A prominent royal expert asserts that Meghan Markle’s Netflix series, With Love, Meghan, ultimately undermined her broader entrepreneurial efforts, particularly her nascent lifestyle brand, As Ever. According to Dan Wakeford, the show’s perceived failure turned it into "a punchline" rather than the intended "launch pad," a development he claims "poisoned" the Duchess of Sussex’s credibility in the commercial sphere. This analysis comes as Markle faces renewed scrutiny over her post-royal career trajectory, including recent reports of a potential acting return and its subsequent withdrawal.
The Genesis of Post-Royal Ventures
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s departure from their roles as senior working royals in January 2020, dubbed "Megxit" by the media, marked a pivotal shift in their public and professional lives. Relocating to Montecito, California, the couple embarked on a new path, aiming for financial independence and a redefined public platform. This ambitious pivot included securing lucrative, multi-year content deals with major streaming giants like Netflix and audio platform Spotify, reportedly worth tens of millions of dollars. These agreements were seen as cornerstones of their strategy to produce documentaries, series, and podcasts reflecting their values and interests, while also establishing individual entrepreneurial endeavors for the Duchess.
With Love, Meghan and its Reception
Among these ventures was With Love, Meghan, a cooking and entertaining show that premiered on Netflix in March 2025. The series aimed to showcase Markle’s personal interests in home life, hospitality, and wellness, featuring the former Suits actress, 45, engaging with celebrity guests to share tips and tricks for entertaining. However, despite the initial fanfare surrounding its launch, the program was reportedly met with mixed reviews and struggled to garner widespread critical acclaim or sustained public enthusiasm. The series was ultimately canceled earlier this year after only two seasons, a decision that has now been highlighted by critics as a significant setback.
Royal expert Dan Wakeford, speaking to Fox News on Friday, August 21, minced no words in his assessment of the show’s impact. He stated, "With Love, Meghan became a punchline when it really needed to be a launch pad." This critical perception, Wakeford argued, had far-reaching consequences for Markle’s other commercial aspirations. "When the show was mocked," he added, "it poisoned As Ever because the credibility was gone." The expert’s comments underscore a narrative that has increasingly taken hold in media circles: the challenges faced by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in translating their global fame into successful, respected commercial enterprises.
The Intertwined Fates of ‘With Love, Meghan’ and ‘As Ever’
The assertion that With Love, Meghan "poisoned" As Ever, Meghan Markle’s lifestyle company, speaks to the intricate relationship between a public figure’s personal brand and their commercial ventures. For a lifestyle brand, authenticity and a strong, positive association with its founder are paramount. If the public perceives the founder’s other projects, particularly those designed to be an extension of their persona, as lacking in substance or even as a source of ridicule, that negativity can quickly permeate and undermine the credibility of related businesses.
As Ever was envisioned as a platform for Meghan Markle to share her curated tastes and expertise in areas such as home decor, food, and wellness – themes closely aligned with her former popular blog, The Tig. The success of such a brand relies heavily on the public’s trust and admiration for its founder. When a high-profile media project like With Love, Meghan fails to resonate or, worse, becomes a target of mockery, it can erode the very foundation of that trust, making it significantly harder for an associated lifestyle brand to gain traction and establish itself as a credible authority in its niche. The public’s perception of Markle’s "credibility" thus becomes a crucial currency, directly influencing the viability of her entrepreneurial endeavors.
The Illusion of Leverage: Netflix and Spotify Deals
Wakeford also offered a sharp critique of the Sussexes’ understanding of their position in the entertainment industry following their departure from royal life. "The problem is that Meghan and Harry believed the big Netflix deal and Spotify check meant they had leverage when, in actuality, the deal and the check were the leverage," he explained. This perspective suggests that the initial, high-value contracts were less a testament to the couple’s inherent media power and more a strategic move by the platforms to capitalize on their unique global profile and the accompanying media frenzy.
For Netflix and Spotify, securing the Sussexes was a high-stakes gamble, offering exclusive access to two of the world’s most recognizable figures at a moment of intense public interest. The deals provided the couple with significant financial security and a platform, but as Wakeford implies, this leverage was primarily held by the media companies, who could then dictate terms, expectations, and ultimately, the continuation of projects based on performance and audience engagement. The cancellation of With Love, Meghan and the earlier, mutual decision to part ways with Spotify after a single podcast series, Archetypes, underscore this dynamic, revealing that even royal connections do not guarantee enduring success in the fiercely competitive entertainment landscape without compelling content.
A Call for a Radical Shift: Beyond the "Princess Arc"
In light of these challenges, Wakeford suggested a dramatic shift in Meghan Markle’s career strategy. He urged her to "find an extraordinary script the way Demi Moore did with Substance and do something that shocks people and gets away from the princess arc." This advice highlights a critical dilemma for Markle: how to reinvent her public image and professional identity beyond the enduring narrative of her royal connection. Since her marriage to Prince Harry in May 2018, which necessitated her stepping away from her acting career, her public persona has largely been defined by her Duchess title and her role within the Royal Family.
A return to acting, particularly in a role that challenges public expectations, could offer a pathway to re-establish her professional credibility on her own terms. The reference to Demi Moore’s critically acclaimed performance in Substance suggests a need for a project that is bold, unexpected, and perhaps even gritty, allowing Markle to demonstrate a range and seriousness that transcends the often-glamorous, yet restrictive, "princess" image. Such a move would aim to recapture the artistic integrity and career momentum she enjoyed during her time on the popular legal drama Suits, where she earned recognition for her portrayal of Rachel Zane.
Rumors of a UK Return and a Withdrawn Acting Opportunity
The discussion around Meghan Markle’s professional future intensified recently with news of a significant personal development. On August 19, it was announced that Meghan and Prince Harry, 41, along with their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, would be temporarily moving back to the United Kingdom for an extended period later this month. This relocation marks a notable shift from their primary residence in Montecito, California, where they have lived since 2020. The unexpected return sparked considerable media speculation regarding their intentions and potential engagements in the UK.
Coinciding with this news, rumors quickly surfaced that Meghan Markle was being considered for a role in the third season of Netflix’s action-comedy series, The Gentlemen. This prospect generated significant buzz, suggesting a potential return to the acting career she paused upon joining the Royal Family. However, this promising development was reportedly short-lived. Royal author Tina Brown, writing on her Substack page on Saturday, August 22, claimed that Markle’s offer for the role had been withdrawn. Brown cited "intense backlash in the U.K." as the reason, stating that it "became untenable to go forward." This alleged incident underscores the persistent challenges Markle faces in navigating her public image and professional aspirations, particularly in the UK, where public sentiment can be particularly volatile. The Sun had previously reported that a role in The Gentlemen could have earned Markle over $1 million, highlighting the financial implications of such missed opportunities.
Broader Implications and Future Trajectories
The reported withdrawal of the The Gentlemen offer, if true, presents a significant hurdle for Meghan Markle’s potential acting comeback and her broader efforts to forge a successful post-royal career. The "intense backlash" cited by Tina Brown suggests that public perception, particularly in the UK, remains a powerful force shaping the Sussexes’ opportunities and their ability to gain acceptance for new professional endeavors. This incident could reinforce the notion that disentangling themselves from royal controversy and public opinion is a more complex task than anticipated.
Ultimately, the trajectory of Meghan Markle’s career, and indeed that of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, remains a subject of intense public and media fascination. The expert opinions regarding With Love, Meghan and the reported setbacks in her acting aspirations highlight the formidable challenges of transitioning from royal life to independent entrepreneurship and media production. For the Duchess, the path forward may require a more strategic and perhaps even unexpected approach to content creation and brand building, one that can transcend past criticisms and establish a new, unassailable foundation of credibility.
