The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have signed a new ‘multi-year, first look deal for film and television projects’ with Netflix – a downgrade on their previous contract.
The couple’s new output will include a second season of the Duchess’s ‘With Love, Meghan’ lifestyle show later this month, as well as a Christmas special in December.
The Sussexes are also working on ‘Masaka Kids, A Rhythm Within’ – a documentary about orphaned children in Uganda, where the ‘shadows of the HIV/Aids crisis linger’.
There is also ‘active development’ on other projects with Netflix which ‘span a variety of content genres’, including an adaptation of romantic novel Meet Me At The Lake.
Netflix has already released the first series of With Love, Meghan as well as Polo, Heart of Invictus, Live to Lead and the couple’s bombshell documentary Harry & Meghan as well as being a business partner on Meghan’s lifestyle brand, As Ever.
Five years ago, Harry and Meghan secured a lucrative contract thought to be worth $100million (£74million) with Netflix after quitting as senior working royals in 2020.
The renewed deal was described by the Sussexes – who made the announcement with Netflix – as ‘extending their creative partnership’ through Archewell Productions.
But the new terms are understood to be worth less for Harry and Meghan than their previous contract and represent Netflix loosening its ties with the couple.
Prince Harry and Meghan at the ESPY Awards at Dolby Theatre in Hollywood in July 2024
The Duchess of Sussex in her Netflix series With Love, Meghan which came out in March
The Sussexes said Harry & Meghan, which came out in December 2022, was a huge success with a total of 23.4million views, making it the most viewed documentary ever through its first four days and reaching the English Top 10 TV list in 85 countries.
But With Love, Meghan failed to break into Netflix’s top ten programmes – or even the top 300, as it ranked at number 383 in 2025 so far for the streaming giant with just 5.3million viewers across the globe since it was first broadcast in March.
However, the Duchess said today: ‘We’re proud to extend our partnership with Netflix and expand our work together to include the As ever brand.
‘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.’
Bela Bajaria, Netflix’s chief content officer, said: ‘Harry and Meghan are influential voices whose stories resonate with audiences everywhere.
‘The response to their work speaks for itself – Harry & Meghan gave viewers an intimate look into their lives and quickly became one of our most-watched documentary series.
‘More recently, fans have been inspired by With Love, Meghan, with products from the new As ever line consistently selling out in record time.
The Netflix series With Love, Meghan is the most recent television release by the Sussexes
The Sussexes said Harry & Meghan, which came out in 2022, was a huge success with a total of 23.4million views, making it the most viewed documentary ever through its first four days
‘We’re excited to continue our partnership with Archewell Productions and to entertain our members together.’
As Ever is Meghan’s lifestyle brand which also sells cookie mix, herb tea, flower sprinkles and jams – and launched a new Napa Valley rosé wine last Friday.
In March the Duchess launched her new podcast series ‘Confessions Of A Female Founder’ with Lemonada Media, which included an interview with Beyonce’s mother Tina Knowles.
Meghan’s Archetypes series about female stereotypes in 2022 ran for just one series, and was part of the Sussexes’ previous multi-million-pound deal with Spotify, which ended the year after.
Last month a Netflix source claimed Harry and Meghan’s hopes of a new Netflix deal were ‘dead’ after Polo and With Love, Meghan both flopped in the ratings.
The insider was quoted as saying: ‘This deal is dead. She had everything going for her – name, platform, press – and the numbers were dismal.
‘They’re just waiting for the credits to roll. They’re letting it expire without drama. There’s no appetite for anything new.’