London [UK], March 8: Since stepping down as senior members of the British Royal Family in March 2020, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have launched a series of their own business and media ventures.
Despite achieving some success operating independently outside the royal family, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have also faced numerous setbacks. From losing a multi-million dollar deal with Spotify in 2023 to the troubles surrounding Meghan Markle 's lifestyle brand As Ever in 2025, their business journey has been plagued by obstacles, Page Six reported on March 6.
Recently, following the news that Netflix ended its partnership with Meghan Markle's lifestyle brand As Ever, the Sussex couple are once again having to find a new direction after a series of business ventures failed to meet expectations.
Meanwhile, Spotify CEO Daniel Ek stated that the Archetypes program failed to deliver a sufficiently engaging experience for listeners. He acknowledged that some collaborative projects were successful, but others did not meet expectations.
In February 2024, Meghan Markle signed a new podcast contract with media company Lemonada Media, eight months after leaving Spotify.
2025: The As Ever brand faces difficulties.
In February 2025, Meghan Markle was forced to change the name of her lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard, to As Ever after a series of trademark registration issues.
Even after the name change, the project faced further legal troubles. Meghan Markle was alleged to have failed to fully sign the trademark registration documents before submitting them to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Some documents even showed that the office requested clarification on listed products such as spoons, jams, and preserved fruits.
Furthermore, the application to sell clothing such as aprons under the As Ever brand was also rejected because a Chinese garment company was already using the name ASEVER. Even a politician in Spain argued that the As Ever logo was too similar to the emblem of the small village of Porreres on the island of Mallorca.
Even after resolving the legal issues, the brand's products continued to face criticism. The collection included household goods, kitchenware, high-end food, and jams produced by Meghan Markle.
According to Page Six , Meghan Markle may have earned over $36 million from selling jam. However, jam expert Donna Collins criticized Meghan Markle's apricot jam as being too watery and not meeting the desired quality standards.
2025: 'With Love, Meghan' season 2 is a disappointment.
The second season of the Netflix lifestyle show With Love, Meghan, which premiered on August 26, 2025, failed to make it into the platform's top 10. While the first season, which launched in March 2025, achieved positive results, the second season reportedly garnered around 500,000 fewer viewers.
Not only that, the show also received many negative reviews from critics. Guardian author Lucy Mangan called the show "boring and awkward." Meanwhile, The Times described Meghan Markle as "a person in need of money" after watching season 2.
This show was originally part of a $100 million deal that Harry and Meghan Markle signed with Netflix in 2020. However, as of January 2026, a source indicated that the show would not continue as a series, although there might still be special episodes for the holidays.
2025: Archewell Philanthropies scales back its operations.
In December 2025, Harry and Meghan Markle's charity, Archewell Philanthropies, will likely cease operations after several senior staff members leave.
CEO James Holt resigned at the same time as a number of other key personnel, including Genevieve Roth, Christine Schirmer, Ashley Hansen, and Meredith Maines. A source said the organization's workforce had decreased by 80-85% compared to a year earlier.
Previously, the Sussex couple were reportedly discussing cost-cutting measures and even considering transferring the organization to another entity amid financial difficulties. According to reports, the organization spent $5.1 million on operations in 2024, while receiving only $2.1 million in donations.
2026: Netflix projects stalled
In March 2026, multiple sources reported that most of Harry and Meghan Markle's Netflix projects were still on hold.
In 2023, their company, Archewell Productions, announced it would produce a film adaptation of Carley Fortune's novel, * Meet Me at the Lake* . Netflix even spent around $3 million to acquire the rights. However, after three years, the project still lacks a director and a main cast.
Another project, the film adaptation of Jasmine Guillory's romantic novel The Wedding Date, is also reportedly experiencing a prolonged hiatus.
In addition, the couple's documentary, *Cookie Queen* , which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2026, was not acquired by any distributor or streaming platform, despite being offered to Netflix.
2026: Netflix ends partnership with As Ever franchise.
On March 6, 2026, Netflix officially ended its partnership with Meghan Markle's lifestyle brand As Ever, just days after news emerged that Meghan Markle's With Love would not have a third season.
According to a source, the collaboration is no longer suitable now that the television show involved has ended. However, a Netflix representative stated that the original plan was for Meghan Markle to develop her own independent brand in the next phase.
The As Ever brand also expressed gratitude for Netflix's collaboration during its launch and first year of operation. A brand representative stated that the business has achieved rapid growth and is preparing to enter a new phase of development.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper
