/Warner Brothers for their Magnolia Network.

The husband and wife duo host a home renovation show, Fixer Upper, and sell lifestyle products such as bedding inspired by the programme.

Meghan is said to hope that American Riviera Orchard, which will focus on home, garden, food and lifestyle wares, will be highly lucrative.

The Duchess, 42, unveiled the venture last month by posting a glitzy video on Instagram in which she could be seen busying herself in a rustic-looking kitchen, arranging white and pink flowers and whisking something in a bowl.

She posted the video the day after I contacted her office for comment on her plans.

Whoever runs the brand may need to be a strong character. There have been a string of departures from Harry and Meghan’s workforce.

The total number of staff the Sussexes have lost since they married in 2018 is said to be at least 17, with eight or more having left since they moved to California.