Meghan Markle’s new lifestyle series debuted on Netflix on Tuesday, featuring the former British royal embracing her role as a domestic expert.
In With Love, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, married to Prince Harry of the UK, is seen harvesting honey, making pasta and mixing bath salts, all set against the picturesque backdrop of California.
The first episode is set in a charming, rustic home where Markle hosts a long-time friend. While it may seem like we’re at Markle’s personal residence, the filming actually takes place in a nearby luxury property, complete with intentional close-ups of candles, crudites and cake. The house even has two kitchens − because, as we all know, that’s normal, right?
Prince Harry, whom Markle married in a fairytale ceremony in 2018, makes a brief appearance at the end of the series’ eight episodes. However, there are little hints of their royal past.
Among Markle’s guests throughout the show are chef Alice Waters, actress Mindy Kaling and Markle’s Suits co-star Abigail Spencer.
The show also coincides with the rebranding of Markle’s jam-and-cookies online business, which originally operated as American Riviera Orchard but is now called As Ever.
It also marks the latest step in the Sussexes’ efforts to establish their own financial independence after being cut off from royal funding.
Their $100 million deal with Netflix previously led to the release of Harry & Meghan, a six-episode documentary about their relationship and their departure from the royal family.
This was followed by Harry’s memoir Spare, which revisited similar themes with added details about his experiences with drugs and Hollywood celebrities.
However, other media projects from the couple have not been as well-received.
Markle’s podcast on Spotify was not renewed after its first season, which critics deemed pointless, and other Netflix ventures, such as documentaries on polo and the Invictus Games, failed to make much of an impact.
The British press has been critical of With Love, Meghan.
The Telegraph described the series as an “exercise in narcissism”, with its critic noting that the show largely consists of Markle inviting guests to her “pretend house” where they shower her with compliments.
The Times also criticised the series for its forced optimism, with Markle presenting her lavish lifestyle in a way that seems to suggest it’s something accessible to everyone.