Meghan Markle’s Netflix series may have been given the axe — and several royal experts say they’re not surprised.
A source recently told People magazine there are “currently no plans for a third season” of her lifestyle show “With Love, Meghan.” However, the insider did not rule out the possibility of future specials or one-off projects.
A spokesperson for Archewell told Fox News Digital they had no comment.
MEGHAN MARKLE’S NETFLIX COMEBACK SNUBBED BY ROYALS, PALACE HAS ‘FAR BIGGER PRIORITIES’: EXPERTS
British broadcaster and photographer Helena Chard told Fox News Digital the streaming giant didn’t pull the plug on the series — viewers did.
“Critics described the show as ‘bland’ and ‘stale,’” Chard explained. “The phrase ‘as exciting as watching paint dry’ springs to mind. Meghan attributed the cancellation to the show being ‘a lot of work,’ but insiders believe it was due to dismal ratings. Recent data indicates poor viewership.”
“Likability is the most important variable in the equation,” Doug Eldridge, founder of Achilles PR, also told Fox News Digital. “Knowing that, media personalities tend to either overdo it on the charm, which viewers can see through, or they resort to victim marketing. Each has an increasingly short shelf life, and Meghan took a swing at both approaches.”
“If you’re not relatable and only marginally likable, you’re faced with a short runway to get the plane nose up,” he shared. “In the end, she simply ran out of tarmac with Netflix.”
Season 1 of “With Love, Meghan” premiered in March, a month after the Duchess of Sussex launched her lifestyle brand, As Ever. People reported that Netflix remains a partner in As Ever, with a source saying she’s “really focused on building the brand.”
“The show and partnership with Netflix were an amazing launch pad for As Ever, but doing both was incredibly time-consuming,” another source told the outlet. “She is excited to continue creating cooking and crafting content for her social channels while spending more time on the day-to-day operations of the business and expanding her entrepreneurial role.”
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER
“There is absolutely a plan for more specials down the road,” the insider added.
British royals expert Hilary Fordwich told Fox News Digital that “With Love, Meghan” was savaged by critics and widely rejected by viewers, casting doubt on its long-term survival.
“Really, this isn’t all that surprising from a business perspective,” Fordwich said. “There was never a USP — a unique selling proposition. The only differentiator Meghan Markle had in this crowded lifestyle space was marrying a prince. She never earned audience trust. In this space, authenticity and relatability are critical.”
“The highly curated rental mansion was one of a plethora of silly mistakes, followed by so many cringe-worthy, inauthentic moments lambasted universally,” she said. “It was deemed neither entertaining nor informative and less than inspiring. It was nothing more than an overhyped celebrity venture.”
LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
Kinsey Schofield, host of YouTube’s “Kinsey Schofield Unfiltered,” told Fox News Digital that poor decisions made early on could have contributed to the show’s downfall.
“I do wonder whether ‘With Love, Meghan’ might have been better received if it had been her first major post-royal project, rather than the Oprah interview, the Netflix docuseries ‘Harry & Meghan’ and then Harry’s memoir ‘Spare,’” said Schofield.
“All were heavy, negative and grievance-driven. Audiences might have been more open to celebrating her ambitions had they been introduced to Meghan through warmth rather than conflict.”
“Instead, the abrupt pivot from activism and personal injustice to a modern-day Martha Stewart persona created real whiplash,” Schofield continued.
“Complicating that shift were numerous reports questioning Meghan’s reputation as an employer. Against that backdrop, Netflix’s effort to present a version of Meghan defined by DIY charm and sunshine proved a tough sell.”
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped back from their royal duties in 2020, citing what they described as unbearable intrusions from the British press and a lack of support from the palace.
After relocating to California, the couple aired their grievances in televised interviews and documentaries. Harry’s memoir, which included embarrassing details about the royal family, further strained relations within the palace.
In August, the couple announced the extension of their Netflix partnership — a multi-year, first-look deal for film and television projects through Archewell Productions. The news followed reports that their initial $100 million agreement with Netflix would not be renewed when it expired in September.
The 44-year-old duchess also hinted that the show was nearing its end.
While appearing at Fortune’s Most Powerful Women Summit in October, the mother of two was asked whether “With Love, Meghan” would return for a third season.
“Well, the holiday special is coming out in November,” she replied. “It’s a really good one.”
MEGHAN MARKLE’S HOLLYWOOD COMEBACK MAY BACKFIRE AS ‘VANITY’ MOVE SPARKS PALACE SCRUTINY: EXPERTS
The “Suits” alum also said the show’s format could evolve.
“I think looking at that format — again, it’s a year of learns — so we’re able to say, ‘Eight episodes for two seasons’ — it’s a lot of work,” she said. “And having done ‘Suits’ for seven years, I remember what goes into a production.”
“I also recognize how much people want content in different sizes,” said Meghan. “Part of what we’re testing out now is, it’s amazing to sit and watch a show for 30 minutes, but how can I give you a recipe in two minutes? And where can I share that with you? And how does that continue to grow As Ever?”
Schofield believed that while many initially watched out of sheer curiosity, they quickly tuned out.
“Much of the content lacked substance,” said Schofield. “Transferring pretzels from one plastic bag into another is not a life hack, nor is it meaningful television. The show also leaned heavily on staged familiarity.”
“The home was a rental, and many of the guests were not people with whom Meghan had established organic relationships. Those details matter when positioning someone as a lifestyle authority. If the goal is credibility, audiences expect originality, depth and genuine insight, not recycled Pinterest aesthetics from a decade ago.”
Eldridge said this isn’t the end of Meghan’s ambitions as a royal lifestyle entrepreneur. However, he warned that building a successful business empire would require her to win over both supporters and skeptics.
“Her brand can continue to rise and extend further,” he said. “The question isn’t if she can do it, but whether she makes the right decisions needed to accomplish that goal. In the case of Hollywood, it’s a thermometer. It doesn’t create the weather; it just measures the temperature. When fans cooled on Meghan, Hollywood measured that and decided to move on.”
