Meghan Markle's latest documentary, Cookie Queens, has struggled at the box office, earning only £262,000 ($354,000) from a limited release to 446 cinemas in its first weekend. The underwhelming figures have led royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams to claim that the Duchess of Sussex is "all about buzz and nothing else" apart from her link to the Royal Family.
Documentary's Premiere and Limited Success
The documentary, produced by Archewell Productions in partnership with Beautiful Stories and AJNA Films, had its premiere at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival. It follows four girls striving to be top-selling "Cookie Queens" in a coming-of-age story about Girl Scouts selling cookies.
Meghan promoted the documentary herself ahead of its debut, but the box office figures suggest that audiences were not curious enough to make the effort to watch it, according to Mr Fitzwilliams.
Critic's Take on the Sussexes' Appeal
Speaking to Fox News, Mr Fitzwilliams said the Sussexes' "huge hits" were three "infamous betrayals" of the Royal Family: their interview with Oprah Winfrey, the Netflix docu-series Harry & Meghan, and the Duke of Sussex's memoir, Spare.
He noted that while the world knows who Harry and Meghan are, audiences were not curious enough to watch Meghan's lifestyle series, With Love, Meghan, or their Heart of Invictus series, Polo, or Cookie Queens. The commentator told the US broadcaster that publicity surrounds everything Harry and Meghan do, adding: "So it's all about buzz and nothing else, save their link with real royalty."
Mixed Reviews from Critics
Despite the box office struggle, Cookie Queens has received mixed reviews. Liz Whittemore, writing for the Alliance of Women Film Journalists, described the documentary as "charming, even inspiring." While it "falls a bit short" on exploring why girls "love" Scouting, the programme "is a warm, uplifting peek" at hardworking girls, she added.
Jason Gorber, writing for POV magazine in January, described the programme as a "terrifically nuanced" look at a formative experience for Girl Scouts. He praised its pace, framing and emotion, adding: "This is an exceptional work that’s greater than its ingredients, sandwiching politics, commerce, and the joys of childhood all into one package."
A UK release date for Cookie Queens has not been announced.
