It wasn’t until the very last episode of Meghan Markle's Netflix series, With Love, Meghan, that Prince Harry finally made an appearance. He showed up at a celebratory brunch his wife threw, offering his signature support. "You did a really good job," Harry, the ever-supportive Duke of Sussex, gushed. As the show wrapped up, the couple shared a warm hug. "To love," Meghan said, with Harry replying, "Can’t end on a better note than that." Those words seemed to encapsulate their journey so far.
When Meghan Markle, the former star of Suits, married Prince Harry, it felt like a modern-day fairy tale. But five years after they left the British royal family for a new life in sunny California, the couple is still searching for their version of "happily ever after." At 43, Meghan, alongside Harry, 40, has faced a lot of challenges since their 2018 wedding day. The goodwill that once surrounded them has waned, and they've struggled to find both purpose and financial stability in their luxurious Montecito lifestyle, where they live with their children, Prince Archie, 5, and Princess Lilibet, 3. The emotional distance from their royal family continues to weigh heavily on them.
Life hasn't turned out quite as they expected. "The world fell in love with the handsome prince and the American actress, that was the fantasy," a close friend reflects. "But reality is different. They've tried to figure out where things went wrong. The turning point seems to have been when they started speaking up for themselves. When Harry left England, it was seen as a betrayal. That, along with Harry's book and the Oprah interview, shattered their fairy tale image." It's clear the couple underestimated the backlash they'd face.
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How Meghan Markle is Handling Criticism of Her Netflix Show
Meghan’s lifestyle series, With Love, Meghan, has been picked up for a second season, but not without its share of criticism. Some critics have been particularly harsh, with Variety calling it "an ego trip," and the U.K.’s Guardian dismissing it as "pointless," even predicting it could be the couple’s "last TV show." It’s clear that the reviews have been tough, but Meghan remains determined to improve.
Former Vanity Fair editor Tina Brown has been particularly vocal in her critique. In her newsletter, Tina, a well-known British journalist and royals expert, suggested Meghan "has never figured out a convincing persona." She criticized the couple's decision to move to America, saying, "All Meghan had to do was shut up and wait. Once William became Prince of Wales, global opportunities would have come flooding in for the Sussexes. But instead, they chose Netflix over the Commonwealth." It's a stinging critique, and one that reflects some of the public sentiment.
Then there’s the matter of ratings. While their 2022 Netflix documentary, Harry & Meghan, drew 2.1 million viewers in its first week, With Love, Meghan has attracted less than a quarter of that audience. A friend of the couple admits, "Harry and Meghan want to succeed on their own terms, but it’s challenging when the world's interest was initially tied to Harry's royal connections." It's clear the couple is navigating uncharted waters.
Meghan has sent mixed signals about her relationship with the royal family. On one hand, she's distanced herself from them, yet in an episode of With Love, Meghan, she emphasized her connection to the title "Sussex," which Queen Elizabeth II granted her grandson Harry in 2018. During an episode with Mindy Kaling, Meghan pointedly reminded her guest, "You keep saying Meghan Markle. You know I’m Sussex now."
"They’re trying to distance themselves from the royal family, but it’s impossible when Meghan makes such a big deal about being a Sussex," a friend explains. "You’re either in or you’re out, but she can’t have it both ways." It’s a delicate balance that Meghan is still trying to master.
For the second season, Meghan is hoping to learn from the feedback and show a more relaxed, inviting side of her personality. "She’s trying not to let the negative reviews get to her," the friend says. "There will be changes to reflect some of the things viewers didn’t relate to." Meghan remains committed to growing as a public figure.
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Meghan Markle's Modern-Day Cinderella Story
Despite the challenges, Meghan and Harry remain deeply devoted to each other and their children. "Harry gave up a lot for love," an insider reveals, adding that Harry's estrangement from his father and brother continues to weigh on him. "Harry has a few regrets about things he said about his family in his book and in interviews," the friend admits. "But at this point, the rift with the royal family is here to stay. There’s no reconciliation in sight." It’s clear the emotional toll is significant.
Is it all worth it? Meghan and Harry believe so. "They’ve questioned some of their decisions many times, but they know in their hearts that they belong together," the friend says. "The one thing they love more than anything is their children. When they feel like times are tough and the world is against them, they look at their children and all the doubts just fade away." In the end, it’s their family that keeps them grounded and hopeful for the future.
