In addition to preparing for a new initiative called The Parents’ Network, Meghan Markle has had many business efforts but not all have been as successful as expected.
the Parents’ Network
Since stepping back from royal life in 2020, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been busy with a variety of projects alongside raising their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. The latest project the couple has launched really puts their children front and center. The Parents’ Network is a new initiative that aims to tackle online bullying and promote healthy online habits to protect children from internet dangers.
In a recent interview with CBS, Meghan shared, “I think when you’ve gone through any level of pain or trauma, I believe that part of our healing journey, certainly mine, is being able to be really open about that. And I haven’t really scratched the surface of my experience but I think I would never want anyone to feel that way.”
She also said: “If me speaking out about what I’ve been through saves someone or encourages someone in their life to really check in with themselves and not assume that everything is okay just because it looks good on the outside, then it’s worth it. I’m willing to take the risk for that.”
American Riviera Orchard
One of the Duchess’s most publicized business endeavors is her lifestyle brand American Riviera Orchard, which first appeared on royal fans’ radars in April, when she sent a batch of branded jams to several celebrity friends like Mindy Kaling, Kris Jenner, and Chrissy Teigen to promote on social media.
Just two months later, in June, the Duchess sent another PR gift package to Nacho Figueras, a close friend of her husband Prince Harry, including jars of jam and dog biscuits for him to promote to his social media followers.
While the promotion has attracted some attention, it has not been well received by fans of polo player Nacho, many of whom have called him “disgraceful” and “tasteless” for choosing to promote the product ahead of King Charles’ birthday parade. It is also Kate Middleton’s first public appearance since her cancer diagnosis.
However, since the “soft launch” earlier this year, Meghan’s brand has seemingly stalled. There is currently no official release date confirmed by the Duchess for her products to officially go on sale to the public, and the only signs of life are posts from her famous friends.
Archetypes Podcast
Another business endeavor the Duchess is pursuing is the podcast Archetypes, which is set to launch on Spotify in 2022. The show, which will be split into 12 episodes and a Christmas special, is said to have had a promising start. Upon launch, the podcast topped Spotify’s list of top podcasts in 47 countries around the world.
The show, which featured a host of high-profile faces including Mariah Carey, Jameela Jamil, and Pamela Adlon, explored the labels that hold women back in life and discussed ways to challenge them. However, despite a promising start, the momentum didn’t last. After producing less than 13 hours of content over three years, Spotify decided to part ways with the Duchess, stating that they “have mutually agreed to part ways and are proud of the series we created together.”
While Spotify may not be the right place, the podcast series has found a new home, this time with Lemonada Media, a woman-founded company that aims to “make life less difficult.” Meghan signed with the company in February and a new series of the podcast is currently in the works, though it’s not expected to air until 2025.
40 x 40
A year after stepping down from royal life, Meghan made headlines when she announced the launch of the 40×40 project to mark her 40th birthday, asking her famous friends to donate 40 minutes of their time to help a woman get back to work.
Announcing the project in a video featuring actress Melissa McCarthy, Meghan said: “It’s my 40th birthday and I have an idea. Because I’m turning 40, I’m asking 40 friends to spend 40 minutes coaching a woman back to work.”
She added: “Over 2 million women in the US alone and millions more around the world have lost their jobs due to Covid. And I think if we all do this, and all commit 40 minutes to an act of service, it can create a ripple effect.”
At the time of launch, very little was provided about how the project would work or how its success would be measured. More than ten months after its launch, very little has been done to put it into operation.
Pearl
When Harry and Meghan partnered with Netflix in 2020, they signed a five-year deal worth an estimated $100 million to produce a series of shows for the streaming service. The first of these projects was a controversial 2022 documentary that offered an intimate look into their lives. It also offered strong criticism of the royal family, which was not well received by Harry’s relatives.
Three weeks later, their second Netflix show, Live to Lead, was released, about global leaders fighting for social justice. However, the show failed to attract the audience the streaming service had hoped for.
A third project was also planned, called Pearl, an animated series about a young girl’s journey of self-discovery. However, in May 2024, the project was quickly canceled as part of Netflix’s plan to cut back on some of its productions.
After its cancellation, the show along with all mentions of the project were removed from the Archewell website, unfortunately the project never got a chance to launch.
Despite the setback, the couple has maintained their relationship with Netflix and has several other projects in the works, including Meghan’s upcoming cooking show and a show centered around Harry’s passion for polo.