Meghan, Duchess of Sussex has had plenty of reasons to celebrate in recent days, but it's the total opposite for the self-proclaimed 'Prince of England'. After leaving the UK for Montecito, it looked as if Meghan Markle and Prince Harry had the world at their fingertips. Six years ago the Sussexes were in high demand, including Netflix and Spotify deals, a sit-down interview with Oprah Winfrey, launching Archewell, the Archetypes podcast, and the memoir Spare.
Where did it all go wrong?
Fast forward to 2026: we have seen the collapse of their reported $20million (£14 million) Spotify deal, and in 2023 Archetypes was cancelled after one season. The couple inked a high-profile deal with Netflix and have continued to honour the deal with various docuseries, including Harry and Meghan (2022), Live to Lead (2022), Polo (2024) and With Love, Meghan (2025).
It looks as if Meghan is still riding high as her cookery and lifestyle show has been nominated for an Emmy Award, which is an undeniable achievement for the former Suits actress. But it signals a bigger problem for Prince Harry.
Harry's identity crisis
Harry, 41, appeared on the Joe Marler Will See You Now podcast, where the ex-England rugby player and The Traitors TV star quizzed him about his profession. The royal explained: 'Full-time dad. British Army veteran. Prince of England. Duke. But for today, I don't know. What do you want?'
His response was telling. I won't deny his work as a veteran, and his constant presence for his children, Archie and Lilibet, is admirable and a huge achievement, but it begs the question: did he actually think through leaving his royal duties for Hollywood?
Harry's identity is inextricably tied to royalty. That could explain his desire for reconciliation with his dad, King Charles. It's clear his interests lie elsewhere. Harry's memoir, Spare, was a global bestseller, while his screen projects are highly niche and personal, focusing heavily on his passion for the Invictus Games and polo. But Hollywood is built on selling a product—yourself—which translates into revenue for brands.
Harry is a royal and former military veteran still trying to figure out where he fits in a competitive American entertainment market. While neither of them has had a completely smooth ride conquering Hollywood, Meghan's latest win has solidified her move as a 'lifestyle mogul,' with enough popularity and influence to navigate celebrity circles. However, this has exposed Prince Harry's biggest mistake.
In the world of royalty, access and status are your birthright. His skillset doesn't translate in Hollywood, where relevance is maintained by constantly being seen and producing successful output. His most successful projects have come at the expense of criticising the Royal Family. Gossip will always keep people entertained but it's not the best recipe for longevity, even in Hollywood.
