Meghan Markle and Prince Edward share an unfortunate trait: both tried to build media careers outside the royal fold and found reality tougher than expected. However, Prince Edward eventually recognized when to stop, while Meghan and Prince Harry persist with new projects despite repeated failures.
Prince Edward's Ardent Productions
Prince Edward launched Ardent Productions in 1993 at age 29, hoping to establish himself independently of his royal status. He initially avoided royal-themed programming to prevent giving "the wrong impression," but when the company struggled financially, he gradually turned to royal content to stay afloat.
In 1996, Edward produced a documentary about his great-uncle Edward VIII, which was considered a success. In 2001, Ardent was commissioned for Royalty A-Z, a series about the Windsor family. However, the company's downfall came when crew members filmed Prince William at the University of St Andrews, violating privacy agreements. King Charles reportedly went "ballistic," and Edward stepped down from the company in 2002 to focus on family life with his wife Sophie.
Meghan and Harry's Media Ventures
Fast forward to 2020: Meghan and Harry signed a Spotify deal reportedly worth £18 million, producing only one podcast, Archetypes, before the deal ended "mutually" in 2023 due to insufficient content. They also signed a lucrative Netflix deal, but only With Love, Meghan ran for more than one season, and that was due to back-to-back releases.
Meghan's Confessions of a Female Founder podcast flopped, and her focus has shifted to her lifestyle brand As Ever, selling jam and gift boxes. The couple continues to launch new projects, but none have achieved lasting success.
The Key Difference
Prince Edward accepted his venture's failure and moved on, preserving his family relationships. Meghan and Harry, now 44 and 41 respectively, seem determined to keep trying, repeating the same pattern. As the article notes, "Edward walked so Meghan could run. The difference is that Edward eventually stopped running into the same wall."
