Prince Harry’s media career has been questioned after a commentator suggested the Duke of Sussex has struggled to find his place in Hollywood. At the same time, his wife, Meghan Markle, continues to secure projects with Netflix.
Commentator Ian Burrell argued that Harry “was not born to front documentaries” and “lacks the charisma to host lifestyle shows”.
He claimed the duke “appears bereft of the ideas or contacts to generate interesting programme formats”.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex achieved huge success with Netflix after the couple’s 2022 docuseries, Harry & Meghan, drew record-breaking audiences.
Prince Harry 'not born to front documentaries' as Meghan Markle continues to thrive
|GETTY / NETFLIX
However, the programme did leave the duke estranged from his family. In addition, Archewell Productions’ other output, such as Harry’s polo documentary, underperformed, with just 500,000 viewers and a ranking of 3,436th in Netflix’s catalogue for the first half of 2025.
By contrast, Meghan has been placed front and centre of the couple’s new deal with the streaming giant.
Netflix recently renewed her lifestyle programme, With Love, Meghan, for a second season. The company has described the series as its “most-watched culinary show”.
The streaming platform also appears to have an interest in Meghan’s lifestyle brand, As Ever, which launched earlier this year.
Prince Harry released a Netflix series on the professional world of Polo in December 2024
|GETTY
Burrell suggested the company will “focus on Meghan”, while Harry will serve as one of five producers on an Africa-based factual show, Masaka Kids, A Rhythm Within.
However, others note that Harry has carved out a strong reputation outside of television.
The duke secured a “monumental victory” in his legal battle against Rupert Murdoch’s News Group Newspapers at the start of this year, and is pursuing further claims against Associated Newspapers over alleged privacy breaches.
His determination to reform the press likely stems from his mother, Princess Diana, and that campaigning offers him a clear public role.
Meghan Markle's second series of With Love, Meghan will air next week
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Harry has also remained involved in charitable work.
Though he resigned from Sentebale earlier this year, the organisation he co-founded to support young people affected by HIV in southern Africa, he continues to champion mental health causes and veterans’ support through the Invictus Games, which celebrated its 10th anniversary last year.
The Sussexes’ media journey has been turbulent since they departed from royal duties in 2020.
Their Spotify contract ended after one season of Meghan’s Archetypes podcast, with a senior executive later labelling the couple “grifters”.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in their 2022 Netflix docuseries where they spoke about the Waleses | NETFLIX
However, supporters argue that their Netflix docuseries was the platform’s fifth most successful documentary of all time, demonstrating the pair can still command global attention.
Writing in The i Paper, Burrell concluded that “Meghan is the only real media worker in the couple and Harry’s primary role in Archewell is to bring the royal credentials that set her apart from her peers”.
But with Netflix continuing its partnership with the Sussexes, the streaming service likely believes there is more to come from the couple.