Meghan Markle‘s critically challenged Netflix show launches today – and fans of the former senior royal will no doubt be delighted to learn that the mother-of-two has shared some information about her family during the programme.
The trailer for the second instalment of With Love, Meghan dropped earlier this month, as it was revealed that the 44-year-old and her husband Prince Harry had signed a ‘downgraded’ new deal with the streamer.
Despite Netflix loosening its ties with the Sussexes, the Duchess’ lifestyle show, where she hosts guests in a rented house near her Montecito mansion for privacy reasons, returns today with new episode.
It’s understood that With Love, Meghan was renewed for a second season just as season one was released in March, and all the episodes were filmed at the same time.
During the second season of the show, Meghan reveals some interesting tidbits about her family.
Among them, she reveals the trendy breakfast her and Prince Harry’s two children – Archie, six, and Lilibet, four, enjoy.
According to Meghan, she cooks breakfast for both children most days, fried eggs and pancakes.
‘But I like to do surprise pancakes for the kids,’ she revealed during one episode.
The second season of Meghan Markle’s (pictured) Netflix show With Love, Meghan, debuts today on the streaming platform
‘So I always put some ground flax seeds or some chia seeds in and Lili will ask, “can I have my chia seeds? I want to have freckles”.’
Her children’s breakfast habits are not the only pieces of information she shared about the youngsters.
Meghan also opened up about the personality of her eldest – son Archie, whom she described as her sweet little boy.
‘He’s like the most tender, sweet child of all time,’ she explained.
During episode two of the new series, Meghan was joined by Sports Illustrated swimwear model and TV personality Chrissy Teigen.
Speaking to Teigan, who turns up with her husband, the singer songwriter John Legend in episode two, Meghan said she ‘would have told H to come’, upon seeing Legend arrive.
Revealing another tidbit about her two children, Meghan told Teigan: ‘My kids really want a cat, really want a cat.’
Meghan met Teigan when they were both brief case models on the television game show Deal or No Deal.
During one episode, Meghan Markle (pictured) revealed what her children Lilibet and Archie eat for breakfast
Speaking about the job, the 43-year-old said: ‘I was just so happy I got health insurance […] How far we’ve come.’
She also remembered getting nervous auditioning as a young actress.
‘I’d always get blotches on the chest. So then I started auditioning in turtle necks only. I was, like, nothing to see here.’
Despite appearing in her own domestic television programme, according to Meghan, she did not grow up in a ‘foodie’ household.
In fact, she says she learnt how to cook by watching television – specifically recalling the US TV chef Rachael Ray’s 30 Minute Meals.
‘Watching cookery shows growing up and then in college, the first time you live alone,’ she said, when describing how she learnt to put meals together.
The new series of With Love, Meghan, comes as experts claimed the Sussexes’ new Netflix deal is a ‘downgrade’ on their previous $100million five-year tie-up and more ‘we’ll call you’ than ‘here’s the chequebook’.
Prince Harry and Meghan signed a new ‘multi-year, first look deal for film and television projects’ with the streaming giant – understood to be worth less for the pair than their previous contract.
SON: During one episode of the second series of With Love, Meghan, the 44-year-old (pictured) described her son Archie (pictured) as ‘like the most tender, sweet child of all time’
The ‘first-look’ arrangement means Netflix can say yes or no to new film or television projects before anyone else – allowing them to pick and choose what they invest in.
PR expert Mark Borkowski described the new deal as a ‘downgrade’, claiming it falls a long way from the jackpot figure of Harry and Meghan’s original contract in 2020.
He told the Daily Mail: ‘I think Netflix has done a very neat job of pivoting away from two very expensive people who didn’t deliver, and they’ve taken that deal off the table, and they’ve given them a modest one.
‘It’s not like they’re gradually uncoupling – it’s a downgrade. Netflix are not going to expose themselves to those budgets again. It’s Netflix saying, ‘Let’s have a look at your content, but we’ll pick and choose, mate’.’
He believes the pair will be paid for each production selected by Netflix rather than receiving an overall fee, such as the reported $100million of their first deal.
‘I would be surprised if it’s not pay-as-you-go and it’s well, well below that first mark,’ he added.
The couple’s new output will include a second season of the Duchess’s ‘With Love, Meghan’ lifestyle show later this month, as well as a Christmas special in December. The Sussexes are also working on ‘Masaka Kids, A Rhythm Within’ – a documentary about orphaned children in Uganda, where the ‘shadows of the HIV/Aids crisis linger’.
There is also ‘active development’ on other projects with Netflix which ‘span a variety of content genres’, including an adaptation of romantic novel Meet Me At The Lake.
Guests on season two will include Chrissy Teigan (pictured, left) with Meghan Markle (pictured, right)
But Mr Borkowski said the couple will not be granted the same budget as they were under their previous contract with the streaming service. He said: ‘They have shot the golden goose of 2020 – more of a “we’ll call you” than “here’s the chequebook”.
‘It’s a first-look deal, which means Netflix gets first dibs but no obligation to bankroll every semi-royal whim. I reckon Netflix is trimming fat industry-wide, so this is less carte blanche, more curated cameo.
‘They’re still in business together – Meghan’s. As ever brand and seasonal specials keep them in the Netflix shop window but make no mistake, this is a slimmed-down sequel to the blockbuster original. So Harry and Meghan’s new Netflix chapter [is] less champagne budget, more Prosecco by the glass.’
Netflix has already released the first series of With Love, Meghan as well as Polo, Heart of Invictus, Live to Lead and the couple’s bombshell documentary Harry & Meghan as well as being a business partner on Meghan’s lifestyle brand, As Ever.
Five years ago, Harry and Meghan secured a lucrative contract thought to be worth $100million (£74million) with Netflix after quitting as senior working royals in 2020.
The renewed deal was described by the Sussexes – who made the announcement with Netflix – as ‘extending their creative partnership’ through Archewell Productions. But the new terms are understood to be worth less for Harry and Meghan than their previous contract, according to a person familiar with the deal, and represent Netflix loosening its ties with the couple. In a statement, Meghan said: ‘We’re proud to extend our partnership with Netflix and expand our work together to include the As Ever brand.’
Netflix chief content officer Bela Bajaria said: ‘We’re excited to continue our partnership.’
