Meghan Markle and Prince Harry 'split' over roles but it's good news for both of them
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's new Netflix deal underlines a major decision by the couple, according to a royal expert.
The Sussexes have revealed they have signed a new "multi-year, first look deal for film and television projects". The pair's new deal means Netflix will have the first option on their new projects.
Five years ago, Harry and Meghan secured a lucrative contract, thought to be worth more than 100 million dollars (£74 million), with Netflix after quitting as senior working royals in 2020 - but this new extension is seen as a downgrade on their previous exclusive rights deal and is believed to be worth a lot less.
As the deal was announced, Meghan was quoted as saying how she and Harry were proud to be extending their partnership with the platform. And just hours later, the trailer for Meghan's upcoming second series of With Love, Meghan lifestyle show dropped.
And former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond says it is telling that there is "scant mention of Harry" int he announcement. She told the Mirror: "It seems clear that this deal is very much Meghan's project.
"It seems he may have played some part in the production of a documentary about a Ugandan orphanage, but it is Meghan who will be on screen presenting her lifestyle shows.
"I think this underlines that the couple has decided that Meghan is really the TV personality, and Harry is more comfortable continuing his charity work. And I think that's the right balance for them."
It comes after the couple's controversial docuseries, Harry & Meghan, in which they were highly critical of the Royal Family, has been among the streaming platform's most-watched documentary of all time with 23.4 million views.
However, other projects, such as Harry's series on Polo, have failed to bring in anywhere near the same viewers.
Meghan's latest project, her cookery and lifestyle show With Love, Meghan, released in March, failed to break into the top 300 most-watched shows on the streaming platform in the first six months of 2025 and was also panned by many critics.
And Jennie added: "As I understand it, first look deals like this are not unusual in Hollywood. Arrangements like this usually come with a certain amount of financial investment in the company. And that's good news for Archewell.
"The fact that Harry and Meghan have got any kind of new deal with Netflix really is one in the eye to everyone who said their contract was done and dusted.
"Netflix has publicly hailed them as 'influential voices' -nd it's hard to argue with that. Whatever they do and say is widely reported on both sides of the Atlantic.
"So I say well done to the two of them. They've shown that they still hold sway in Hollywood, and they've done what so many people said they couldn't: they've kept their link to Netflix alive and well and – to whatever extent – lucrative."
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