Meghan Markle has recently launched her new Netflix show titled With Love, Meghan, and it’s already sparking plenty of conversation.
In this eight-part series, the Duchess of Sussex invites several guests, such as Mindy Kaling, chef Roy Choi, and her neighbor Vicky Tsai, into a lavish kitchen near her Montecito home to cook and chat about their personal lives.
As they prepare everything from heart-shaped sandwiches to rainbow fruit plates, Meghan opens up about her passions for cooking, crafting, and gardening.
However, despite the star-studded guests and fancy kitchen set-up, the show has faced harsh criticism.
Royal experts from The Mail watched the series closely, and their reactions were less than positive.
A Lackluster Show That Left Viewers Unimpressed
Richard Eden, the Daily Mail’s Diary Editor, didn’t mince words when sharing his thoughts.
He bluntly called the series “very, very boring.” Although he gave it a try, watching it for hours, he admitted that it didn’t improve.
Host Jo Elvin humorously pointed out that this might not have been the kind of feedback Meghan was hoping for, but Richard explained that he wasn’t exactly the target audience for the show.
Rebecca English, the Daily Mail’s Royal Editor, was similarly unimpressed.
She described her experience as “losing the will to live” after watching an episode where Meghan made ice cubes.
Rebecca initially started watching with an open mind and high expectations, especially given Meghan’s prior success with her blog, The Tig, which featured recipes, beauty tips, and interviews with notable figures.
But after seeing the show, she found it hard to understand who the series was really trying to appeal to.
Meghan’s Cooking Show Faces Criticism for Being Phony
One of the main points of contention for the experts was Meghan’s portrayal of the show.
Despite promoting it as a personal insight into her life, some viewers found it difficult to take seriously when it wasn’t even filmed at her own home.
Meghan acknowledges this in the first episode, where she explains that although she’s prepping food at a friend’s house, the show’s intent is to mimic how she would do things at her own place.
The experts found this detail particularly odd, especially when Meghan is shown harvesting fruits and vegetables that were clearly grown by someone else at a different location.
Richard Eden noted that while many cooking shows are filmed in studios to avoid the chaos of filming in a private home, Meghan’s series felt “phony” because of the inconsistency between what was portrayed and what was actually happening.
Controversial Remarks and the Victim Narrative
Another aspect of the show that raised eyebrows was Meghan’s speech during a brunch scene in the final episode.
She spoke about how she felt restricted in the Royal Family, implying that she couldn’t showcase her creativity while fulfilling her royal duties.
Richard Eden found this particularly offensive, pointing out that several members of the royal family, including Prince Philip and Prince Charles, had successfully pursued significant causes while maintaining their royal roles.
The way Meghan frames her time in the Royal Family as one of creative suppression struck many as disingenuous.
Eden argued that the issue wasn’t a lack of freedom but rather the inability to make money while serving as a royal, which he believes is at the core of Meghan’s frustration.
Mixed Reviews from Critics and Audience Reactions
The show’s reception has been harsh, with the audience score on Rotten Tomatoes currently sitting at just 12%.
Critics from outlets like The Guardian, known for its anti-establishment stance, also dismissed the show as “pointless.”
Despite these scathing reviews, some outlets, like Harper’s Bazaar, have offered more favorable takes, though the experts noted that Meghan remains a polarizing figure.
Rebecca English explained that the royal family is largely uninterested in the show and will probably not be tuning in.
However, with the series available for streaming on Netflix, it’s clear that With Love, Meghan will continue to divide opinions.
The Verdict: Will Meghan’s Show Find Its Audience?
In the end, the success of With Love, Meghan will likely depend on whether her loyal fans are willing to overlook the criticisms.
As one expert put it, Meghan is a figure who people either love or loathe, and there seems to be little middle ground.
Whether or not the series secures a lasting impact or helps Meghan secure more deals with Netflix remains to be seen.
To hear more about the team’s thoughts on the series, you can watch the special episode of Palace Confidential on YouTube, where these insights are discussed in detail.