Harry and Meghan just announced they’re extending their Netflix partnership.
But the details of this new deal reveal something devastating about their Hollywood status.
And an entertainment expert exposed one truth about Harry and Meghan that left them white as a ghost.
Netflix extends Sussex deal but with major changes
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced Monday that Netflix extended their partnership with a multi-year, first-look deal through their Archewell Productions.
The streaming giant also expanded the agreement to include Meghan’s "As Ever" lifestyle brand.
But don’t let the announcement fool you – this isn’t the victory the couple wants you to think it is.
Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams delivered a brutal assessment of what this deal really means for the fallen royals.
"The new Netflix deal was a clear sign that the Sussexes are not A-listers and that, despite the appeal of their brand, they have taken a bad hit," Fitzwilliams told Fox News Digital.¹
The expert didn’t stop there in his devastating analysis of the couple’s declining Hollywood status.
"There clearly is no repeat of the reported $100 million Netflix offered before. This first-look deal is certain to be less, probably a good deal less," Fitzwilliams explained.¹
The New York Times confirmed what industry insiders suspected – citing a source that revealed the deal is indeed worth significantly less than their previous arrangement with the streaming platform.¹
Harry and Meghan compared to Obama’s streaming downgrade
The Hollywood Reporter delivered another stinging assessment that had to hurt the couple’s already bruised egos.
The entertainment trade publication compared Harry and Meghan’s Netflix situation to the downgrade that Barack and Michelle Obama experienced with the streaming giant.
According to the report, the Sussexes’ new arrangement mirrors the "downgrade" the Obamas went through with Netflix and their Higher Ground production banner.¹
It’s a devastating comparison that reveals how quickly Hollywood turns on celebrities who fail to deliver consistent results.
The Obamas went from being treated as A-list content creators to getting a reduced deal structure that reflected their actual market value rather than their political celebrity status.
Now Harry and Meghan are following the exact same trajectory.
Fitzwilliams explained exactly why this downgrade happened to the royal couple.
"If you don’t do much you don’t deserve much, and we’ve been reading about how they will adapt ‘Meet Me At The Lake’ for ages," he stated.¹
The expert was referring to the couple’s long-promised adaptation of Carley Fortune’s romance novel, which they purchased the rights to in August 2023 but still haven’t produced.
The reality behind Meghan’s lifestyle brand success
Netflix tried to put a positive spin on the new arrangement by highlighting Meghan’s "With Love, Meghan" series and her "As Ever" lifestyle brand.
"With products from the new As ever line consistently selling out in record time," Netflix’s chief content officer Bela Bajaria claimed in a statement.¹
But even this apparent success story comes with questions about sustainability and actual market demand.
Fitzwilliams noted that the lifestyle brand aspect "may be the most commercially successful part of this new arrangement" – which is damning with faint praise when you consider their other projects.¹
The expert’s analysis suggests Netflix is essentially betting on Meghan’s ability to sell products to her remaining fan base rather than the couple’s ability to create compelling entertainment content.
That represents a significant shift from their original positioning as documentary and film producers to essentially becoming lifestyle influencers with a streaming platform.
What this downgrade means for their Hollywood future
Royal expert Ian Pelham Turner offered another perspective that should worry the Sussexes about their long-term entertainment prospects.
"Obviously, Netflix feels that Harry and Meghan are losing brand value based on their current standing," Turner told Fox News Digital.¹
Turner suggested that Netflix "may have made a fundamental mistake" in reducing the deal terms, but acknowledged the streaming giant is responding to current market realities about the couple’s declining influence.¹
The expert noted that the couple’s "isolated position" could potentially change if they negotiate a return to royal duties, but that scenario seems increasingly unlikely given their public attacks on the royal family.¹
Branding expert Doug Eldridge tried to put a positive spin on the situation for the couple.
"This might not be a home run for Markle, but it’s certainly not the strikeout critics might have been hoping for," Eldridge explained.¹
But Eldridge’s analysis inadvertently revealed another harsh truth – that Harry and Meghan are now being measured by whether they can avoid complete failure rather than whether they can achieve major success.
The couple came to California with enormous expectations and celebrity status from their royal connections.
Four years later, they’re accepting reduced terms from streaming executives who care more about ratings and revenue than royal titles.
Netflix’s decision to focus on Meghan’s lifestyle brand rather than their documentary content tells the real story of their Hollywood experience.
The entertainment industry has a brutal way of exposing who can actually deliver results versus who just trades on a famous name.
Harry and Meghan are learning that lesson through this downgraded deal structure.
¹ Tracy Wright, Stephanie Nolasco, Ashley Papa, "Prince Harry, Meghan Markle compared to Obamas as new Netflix deal signals they’ve taken a ‘bad hit’," Fox News, August 12, 2025.