Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been accused of “self-promotion” by a royal expert who believes the public are getting “weary” of it. Earlier this week, it was reported that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who quit royal life in 2020, are not expected to have their five-year Netflix deal renewed when it ends in September.
While the reason behind this is unclear, it is believed to have been partly a result of their shows, especially Polo and “With Love, Meghan”, having lower than expected viewing figures. Now, royal expert Lydia Alty believes that this is a result of the shows being “a polished exercise in personal branding” and “self-promotion”.
Lydia told Express.co.uk: “The broader issue is that nearly everything they produce continues to centre around themselves — their story, their grievances, their brand. Audiences are growing weary of it.”
She continued: “Viewers are seeking content that inspires, educates, or serves a greater purpose — not just a polished exercise in personal branding.
“Public interest in the ‘Harry and Meghan show’ is clearly waning, and people are increasingly looking for substance over self-promotion.”
Prince Harry, 40, and Meghan, 43, have not commented on the upcoming end of their Netflix deal, which was believed to have been worth £78 million.
The deal was first made in 2020, with Harry and Meghan’s most successful show with Netflix being their docuseries Harry and Meghan, released in 2022.
Since news of the end of the Netflix deal was made public earlier this week, royal commentators have been quick to point out that the Royal Family are likely to have concerns about the news, especially as Harry and Meghan are likely to have to find other ways to continue funding their Montecito lifestyle.
Beforehand, this has resulted in the couple making some bombshell decisions, with Harry publishing his memoir Spare in 2023, which was highly critical of the Royal Family.
Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams exclusively told Express.co.uk this week: “When you have unhappy exiles you either have reconciliation or you have trouble.
“I can’t see Meghan and Harry wanting to change their lifestyle. This devastating blow from Netflix raises the question of how they fund it without dishing more dirt.”