Royal insiders in London and Los Angeles are openly asking whetherMeghan Markle's California dream is beginning to unravel, with one commentator claiming the Duchess of Sussex is quietly exploring a path back to royal life after a string of underperforming projects.
Meghan Markle andPrince Harrystepped back from frontline royal duties in 2020, moved to California and began building a portfolio of media and lifestyle ventures on their own terms. From Netflix series to podcast deals and, more recently, her'As Ever' jam and lifestyle line, the plan was clear: Meghan Markle as a standalone global brand, no palace required. Four years on, the results look mixed.
Royal podcaster and TalkTV regular Mark Dolan told theDaily Express'sDaily Expressoshow that, in his view, those solo ambitions have stalled.
'It's my understanding that Meghan has realised that her solo projects aren't working, that Meghan as this amazing independent brand is not successful,' he said, citing conversations with unnamed royal insiders.
Dolan argued that the couple's recentfour day tour of Australiawas seen behind the scenes as more than a routine goodwill trip. He claimed insiders believed it was 'almost a trial run', a way of testing whether Meghan and Harry could slip back into the rhythms of royal style engagements after years on the outside.
'My royal insiders are telling me that she's all out now to get back to the UK to reconnect with King Charles and to effectively be Princess Meghan again. That's what Australia was about, dipping their toe back in that water,' he said.
None of that has been confirmed by Buckingham Palace or by the Sussexes' representatives. Still, the backdrop Dolan points to is real enough: Meghan's much trailed ventures have produced uneven results.
HerAs Everbranded jams and preserves have generated headlines and, according to the report, continue to sell out when they drop. The wider media slate looks less convincing.Varietyconfirmed that her Netflix seriesWith Love, Meghanwill not return for a third season. The second series was widely described as a flop, with reports suggesting it failed to crack even the top 1,000 most watched programmes on the platform, although Netflix has allowed the show to continue in the form of seasonal specials.
For a couple whose early streaming deals were presented as game changing, that is a sobering comedown. It also sharpens the question of what, exactly, still makes Meghan a sell.
If Dolan is right that Meghan Markle is weighing some kind ofreturn to the royal fold, it would not come entirely out of nowhere. Even at the height of the Sussexes' criticism of 'the institution', she has often appeared reluctant to let go of the status and symbolism that come with royal rank.
Source: International Business Times UK
