The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have secured a new production agreement with Netflix, but industry analysts are characterizing the deal as a significant downgrade that leaves Prince Harry increasingly sidelined. The multi-year partnership, announced this week, is a stark departure from their landmark $100 million deal signed in 2020, signaling a dramatic cooling of the streaming giant’s confidence in the couple’s commercial viability.
Insiders describe the new arrangement as a “first-look” or “pay-per-show” deal, granting Netflix the right of first refusal on any projects from the couple’s Archewell Productions without a major financial commitment. This structure allows Netflix to retain association with the globally recognized names while assuming minimal risk following a series of high-profile commercial and critical disappointments.
“This is a retainer in case they decide to accidentally do something entertaining again,” remarked royal commentator Esther Krakue during a panel discussion on the show Royal Exclusive. “There’s no commitment. They’ve put no money behind this. It’s basically the right of first refusal.”
The announcement spotlighted the Duchess, featuring her personal statement that referred to “my husband,” and centered on her projects. These include a second season and a forthcoming holiday special for her lifestyle series Meghan’s Kitchen, which has been widely panned by critics but generates considerable online discourse. Prince Harry’s role appears markedly diminished.
“Harry is in the attic. He’s a hostage,” Krakue stated bluntly, pointing to his absence from the deal’s forefront. This perception is compounded by Harry’s recent tumultuous year, including a costly legal defeat over his UK security protection, a controversial BBC interview, and the devastating fallout from his charity, Sentebale.
The Charity Commission recently concluded its investigation into Sentebale, the organization Harry co-founded in honor of his mother, Princess Diana. The watchdog criticized the public airing of internal disputes, which involved allegations of bullying and led to Harry’s effective ousting from the charity’s operations. Sources close to the Duke say he is “devastated” by the outcome, which has left his philanthropic future uncertain.
“He has a kind of Midas touch, but everything turns to brown,” Krakue observed, s
uggesting the Duke struggles to translate his royal background into successful private ventures. “The man is lost. I mean, he’s really trying to find his feet… Everything he touches, he ruins.”
The new Netflix slate underscores this creative divide. While Meghan’s Meghan’s Kitchen continues, Harry’s projects—the documentary Heart of Invictus and the polo series The Final—failed to capture significant audiences. The only upcoming project attached to his name is a short film about an Ugandan children’s music group, prompting concerns about navigating a “white savior” narrative.
“If I was a Netflix executive… I’d probably want to throw my shoe at Harry,” Krakue said. “Megan is entertaining in the sense that she’s so vacuous, it’s almost you marvel at it. But Harry is not a creative… There’s just nothing to him in terms of entertainment value.”
Other announced projects, like the adaptation of the romance novel Meet Me at the Lake, remain shrouded in mystery years after the rights were purchased, raising questions about development hurdles. Analysts suggest Netflix is primarily investing in Meghan’s potential to generate headlines and holding onto Harry only for his latent royal connection.
“They’re buying Meghan… and they’re kind of just holding on to Harry as the spare,” said news.com.au royal reporter Bronte Coy. “One day the King will die. One day Prince William will become king… one day they might be able to use him for something particularly useful.”
The deal’s announcement strategically coincided with the traditional summer lull for the working Royal Family, who are on their annual Balmoral break. It ensures the Sussexes dominate the news cycle uncontested, a tactic they have employed repeatedly. Meanwhile, the slimmed-down monarchy continues its duties, with the Duchess of Edinburgh taking a more prominent role and the King managing his cancer treatment schedule.
For Prince Harry, the path forward appears increasingly isolated. Stripped of his formal military patronages, distanced from the charity he built, and now playing second fiddle in his own commercial enterprise, the Duke faces a critical juncture. The Netflix deal, while allowing both parties to save face, ultimately highlights a precipitous decline in his stock and leaves him searching for a definitive role beyond the shadow of his wife’s curated brand and his own fading royal legacy.
