When Meghan Markle first appeared on the royal scene, the reaction across the UK was largely positive. She looked as if she might help in moving the monarchy forward. There was a real buzz about what she could bring: a more progressive image, a broader global appeal, and maybe even a stronger connection with younger generations.
Back then, Meghan was widely admired. Even the notoriously critical British press gave her a warm welcome to begin with. Her wedding to Prince Harry in 2018 was seen as a triumph — crowds of people lined the streets in support of them both, all eager to catch a glimpse of the new bride and groom and wish them well. It was hailed as a historic and positive step for the Royal Family.
But over time, the mood changed — and not in her favour. What began as a promising royal chapter has gradually unravelled into a string of controversies, complaints, and slick PR projects that many people now view with a fair bit of cynicism.
The Netflix Series Backlash
A real turning point came with the release of Harry & Meghan on Netflix. It was pitched as a documentary telling their love story and explaining their reasons for stepping back from royal duties, but many who watched it felt it was more of a lengthy grievance list — a glossy retelling that painted the Royal Family and the British press in a negative light.
Rather than shedding new light or offering any real resolution, it felt like the same old narrative of victimhood, served up again. In the wake of the Queen’s death, the tone struck a lot of people as disrespectful. And for a couple who said they were stepping away for the sake of privacy, the whole thing came across as contradictory, even hypocritical.
“You know I’m Sussex now!”
With Love, Meghan—Meghan Markle’s lifestyle show—was met with lukewarm reviews and a fair share of scepticism. Despite the branding suggesting an intimate, personal touch, the series was not filmed in her own kitchen, which left some viewers questioning its authenticity. Critics noted that the show felt overly polished and disconnected, with Meghan seeming awkward with ‘friends’ and somewhat out of touch with everyday realities.
The format and content also drew inevitable comparisons not only in title but in overall style and theme to Pamela Anderson’s show Pamela Cooking With Love released the year prior, which many felt had a more grounded and original charm. While a second series has been announced, it’s worth noting that it consists of episodes already filmed during the initial production run, rather than a completely new series—raising further questions about the show’s creative direction and long-term viability.
The Podcasts That Missed the Mark
Meghan’s venture into podcasting hasn’t done much to help her image either. Archetypes, her Spotify series, launched with big names and high hopes. But it quickly drew criticism for sounding overproduced, a bit preachy, and far too self-referential. It struggled to connect with listeners and, ultimately, didn’t make the impact it was clearly intended to. Spotify later dropped the deal, reportedly unimpressed by the output.
Her most recent effort, Confessions of a Female Founder, hasn’t fared much better. It’s just wrapped up its first series, but it failed to chart in Apple’s Top 200, and it dropped out of the Spotify Top 100 in both the UK and US. Like Archetypes, it was meant to shine a light on women in business, but again it’s been criticised for feeling more like a brand extension than anything meaningful. Too glossy, not enough substance — that’s become a bit of a theme.
The “American Royalty” Rebrand
Since the Netflix series, Meghan and Harry have leaned hard into their celebrity status in the US. They’ve signed big media deals, given interviews, and tried to repackage themselves as a different kind of public figure — less royal, more Hollywood.
The problem is, this doesn’t really sit well with the British public, neither does it with people outside of the UK. The polished image, the carefully controlled messaging, the constant sense of performance — it’s all starting to wear thin.
Is ‘As Ever’ becoming more ‘Was Never’?
Meghan’s rebranded lifestyle project, As Ever, has already raised eyebrows — and not for the right reasons. After the initial hype around American Riviera Orchard fizzled out, As Ever emerged quietly, with the same elusive branding and no real substance behind it.
For many, this latest reinvention feels like more smoke and mirrors — a glossy label on yet another vanity project that seems completely out of touch with ordinary people.
With her recently stating that she will “step back, gather data from the launch, and figure out exactly what As Ever could be.” – where is this latest brand going? With no sign of new products until 2026, or any sign of restocking previous products, it appears to be floundering already.
A Missed Opportunity (or two, or three…)
The sad thing is, Meghan really did have a unique opportunity to help modernise the monarchy and appeal to a new generation. A real chance to do good, with a tremendous amount of support in the early years of her relationship with Harry. But through a string of strategic missteps, controlled narratives, and an increasingly curated public image, she’s distanced herself from many of the people who were originally in her corner.
There are still supporters who see her as someone wronged by the institution and the media. But the wider view has shifted. Where there was once excitement, now there’s scepticism. In some cases, outright exhaustion.
It’s a reminder that public support isn’t guaranteed — it’s earned. And once lost, it’s hard to win back.
Can She Come Back From This?
That’s the big question. Is a comeback possible? It would take a massive shift in how she presents herself. To win back trust, Meghan would need to step out of the spotlight a bit and let the work do the talking. Less trying to be perfect, less acting up to the camera, and more authenticity.
If she can focus on something meaningful, without the fanfare, there’s a chance to rebuild some goodwill. But it’ll take more than a new podcast or a raspberry spread to turn things around. Maybe a nice slice of humble pie?!
It’ll be interesting to see what she does next – Harry too, but that’s another story! Has Meghan gone too far out of public favour and all hope is lost, or does she still have a chance to turn things around?
9 Responses
I agree with much of what you’ve written. Harry and Meghan’s story started with so much promise. Their wedding felt like a moment of real progress and unity, and I remember being genuinely hopeful about what they could represent within the Royal Family.
I watched Meghan’s new Netflix show and actually enjoyed about 90% of it. She clearly has media talent and a strong presence, but when she said her last name is now “Sussex,” I have to admit that it gave me the ick. It just felt more like branding than authenticity.
I do believe Meghan was unfairly framed as a villain in many ways, and the British press was brutal. But at some point, it starts to feel less like fighting back and more like playing the victim while distancing themselves from any accountability. There’s a difference between telling your story and throwing your family under the bus.
They still have real potential in media or public life, but it’s going to take more authenticity and less self-curation to really connect with people again.
I think both Harry and Meghan need to ride off into the sunset and find that privacy they were seeking when they left the royal family. Without assistance from anyone, they burned their reputations to the ground. Who does that to themselves???
I only remember Harry as the party prince. He was more fun like that 🤣🤷♂️👑
right!
I truly enjoy your writing, Joanne. Very well put. Cheers.
Joanne, I really enjoyed this one! nice! ❤️👑
I don’t know, but something about them feels so inauthentic now.
uncertain outcome 🤔❓😯😲🤯
she’s disturbing in every way