Beyond the Palace: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle...

Beyond the Palace: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Pivot to ‘Lifestyle and Polo’ in New Dual Netflix Series

BEVERLY HILLS, CA — The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are trading royal drama for the "sport of kings" and the art of the home. Netflix has officially greenlit two new nonfiction series from Archewell Productions, marking a significant shift in strategy for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle as they enter the final year of their landmark $100 million (approx £75 million GBP) deal.

The announcement, made Tuesday during a Netflix "Upfront" presentation, confirms that the couple will move away from the autobiographical storytelling seen in the record-breaking Harry & Meghan (2022) to focus on their individual passions: professional polo and the culinary arts.

The "Polo" Project: Behind the Mallet

The first series, currently untitled, was filmed primarily at the USPA ISPS Handa Polo Cup in Wellington, Florida, and the Santa Barbara Polo & Racket Club. Unlike previous documentaries, this project will not focus on Harry himself, but rather provide "unprecedented access" to the world of professional polo.

The show is being spearheaded by showrunner Miloš Balać (Welcome to Wrexham), suggesting a "prestige sports doc" aesthetic. It aims to pull back the curtain on the grit and passion required to compete at the highest level of the sport, focusing on the players and the social scene that defines the international circuit.

Meghan’s Culinary Debut

The second series, which aligns with the Duchess’s recently launched lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard, will celebrate "the joys of cooking, gardening, entertaining, and friendship."

Filmed at a private residence near the couple's Montecito estate, the show features Meghan as the lead, sharing her favorite recipes and hosting tips. This move positions the Duchess as a contemporary lifestyle mogul, drawing comparisons to the early television careers of Martha Stewart and Ina Garten.

“These projects are the natural evolution of Archewell’s mission,” a Netflix spokesperson stated. “They reflect the Duke and Duchess’s personal interests and their commitment to high-quality, inspiring unscripted content.”

The ‘Archewell’ Scorecard

The pivot to lifestyle and sports content comes at a critical juncture for the Sussexes' media empire. While their initial docuseries remains the most-watched documentary debut in Netflix history, subsequent projects like Live to Lead and Heart of Invictus saw more modest viewership.

The Sussex-Netflix Production Timeline

A Strategy of ‘Soft Power’

Industry analysts suggest that this new direction is a deliberate attempt to "depoliticize" the Sussex brand. By leaning into curated lifestyle content and niche sports, the couple is creating a "buffer zone" between their public service work and their commercial endeavors.

“This is about longevity,” says media strategist Mark Boardman. “They can’t keep talking about the Royal Family forever. To survive in Hollywood, they need to create content that people want to watch regardless of who is behind the camera. A cooking show and a sports doc are safe, high-value bets.”

What’s Next?

Both series are currently in the final stages of production, with premiere dates tentatively set for early 2027. While Prince Harry and Meghan will serve as executive producers on both, it is expected that Meghan will be the primary "on-screen" face for the lifestyle series, while Harry will likely remain behind the scenes for the polo project.

The news has already sparked a surge in interest for Meghan’s American Riviera Orchard brand, which is expected to launch a line of jams, kitchenware, and cookbooks to coincide with the show’s debut.