Meghan Markle is "finding the right balance" with Prince Harry, according to a royal commentator, as the Duke of Sussex takes a step back.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have confirmed a new deal with Netflix, marking another step in their ongoing entertainment ventures.
The couple announced a "multi-year, first look deal for film and television projects," giving Netflix the first option to consider any of their upcoming work.
Their original agreement with the streaming platform, signed five years ago after stepping back as senior working royals in 2020, was worth over $100million (£74million).
Meghan Markle 'finding the right balance' with Prince Harry as Duke of Sussex steps back
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The new arrangement is widely seen as less lucrative than their previous contract.
As part of the announcement, Meghan issued a solo statement, speaking about her excitement to continue working with Netflix alongside Harry.
Hours later, the trailer for the Duchess's forthcoming second season of With Love, Meghan, her lifestyle show, was released.
Royal commentator Jennie Bond noted the focus on Meghan in the announcement.
Meghan Markle and Chrissy Teigen poctured during the Netflix trailer | NETFLIXShe told The Mirror: "It seems clear that this deal is very much Meghan‘s project. It seems [Harry] may have played some part in the production of a documentary about a Ugandan orphanage, but it is Meghan who will be on screen, presenting her lifestyle shows.
"I think this underlines that the couple has decided that Meghan is really the TV personality, and Harry is more comfortable continuing his charity work. And I think that’s the right balance for them."
The couple’s earlier documentary series, Harry & Meghan, which contained critical commentary about the Royal Family, became one of Netflix’s most-watched documentaries, attracting 23.4 million views.
Other projects, including Harry’s series on polo, did not achieve similar levels of audience engagement.
Meghan Markle was seen wearing a necklace worth £6k in the official trailer for the second series of her Netflix programme | NETFLIXWith Love, Meghan, which debuted in March 2025, did not enter Netflix’s top 300 most-watched shows in its first six months and received largely negative reviews from critics.
Ms Bond added: "As I understand it, first look deals like this are not unusual in Hollywood.
"Arrangements like this usually come with a certain amount of financial investment in the company. And that’s good news for Archewell.
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Prince Harry and Meghan have renewed their Netflix deal | NETFLIX"The fact that Harry and Meghan have got any kind of new deal with Netflix really is one in the eye to everyone who said their contract was done and dusted.
"Netflix has publicly hailed them as 'influential voices' - and it’s hard to argue with that. Whatever they do and say is widely reported on both sides of the Atlantic.
"So I say well done to the two of them. They’ve shown that they still hold sway in Hollywood, and they’ve done what so many people said they couldn’t: they’ve kept their link to Netflix alive and well and – to whatever extent – lucrative."