One of the main royal topics of 2025 was whether Netflix would care to renew their contract with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
Some sources revealed that the streaming giant is done with the Sussex duo, whilst others claimed that a much lesser deal will be extended to the couple.
And by a much lesser deal we’re talking about a new “multi-year, first look deal” with the American streaming company for “film and television projects.” Many have commented on the painful downgrade of the new deal, but why did Harry and Meghan choose to resign with Netflix?
Royal expert Hugo Vickers weighs in.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Didn’t Have A Strong Bargaining Chip During Talks To Extend Netflix Contract
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s earlier contents for Netflix may have been a hit, but their latter ones barely broke the fourth wall. Harry’s ‘Polo,’ for example, performed so poorly it didn’t even make it into 500,000 households worldwide.
Whilst Meghan’s cooking show fared better, its performance still wasn’t all that special, which prompted many to predict that the couple will not be getting a contract renewal.
However, while not a $100 million contract renewal, Netflix shocked many by extending a multi-year first-look deal to the couple.
Weighing in on this, Vickers believed that the streaming company made the decision to keep tapping into Harry and Meghan’s royal prestige.
“I don’t think the Sussexes would have been able to pressurise them [Netflix] because they’re not in a very strong bargaining position,” he said, adding, “Netflix will have figured out they will be getting publicity from the shows.”
The thing is, whether the deal was downgraded or not, Harry and Meghan desperately need the Netflix deal to keep funding their expensive lifestyle.
The royal expert said: “I suspect that they lead a very expensive life. They have to keep going as once the money runs out, and if their popularity runs out, they could be in trouble.”
Netflix Announces Upcoming Projects With the Sussexes
Already, the streaming company has announced two upcoming projects with the couple: Meghan’s ‘With Love, Meghan,’ which will drop later this month, and a Christmas special that will be filmed in Montecito.
The Christmas special will feature “friends and family” as they “deck the halls, create holiday feasts, craft heartfelt gifts, and share lots of laughs – with simple how-tos to follow at home.”
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