Meghan Markle Issued Dire Warning After Netflix Ratings Reveal 'Dismal' Performance

The glittering promise of Hollywood dominance that once surrounded the Duke and Duchess of Sussex appears to be fading into a harsh reality of cold, hard data. What began as a revolutionary media partnership has seemingly hit a wall of viewer indifference, raising serious questions about the longevity of the Sussex brand in an increasingly ruthless streaming landscape.

Netflix's latest engagement report has laid bare the scale of the challenge, offering a sobering assessment of the couple's entertainment value in the eyes of the global public. Far from the chart-topping triumph that marked their debut documentary, the latest figures suggest audiences are tuning out in droves.

The second season of With Love, Meghan received dismal ratings, as streaming giant Netflix released its engagement ratings for the second half of 2025. The report states it was the 1,224th most-watched programme on Netflix between July and December 2025.

Such a lowly ranking is a startling fall from grace for a production that was expected to anchor the platform's lifestyle offerings. The indifference extended beyond the regular series, dampening hopes that a festive tie-in might reignite public enthusiasm.

The hour-long holiday special, With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration, which showcased the Duchess of Sussex crafting and wrapping presents, was also not as well-received, ranking 1,022nd overall. These numbers paint a picture of a viewing public that has moved on from the initial curiosity that surrounded the Sussexes' post-royal life.

Meghan Markle Faces Harsh Reality of TV Production

Industry veterans are now suggesting that the duchess may have underestimated the sheer difficulty of capturing and holding a mainstream audience without the immediate drama of royal infighting. The transition from figurehead to content creator requires a specific set of skills that go beyond mere celebrity status.

Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond issued a word of advice for Meghan Markle: 'I think it just goes to prove that making a successful TV series is not as easy as she might have thought. No doubt people tuned into the first series out of curiosity to see what she had to offer, and I think the show was fine as far as it went.'

However, 'fine' is rarely enough in the cutthroat world of subscription streaming, where retention is king. Ms Bond also believes the lifestyle show market is saturated, noting that the Duchess is competing with countless influencers who offer similar content for free on social media platforms.

As reported in the Mirror, she added: 'Cooking, chatting, style tips etc are commonplace on social media, as well as on TV. There was nothing original about the show and, although Meghan was perfectly pleasant as a presenter, she didn't really have anything unique to offer, beyond the fact that she's married to a prince (who hardly appeared).'

Authenticity, or the perceived lack thereof, appears to be a critical stumbling block for the production. Audiences expecting an intimate window into the couple's Montecito sanctuary were reportedly left disappointed by the staging of the series.

'It didn't help that it wasn't even filmed in their own home, so viewers couldn't get a peek behind the scenes of their domestic life,' Ms. Bond noted. This production choice may have severed the very connection viewers were seeking, leaving the show feeling sterile rather than personal.

Commercial Risks Mount for Markle

With her television ventures faltering, the duchess appears to be pivoting her energies toward her commercial enterprise, hoping to convert her fame into retail success. The expert also thinks Meghan Markle should concentrate on her As Ever brand instead, which appears to be 'showing signs of potential success' despite sales figures not being released.

Meghan Markle's As Ever brand has prompted mixed reactions from royal fans and commentators alike, as she has focused on selling a range of consumer goods, including candles, tea, honey, and jam. Yet, even this venture is not immune to the scrutiny that dogs her every move, with recent product launches drawing sharp criticism for a perceived lack of effort.

The most recent criticism came with a brand drop to coincide with Valentine's Day, as many fans have alluded to the release just being a new restock of her existing products. Disappointed followers took to social media to express their frustration at what they saw as a cynical marketing exercise.

One wrote: 'Meghan Markle wants you to know THIS is her Valentine's Day collection. Nothing else. This is her at her best. She had a year to curate a Valentine collection, and this was what she came up with. This.'

The sentiment that the brand is merely recycling ideas rather than innovating seems to be gaining traction among observers. Another added: 'So lame. Trying to get rid of all that extra inventory.'

As the pressure mounts on both her media and retail fronts, the path forward looks increasingly steep. A third said: 'Are you joking? She puts zero effort into this. It's getting ridiculous now.'