Meghan Markle and Prince Harry may be facing challenging times, but those close to the Duchess suggest she has a backup plan.

The ex-royals bid farewell to the monarchy in 2020 to carve out a new life for themselves in the US with an independent income. They splurged on a £10.5million mansion in the exclusive Los Angeles neighborhood of Montecito and secured a lucrative £77million deal with Netflix and a £15.5million contract with Spotify.

However, six years later, it appears their fortune may have turned. The duo has been subjected to a harsh critique in entertainment authority Variety, implying that Netflix is officially “done” with the Sussexes and that the streaming giant grew “exhausted” by Harry, 41, and Meghan’s, 44, “perceived pattern of selling repackaged versions of the same story about their exit from royal life.”

According to the report, A-list talent and directors were reluctant to collaborate with the pair as industry perceptions of the couple shifted, further fueled by Spotify’s head of podcast innovation and monetization, Bill Simmons, infamously labeling them “f—ing grifters.”

United Talent Agency CEO Jeremy Zimmer also took a jab at a 2023 conference, criticizing, “Turns out Meghan Markle was not a great audio talent, or necessarily any kind of talent. Just because you’re famous doesn’t make you great at something.”

meghan markle and prince harry
Meghan intends to sell photos of herself when she and Harry visit Australia (Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)

Latest royal news from the Daily Express plus selected offers and competitions Invalid email

You agree you are 18 or over. We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. Unsubscribe at any time. More info.

Meghan’s lifestyle series, With Love… Meghan was discontinued by Netflix after two seasons, and the profitability of her As Ever line of flower sprinkles and fruit spreads remains undisclosed. Multiple sources indicate that sales have been a significant issue, with Variety reporting that the brand has approximately $10 million (£7.5 million) worth of unsold inventory. Adding insult to injury, Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos has discreetly unfollowed both Meghan and As Ever’s Instagram accounts, reports The Mirror.

Their upcoming trip to Australia has already drawn criticism. Royal author Tom Bower, who has written a new book on the Sussexes titled Betrayal: Power, Deceit and the Fight for the Future of the Royal Family, labeled their trip as “grubby” and a “cash grab.”

He told Australian news outlet, The Daily Telegraph, that Meghan was breaking a promise she made to the late Queen Elizabeth by proceeding with the visit. He alleged, “First of all Meghan is doing it for money, it’s rather grubby … she’s monetizing her royalty which I think is pretty shabby because she promised the Queen she wouldn’t do that.”

During their visit, the couple will carry out solo engagements, with Meghan slated to be the guest of honor at a “girls weekend” retreat in Sydney. The Duchess will deliver speeches throughout the “weekend like no other,” including at a grand dinner, with VIP ticket holders then having the opportunity to take a photo with the Duchess.

meghan markle
Meghan Markle may have a “back up plan” for her career (Image: undefined)

Fans were stunned by the cost of attending the event, with tickets beginning at a staggering £1,439. This price includes attendees’ lodging at a beachfront Sydney hotel and entry to three days of programming, featuring a gala dinner, yoga and meditation sessions, and a disco celebration.

Meanwhile, Prince Harry will address the InterEdge Summit in Melbourne, which is described as a “professional development summit designed to equip leaders, practitioners, and changemakers with the knowledge and tools to create mentally healthy, safe, and high-performing workplaces.” Tickets for the mental health summit begin at £1,054, with proceeds from ticket sales benefiting Lifeline. The remainder of Harry and Meghan’s schedule has not yet been announced, but their spokesperson said they will “take part in a number of private, business and philanthropic engagements.”

However, while the current situation may appear challenging, those familiar with Meghan – who has transformed herself multiple times from Suits actress to philanthropist and founder – say she still has numerous opportunities.

meghan markle
There “is a risk Harry fades further into the background” if Meghan returns to acting (Image: Getty)

According to her former co-star Eric Roberts – older brother of Julia Roberts – she may well be preparing for a Hollywood return. “She will come back,” Eric, 69, told the Mail Online while attending a charity gala last week alongside his casting director and manager wife Eliza.

“It is time. And Meghan needs to come back to work. I feel like her whole family will support it, and she is amazing,” Eliza added. Eric portrayed the corrupt and affluent investor Charles Forstman on Suits, where he became acquainted with Prince Harry’s wife. According to Eliza, Meghan left her role as paralegal Rachel Zane due to royal concerns about her “sexy” character.

“It is tricky because of the monarchy. Her role in Suits was very sexy,” she stated. “Her making love with another man, that was just – they’ve never seen anything like that.

“She worked so hard to get there. That was just too much,” Eliza continued. “Women don’t give up their jobs for a marriage anymore. I understand the intention, and she thought she’d be satisfied with doing good works in the world. But she needs to be acting. She is a young woman who needs to be acting.”

Meghan Markle
Meghan Markle has “star quality” according to Eliza Roberts (Image: Getty Images)

Eliza proceeded to commend Meghan’s “star quality,” while Eric expressed his belief that the actress would make a
fantastic” comeback that will “blow everybody’s mind.” Last year, Meghan reportedly filmed a cameo – as herself – in the upcoming movie Close Personal Friends with Brie Larson, Lily Collins, Jack Quaid and Henry Golding.

While some may view a return to acting as a step back, PR expert Mayah Riaz believes it could actually benefit Meghan, but it might not be the best news for her husband.

“It is a highly strategic move that could reshape her narrative almost overnight,” Riaz said.

prince harry meghan markle
Harry and Meghan took a step back from royal duties in 2020 (Image: Getty)

She explained that Eric’s choice to speak out suggests the wheels are already very much in motion, “Stepping back into that world gives her something she has arguably been missing in recent years, which is a clear professional identity separate from the royal story. That is a far more stable and sustainable position.”

“That said, this is a delicate moment. On one hand, it is a smart pivot back to something familiar and proven. On the other, there is a risk it looks like backtracking after positioning herself as having moved beyond Hollywood,” Riaz continued.

“If Meghan steps into a solo career that thrives, there is a risk Harry fades further into the background. We have already seen that defining his role outside of the royal framework has been more challenging, so this could widen that gap in public perception,” she added.

Meghan with daughter Princess Lilibet
Meghan Markle’s daughter Princess Lilibet helps plug her mum’s new £200 gift boxes (Image: meghan/instagram)

She notes that Eric’s decision to go public indicates plans are already well underway. “When industry figures start talking, it is rarely by accident,” she said, “It often suggests conversations are already happening behind the scenes.”

“There is a strong commercial angle too. A comeback done well could be hugely lucrative. Streaming platforms love a redemption or reinvention story, and Meghan already has global recognition that most actors spend decades trying to achieve,” Riaz explained, “The key will be the project she chooses. Get it wrong and it risks looking like a vanity move. Get it right and it could be her biggest rebrand yet.”

Meghan, on the other hand, appears unfazed by this recent hiccup. Following the Variety article, she took to Instagram to advertise another new product – a £200 gift box filled with flowers, tea, and honey. Her daughter Lilibet also featured in the promotion.

For now, it seems Meghan is pressing forward with her brand. A source commented on her split from Netflix: “She couldn’t do anything, make a decision or move forward without running everything through them and then waiting endlessly for the outcome of meetings. That’s just not her style; she wants to move forward.”

The source further alleged that Meghan intended to launch As Ever in Australia, telling the Telegraph: “We are thinking about the next step in global expansion and Australia has been teed up as the first test market outside the US. It’s the first place we are looking at and having conversations.”

prince harry meghan markle
Harry and Meghan “have to pay the bills like anyone else” (Image: Getty)

“They have to earn a living. They are private citizens and have to pay the bills like anyone else,” they said.

In response, a Sussexes’ spokesperson stated: “This is speculation. No decisions have been made about when or where international expansion might take place. Entering new markets is a considered process, but it’s something the brand is excited to explore as it continues to grow in this next phase. Watch this space.”