Meghan Markle suffers fresh Netflix blow as her Christmas special is panned

Fintan Starkey

By Fintan Starkey


Published: 03/12/2025

- 16:34

The royal released her special on the same day as the royal family welcome the German President at Windsor Castle

Meghan Markle has suffered a new blow as her new Netflix special has been slammed by critics.

The Duchess of Sussex released the third instalment of her With Love, Meghan series on Wednesday, allowing fans to step inside her Christmas celebrations.


But a slew of negative reviews have marred the release for the duchess, with many reviewers giving it two stars or less.

Daily Mail reviewer Annabel Fenwick Elliot gave the special zero stars, saying: “It's the syrupy hypocrisy and our hostesses' deep lack of self-awareness that continue to make her and this show so unlikeable.

Meghan Markle

Meghan Markle has been slammed by critics for her new Netflix special

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Netflix

“If only she could lean into her waspish, Type A personality - poke a little fun at herself, even - she could just about be endearing, in a Monica-from-Friends sort of way.”

Times columnist Hilary Rose described the show as "unfathomable", adding that it includes “four pointless crafts, three random 'friends', two unseen kids, one English prince and a duchess in a pear tree, or at least making pear syrup.”

She added that some of the dialogue left her feeling like “the English language has been fed through Google Translate and found wanting”.

Ms Rose also revealed viewers “learn that red is a festive colour and that if you don't like cheese or pepper, you might not like a dish consisting of cheese and pepper”.

The Express took a different approach, with Emily Ferguson giving a much more positive review, claiming the show gives “some handy tips on wrapping awkward items such as cuddly toys and wine bottles.

“The special one-off episode, released on the same day the Royal Family welcomes the German President and First Lady to Windsor Castle for a three-day state visit, balances festive fun with personal anecdotes that are sure to please her fan base.

As Ever

Various outlets have slammed the special for it's "hacks"

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INSTAGRAM / MEGHAN

“And in a solo clip while decorating iced cookies, Meghan delivers an important message: 'Take care of yourself and you will be able to take care of everybody else.’”

Standard writer India Block gave the duchess’s special a two-star review, saying: “Duchess formerly known as Markle firmly believes that holiday traditions can be boiled down to word salads of platitudes.

“Netflix has really hit its stride with this special episode of With Love, Meghan. They're really leaning the frantic energy of its star trying to crack puns without splashing hot oil or butter down her pristine cashmere sweaters.

“Honestly, the production team must be trolling Meghan here with increasingly bizarre and elaborate set-ups for her to impart hosting 'hacks'. In fact, are they really hacks?

“They would make anyone actually hosting Christmas for a big group have a nervous breakdown before the canapes were served.”

Another review by Daisy Jones in British Vogue said: “On the one hand, I can see why the show was critically panned.

Meghan Markle

Meghan Markle released the special on the same day as the German President is welcomed at Windsor Castle

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GETTY

“Sometimes, people are given a platform because of who they are, rather than what they can bring, and With Love, Meghan gives me the same feeling as when I am around very wealthy people who think that making a salad with friends makes them 'grounded' and 'relatable'.

“On the other, there's something soothing, enjoyable even, about the show's glossy inaneness.”