The Sussexes' Struggles to Build a Media Empire Beyond Royalty

Six years after stepping away from royal duties, Harry and Meghan have tried to turn their fame into a media business. Their Netflix documentary about their royal life became their biggest success, breaking records when it launched in 2022. But that project was packed with inside stories about the British royal family, which likely drove its popularity. Without that royal connection, their other efforts have struggled to find an audience.

Their lifestyle brand and TV show failed to rank among the most-watched programs on major platforms. A documentary they produced about young girls selling cookies opened in hundreds of theaters but made very little money. Their animated children's series was canceled, and a polo-themed show never reached the top ten globally. Even a second season of their lifestyle content barely made it into the top thousand shows.

Podcasting deals didn't work out either. Meghan's first podcast ended after twelve episodes when Spotify cut ties with their production company. Her next show lasted only nine episodes and won't return. Harry reportedly pitched a hot chocolate tasting podcast, but nothing serious came from his year of brainstorming with Spotify.

Much of their content tried to speak to social issues, but it often felt disconnected from everyday struggles. Meghan's podcast framed itself as feminist but mostly focused on the challenges of being wealthy and famous. Harry's book and shows mixed complaints about media treatment with casual mentions of his military actions overseas.

Their attempts to build a new identity as content creators show how hard it is to stay relevant without the royal name. Audiences aren't required to keep watching just because someone used to be royalty.