Meghan Markle Returns to Rented $9.5 Million Montecito House for New Season of Netflix Show—After Refusing To Film at Her Own Home

Yahoo

3 days ago

Meghan Markle's divisive Netflix series "With Love, Meghan" is set to make a return for a second season—with a newly released trailer revealing that the mother of two has once again opted not to use her $14.7 million Montecito home as the primary filming location.
Meghan, 44, premiered her lifestyle show with the streaming giant March 4, with a description issued by Netflix promising viewers an "at home"-style experience with the former actress.
So eyebrows were understandably raised when it was revealed that Meghan had not in fact filmed the series at her own home, but had instead chosen to return to a nearby $9.5 million property that was rented out for use as a set during the first season.
The four-bedroom, 4.5-bathroom property is owned by local philanthropists Tom and Sherrie Cipolla, who purchased the dwelling for $4.7 million back in 2017, according to records. Realtor.com® estimates reveal that it is now worth upward of $9.5 million.
After filming the first season of her show in the home, Meghan revealed her reasons for refusing to allow the Montecito mansion she shares with husband Prince Harry to be used as the primary set—explaining that she felt a strong desire to maintain it as a "safe haven" for her family.
"I wanted to protect that safe haven," she told People. "We're a close-knit family, and I love those moments—putting Lili down for a nap, having lunch together, having sacred time together at the end of the day.
"Our kitchen is where Mama just cooks for the family, and with a crew of 80-plus people, that's a lot of people to have in your house!"
Fortunately, Netflix producers managed to find a property just a few miles away that served as the perfect backdrop for a luxury lifestyle show.
Nestled on a five-acre plot of land, the main farmhouse boasts a chic and elegant decor worthy of a Nancy Meyers movie—or a Meghan Markle docuseries—and features an open floor plan and ample windows that flood the home with plenty of light.
An additional barn on the property provides another filming location, while the picturesque grounds—which are filled with lemon and avocado trees—served as a picture-perfect backdrop for Meghan's latest project.
It is not the first time that Meghan has borrowed another home to film an "at-home" style Netflix show. When she and Harry filmed their controversial 2022 documentary, aptly titled "Meghan & Harry," the couple did so in a $30 million estate not far from their own house.
That property—which boasts six bedrooms, 6.5 bathroom, and a 2-acre plot—is currently on the market, having been used by the Sussexes only briefly while they were filming their interviews for the dramatic series.
Much like the first season of her show, the second run of episodes will see Meghan welcoming a host of high-profile guests into the dwelling, with the trailer showing her making jewelry with Chrissy Teigen, sitting down at a pottery wheel with pilates guru Heather Durak, and cooking with famed chef José Andrés.
Other guests include Christina Tosi, Clare Smyth, Daniel Martin, David Chang, Jamie Kern Lima, Jay Shetty, Radhi Devlukia, Samin Nosrat, and Tan France.
However there is one significant figure absent from the preview clip: Meghan's husband, Harry, who made a brief appearance in the season one trailer, as well as the first round of episodes that Netflix released.
Still, the Duke of Sussex does get a mention, when Meghan reveals that her husband is not a fan of lobster, much to the horror of Chef Andrés.
"You know who doesn't like lobster? My husband," the former "Suits" star tells him, prompting the food whiz to respond: "And you married him?"
The trailer also features a voiceover from Meghan, who describes her motivation for filming the series, saying in the brief clip: "I love the idea of spending time together and finding new ways to show people you care. Let's get creative and learn something new.
"I love these moments of discovery and beauty so let's be curious together."
All eight episodes in the second season of the show will debut Aug. 26—with Netflix previously revealing that it will also air a holiday special of "With Love, Meghan" later this year.
'Together, friends and family deck the halls, create holiday feasts, craft heartfelt gifts, and share lots of laughs—with simple how-tos to follow at home,' a statement reads. 'It's a holiday wonder with warmth, tradition, and a generous dose of joy.'
That announcement came as the streaming giant revealed that it has agreed to a modified contract extension with Harry and Meghan's production company, Archewell.
However, that contract extension comes with some caveats, with sources telling Page Six that the new deal is worth much less than the $100 million they were reportedly paid for their first partnership with the streaming site.
Still, Meghan and Harry were quick to celebrate the news, with the former saying in a statement that she was "proud" to continue her work with Netflix, which is also collaborating with her on her lifestyle brand, As Ever.
"We're proud to extend our partnership with Netflix and expand our work together to include the As Ever brand," she said. "My husband and I feel inspired by our partners who work closely with us and our Archewell Productions team to create thoughtful content across genres that resonates globally and celebrates our shared vision."
It is currently unclear whether Harry will feature in any of the episodes in the second season of his wife's show, however he is understood to be hard at work on other projects included in the Netflix deal.
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