Meghan and Harry left the UK for a quieter life – but are they making a reality TV series?
They’re determined to carry on doing things their way despite their critics
When Prince Harry and Meghan Markle quit the royal family at the start of the year, one of the main reasons seemed to be a desire for a life away from the public glare – and that’s what they initially got.
The couple moved to Canada in order to raise their baby son Archie in private, while concentrating on their charity work. However, after only a few months, they upped sticks and moved to LA to kick-start their careers in Hollywood, signing a huge deal with Netflix worth around £112million. And last week, it was claimed they were to star in their own reality show for the streaming giant – news that was met with a lot of anger.
Many people hit out at the pair, calling them “liars” and “hypocrites”. One raged, “So they say they want privacy and then they do this,” while another said, “They just didn’t want the hard work of royal life and are more determined to be famous.” The couple were also accused of cashing in on their titles, with quite a few saying they should be stripped of them as they are no longer working royals.
The Sussexes denied the claims, with a representative saying, “The Duke and Duchess are not taking part in any reality shows.” But Netflix were cagier, refusing
to say what shows Harry, 36, and Meghan, 39, would be making. “The couple already has several projects in development, including an innovative nature docuseries and an animated series that celebrates inspiring women. But we are not disclosing any of the programming slate at this time,” a spokesperson for the company said.
It was then reported that the pair – who married in May 2018, and made their last official appearance as working royals in March – had taken exclusive behind-thescenes videos of their life in the royal family, which they allegedly pitched to Netflix during their negotiations in the hope of securing a deal. The home videos are said to include shock scenes of their experiences leading up to their decision to take a step back from royal life, and it is thought they pitched the intimate footage as a more commercial option, before refocusing on “worthy” projects. And while they have denied they are doing any reality TV for now, we’re told nothing has been ruled out in the future.
“Meghan and Harry have been quick to deny this, but the word is that a fly-on-the-wall show that documents their day-to-day lives is a definite option that’s been talked about. They considered it, but put it to one side until a better time,” our insider says. “They cringe at the idea of anything that could be even vaguely deemed as tacky. So, as of this moment, their rep is correct to state that they won’t be starring in a reality show. But things could change if the right offer comes in that ticks boxes in terms of tastefulness, suitability and, of course, financial reward. The big hitters in Hollywood always have a ton of projects on the go – that’s how they get to be so successful. But ,equally, it’s quite common to keep a lid on things before they are signed off, so Meghan and Harry are doing just that and keeping their cards close to their chest. They also hate the fact that they’ve being called liars and hypocrites – they feel that couldn’t be further from the truth. They are doing what’s right for them and still want to get their side of the story across.”
Since being in America, Harry and Meghan have been taking part in lots of zoom chats and interviews to help raise awareness and speak out about causes close to their hearts. But even those have been met with criticism from some, including one of their biggest detractors: Piers Morgan. The outspoken TV host – who himself has been accused of pursuing a personal vendetta against the couple – said, “The Duchess of Sussex has popped again, in her daily address to the world. She’s a very private lady, as you know. There’s not a day that goes by without these two whining, complaining, suing.”
Meghan is currently suing The Mail On Sunday newspaper for breach of privacy, after they published a letter she sent to her estranged father Thomas. But last week, a top lawyer said he would advise the Duchess to drop the case, after a court ruled Associated Newspapers can rely on recently published biography Finding Freedom during the upcoming trial. The newspaper group claim Meghan and Harry collaborated on the book – which also contains references to the letter – but the couple deny any involvement.
Mark Stephens, of British firm Howard Kennedy, said, “If I was advising Meghan, I’d be saying get out now. This is another hole below the waterline. The risk is that how she curates her reputation – what she allows into the public domain and what she doesn’t – are now things that will be picked over by lawyers in
‘They feel that they are doing what’s right for them’
cross-examination. The stakes are enormous.”
However, Meghan remains undeterred and recently spoke out about the criticism she attracts, saying she didn’t let it bother her. “If you look back at anything that I’ve said, it’s really interesting, because what ends up being inflammatory, it seems, is people’s interpretations of it,” she explained during Fortune’s Most Powerful Women summit. “But if you listen to what I actually say, it’s not controversial.”
She claimed she never focused on anything written about her, and quoted artist Georgia O’keefe, saying, “I have already settled it for myself, so flattery and criticism go down the same drain and I am quite free.” Meghan then added, “And the moment you are able to be liberated from all these other opinions of what you know to be true, then I think it’s just very easy to just live with peace and live with authenticity. And that is how I choose to move through the world.” n