Prince Harry and Meghan’s lucrative Netflix deal could be at risk following the poor performance of their latest docuseries about polo, sources have claimed.
The five-episode series, which follows the build-up to the polo World Cup in Florida, has failed to crack Netflix’s Top 10 and received scathing reviews from critics.
With their current contract set to expire in 2025, insiders suggest the streaming giant is considering not renewing the deal.
This news would come as a significant blow to the couple, who are reportedly “starting to panic” following the series’ disappointing reception, a source told Closer Magazine.
Meghan Markle ‘panicking’ as Netflix future hangs in the balance after Polo series
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Critics have been particularly harsh in their assessment of the polo series, with one reviewer describing it as “like a spoof” of royal documentaries.
Another review gave the series just one star, dismissing it as “flat, plodding and really rather boring.”
The harshest criticism came from a reviewer who called it “an unintentionally hilarious profile of the world’s stupidest sport.”
Sources close to the couple say they remain hopeful the show will “gather momentum and prove the critics wrong.”
The Duke of Sussex and Nacho Figueras (left) after taking part in a polo match in 2022
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“They tried so hard to give the network what they wanted, and that was more of a reality show feel,” the source continued to tell Closer.
The Sussexes signed their Netflix deal in 2020 after stepping down as senior royals, producing several projects for the streaming platform.
Their portfolio includes the “Harry & Meghan” docuseries, “Live to Lead” featuring interviews with world leaders, and “Heart of Invictus” about competitors in Harry’s sporting event.
Several projects remain in development, including Meghan’s cooking show, which completed filming in July but awaits a release date.
Harry appears for just five seconds in the opening credits of the first episode, and is notably absent from episodes two and threeGettyAn adaptation of Carley Fortune’s novel “Meet Me at the Lake” is also planned, though its future remains uncertain with the deal’s impending expiration in 2025.
Sources indicate Netflix is “reluctant to renew the contract” for these upcoming ventures.
The potential Netflix setback follows another significant loss for the couple, who parted ways with Spotify in June 2023.
The streaming platform and the Sussexes “mutually agreed” not to renew Meghan’s podcast “Archetypes” for a second season.
A look at Meghan Markle’s jam from American Riviera Orchard Instagram / Heather Dorak
Adding to their challenges, Meghan’s lifestyle brand launch appears to have stalled. Despite an initial Instagram debut in March 2024 and sending limited-edition strawberry jam to celebrities like Kris Jenner and Chrissy Teigen, the brand has gone quiet. Plans for raspberry jam, dog treats and homeware items have yet to materialise.
The potential loss of the Netflix deal has reportedly hit the couple hard, with sources saying Meghan is “naturally very concerned” about the situation.
“Netflix hasn’t dumped them yet and Meghan and Harry are holding out hope that it will never come to pass,” a source continued.
The same source emphasised the financial implications: “It’s not just about one project, it’s a $100 million deal, they are counting on that income.”
“The whispers have really hit them hard,” the source added, noting that rumours about the deal’s non-renewal have been “incredibly upsetting” for the couple.