After all the hype, a return to Instagram, a delay, and even a not-so-flattering expose in Vanity Fair, Meghan Markle’s new Netflix series is finally here.
“With Love, Meghan,” a lifestyle reality series starring the Duchess of Sussex, made its debut after being postponed due to the wildfires in Los Angeles earlier this year. The eight-episode series features Meghan as she shares lifestyle tips, cooks with celebrity guests, gardens, and crafts—all from her beautiful farmhouse. But despite what it may sound like, she told People magazine in her first interview in years that this is not just a “stand and stir” cooking show.
In the first episode, Meghan is joined by her longtime makeup artist and friend, Daniel Martin, to whip up skillet pasta and a delicate cake. Later in the series, Mindy Kaling drops by to rave about Meghan’s jam. Both guests chat about their friendship with Meghan and how her lifestyle journey began with her website, The Tig.
“For Meghan, this show feels like a return to her roots,” a source said. She’s stepping back into the lifestyle guru role but doing it on her own terms. And hours after the series launched, her new lifestyle product line, As Ever, also went live online—though it’s not quite ready for purchases just yet.
Meghan shared with People that launching her lifestyle brand, which was initially called “American Riviera Orchard,” has had “tons of twists and turns—even with the name.”
Early reviews have been a bit mixed, with some critics saying the show feels inauthentic. Meghan, with her chic, cashmere-covered domestic life, has been seen by some as playing into the “tradwife” or traditional wife trend.
But Meghan has a response. She told People, “I see myself as an entrepreneur and a female founder.” She also added, “If the brand ends up being influential, then that’s great.”
Whether or not people buy into the authenticity debate, Meghan is clearly carving her own path in the lifestyle space. After the polo doc and her and Harry’s “Harry & Meghan” docuseries on Netflix in 2022, she’s working on reintroducing herself. As she told People, she’s figuring it out as she goes.
The first episodes don’t hold back—there are f-bombs (not from Meghan, but she doesn’t blink an eye), shout-outs to Beyoncé, and even a fun fact that she’s wearing pants from Zara. While Prince Harry pops up in the final episode, there’s no mention of their royal life. Instead, we get a peek into their more personal moments, like her wedding cake flavor, meals she enjoys with her kids, and a dish her mom loves.
