Meghan Markle is back – but not everyone is welcoming the Duchess of Sussex with open arms.
The former American actress started the new year by returning to social networks. She is also launching her own Netflix lifestyle series, “With Love, Meghan,” which is set to premiere on January 15. The mother of two children is also a host and executive producer.
While critics and fans alike will be in attendance, several experts tell Fox News Digital that the British royal family will not be among them.
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Meghan Markle is the host and executive producer of “Love, Meghan” on Netflix. (Netflix)
“I’ve been told that the Prince and Princess of Wales are not interested in Meghan’s future projects,” claims Kinsey Schofield, host of the “To Di For Daily” podcast. about Prince William and Kate Middleton.
“A palace source told me, ‘Meghan was a background character in a chapter that’s already closed,'” Schofield shared. “The courtiers don’t believe Meghan is worth the mental real estate.”
Kinsey Schofield, host of the “To Di For Daily” podcast, claimed to Fox News Digital that palace courtiers will be watching Meghan Markle’s series to ensure she doesn’t say anything questionable about the British royal family. (Netflix)
“The palace plans to assign someone lower-ranking to cover the show, so the communications office has alerts if there’s anything to prepare for,” Schofield continued. “Netflix isn’t giving the palace, or anyone, screens so they’re going to see it in real time with the audience.
“As far as the celebrity-centric vanity topic goes, the courtiers are just grateful that Meghan has taken a break from attacking the institution.”
“Meghan still makes news and the Sussex brand still fascinates. But… [the series] it seemed pretty superficial to me. I wondered where the Kardashians were… The Royal Family just didn’t care.”
Catherine, Princess of Wales at Christmas morning service on December 25, 2024 in Sandringham, Norfolk. In September, the mother of three announced that she was cancer-free. (Jordan Peck/Getty Images)
Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams claimed the royals simply “couldn’t pay attention”.
“Meghan continues to make the news and the Sussex brand continues to fascinate,” he said. “But… [the series] it seemed pretty superficial to me. I was wondering where the Kardashians were.”
Meghan, 43, starred in the legal drama “Suits” before marrying Britain’s Prince Harry in 2018. After her engagement in 2017, she shut down her lifestyle blog, The Tig, which showcased her love of cooking.
One of her first initiatives as a member of the royal family was to partner with Hubb Community Kitchen for a fundraising cookbook.
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Meghan Markle’s lifestyle site, The Tig, was shut down in 2017. (Mark big – Pool/Getty Images)
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped down as senior members of the royal family in 2020 and moved to California. They then signed a multi-year deal with Netflix, reportedly worth $100 million.
In 2022, the couple launched their documentary series “Harry & Meghan”, which details their love story and struggles with royal life. It quickly became the most watched premiere of this streaming giant’s documentary.
Their sports documentary series “Polo,” which premiered in December, failed to find traction in Netflix’s top 10, People magazine reported.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex aired their grievances in their Netflix documentary series “Harry & Meghan.” (Netflix)
“With love, Meghan,” it is Duchess of Sussex the first solo hosting project for Netflix, they noted from the house. Last year, she also gave a glimpse of her upcoming lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard. Several of her famous friends showed off her strawberry jam on Instagram.
Mindy Kaling is seen here with Meghan Markle in the episode “With Love, Meghan.” (Netflix)
Experts shared that the royal family will continue to prioritize duties after facing what Prince William called a “brutal year”.
In early 2024, both King Charles III and Kate announced that they had been diagnosed with cancer. In September the Princess of Wales revealed she finished chemotherapy. It is understood the king is continuing his treatment.
“Prince William … is proud of his father and wife for facing such a challenging year with empathy, strength and determination,” said British broadcaster and photographer Helena Chard. “He is still the support of his family and oversees numerous philanthropic projects in the country and abroad.
King Charles III arrives at Trooping the Color on June 15, 2024. In February, Buckingham Palace announced that the monarch had been diagnosed with cancer. (Yui Mok/PA Images via Getty Images)
“He pointed out that we could all do with more empathetic leadership around the world. And the King has shown unwavering leadership even in poor health. The last thing the British royal family will be interested in is Meghan’s inauthentic, creepy, vacuous celebrity cooking reality show.”
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The British royal family made a unique appearance during the holidays. (Samir Hussein/WireImage/Getty Images)
“… After enduring a tumultuous year, our royal family feels grateful, positive and upbeat and certainly has a lot bigger fish to fry in the future,” Chard said. “Meghan has become a bit irrelevant. As long as Netflix’s reality TV show doesn’t threaten the reputation of the British royal family, it will pass by the royal family.”
Chard said the king, 76, would probably want Meghan’s show to be a success – and with good reason.
“He hopes that Harry and Meghan will remain self-sufficient, succeed financially and not come knocking on his door,” claims Chard.
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Schofield agreed.
“I know the King is eager for Harry and Meghan to find purpose and professional success,” she said. “He believes they could overcome their bitterness if they felt they were achieving their goals.”
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex helps prepare food at the launch of a cookbook with recipes by a group of women affected by the Grenfell Tower fire at Kensington Palace in London on September 20, 2018. (Ben Stansall/AFP via Getty Images)
Royal expert Ian Pelham Turner pointed out that whether the royals like it or not, the series will continue to generate interest – and headlines. It will feature, among others, actress Mindy Kaling, Tracy Robbins, wife of Paramount CEO Brian Robbins, as well as Meghan’s former “Suits” co-star Abigail Spencer.
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The series will also feature celebrity chefs and restaurateurs Roy Choi (pictured here) and Ramon Velazquez. (Netflix)
“Meghan … is going to make huge strides this year,” he explained. “She’s a polished performer with a professional approach… The Royal Family will no doubt process the pageant’s impact and diligently miss the comments. They may quietly seethe and task their PR teams with finding a suitable vehicle to continue their… brand [of] royally perfect and we hope the British media will light a flame under Meghan’s show.”
“The Royal Family … will always feel superior to any outside effort,” added Pelham Turner.
Schofield pointed out that the appearance of the royal family on the TV show is not new to “The Firm”.
Alice Waters, described by People magazine as a “farm-to-table pioneer,” will also appear. (Netflix)
“Meghan’s career path is much more aligned with Sarah Ferguson’s career than any other royal,” she said of the Duchess of York.
“Sarah appeared in ‘The Duchess of Hull’ and ‘The Duchess on the Estate’ giving advice on healthy living,” said Schofield. “She also participated in the reality show ‘Finding Sarah: From Royalty to the Real World’ produced by Oprah Winfrey.”
“There are rumors that Meghan has a cookbook on the horizon,” she said. “It would go well with Fergie’s ‘Dinner with the Duchess: Make Everyday Meals a Special Occasion’ cookbook.
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Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, at the Motown Cafe in New York where she launched her cookbook “Dining with the Duchess”. (Richard Corkery/NY Daily News Archives via Getty Images)
“… One thing that Fergie has achieved that Meghan probably won’t is to get back in the royal family’s door. Sarah has been careful not to be critical of the institution.”
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British royal expert Hilary Fordwich he also noted that Emma Thynn, Marchioness of Bath, was already famous for her cookery series.
“She was uploading videos of her creations from the original kitchens inside Longleat House in England,” Fordwich said. “Emma … is seen as ‘the real deal’, not only as a successful philanthropist, but also an accepted, much-loved member of the British aristocracy, who brings true authenticity.”
The Marchioness of Bath, centre, poses with Lady Amelia Spencer, left, and Lady Eliza Spencer, nieces of Princess Diana, in London. (David M. Bennett/Dave Bennett/Getty Images for Bacchanalia)
“Authenticity cannot be faked,” Fordwich added.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex live in the wealthy coastal town of Montecito with their children. The series was filmed near their house.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
