Not long after Meghan Markle posted the news of her Netflix series on Instagram, some royal fans seemed to issue the same complaint: “This looks terrible.”
The Duchess of Sussex, 43, said she was “so excited” to tell her followers about the show With Love, Meghan, but many took to X to call the former actress “entitled” to cook meals that “no one can be allowed at this time. ‘.
The long-awaited lifestyle series, which was promised to fans when lifestyle brand American Riviera Orchard was first introduced last March, will launch on January 15.
The trailer shows the duchess cooking in a Montecito kitchen, picking produce from her garden and chatting with very famous friends, including Mindy Kaling, while The Lovin’ Spoonful’s Do You Believe in Magic sounds over the top.
Posting the trailer on her Instagram account, Meghan wrote: ‘So excited to share this with you! I hope you love the show as much as I loved making it.”
Since comments were disabled on her Instagram post, fans took to X to share their doubts about the upcoming Netflix series.
“Uh, no thanks,” one user said bluntly. Another wrote on the social media platform: “Oh god this looks terrible.”
A third commented: ‘Tough pass’ with a smiling face emoji. “I’d rather watch the paint dry,” someone else added.
The Duchess of Sussex, 43, said she was “very excited” to tell her followers about the With Love, Meghan show.
Others described the duchess as a “privileged individual” for preparing food that “no one can afford at the moment.”
One particularly unhappy X user said: “Who is the target audience?” Women with tons of money and free time making extremely complicated treats and crafts?
‘Flowers in ice cubes are interesting, but around 0.0001% of the population would do this. Once.’
“Incredibly titled,” he added.
While some royal fans questioned the point of the series and criticized Meghan’s lack of self-awareness, others couldn’t hide their enthusiasm.
Some even went so far as to say that the announcement had “made their day.”
The Duchess insists the series is not about achieving “perfection” but finding “joy” in the little things in life.
X users describe Meghan as a ‘privileged individual’ for making food that ‘no one can afford right now’
Since comments were disabled on her Instagram post, fans took to X to share their doubts about the upcoming Netflix series.
While some royal fans questioned the point of the series, others couldn’t hide their excitement, with one claiming they will subscribe to Netflix again thanks to Meghan.
“We’ve been feeding a lot since New Years,” said one. ‘What great news! Can’t wait to see Meghan’s long-running cooking and gardening show!’
The same Sussex fan added that they couldn’t wait “for the next seasons” of the show.
“You’ve made my day,” another person wrote on the social media platform. “The year 2025 can only get better.”
One superfan said he would subscribe to Netflix again thanks to Meghan’s new series.
Describing the series in an official synopsis, Netflix says: “In With Love, Meghan, we join Meghan in the kitchen, the garden (and even the beehive) as she prepares to welcome friends new and old.
‘By sharing some of her favorite tips and tricks for cooking, gardening, crafting and more, Meghan reveals how even the smallest details can help add beauty to our lives and, most importantly, help bring people together.
“Whether it’s preparing take-home gifts for guests or adding a sprinkle of edible flowers to breakfast, it’s the thought that really counts.”
Speaking in the trailer, Meghan says: “I’ve always loved taking something quite ordinary and elevating it, surprising people with moments that let them know I was really thinking about them.”
The former actress invites her guests into her kitchen, where she learns and shares tips on how to ‘elevate’ simple dishes.
One of the Duchess’s first guests is her old friend (and recipient of American Riviera Orchard jam) Mindy Kaling.
‘I’m going to share some little tips and tricks and how to incorporate these practices every day.
“It’s about connecting with friends… We’re not looking for perfection, but for joy.”
The Duchess is known to have many star-studded friends; one of whom is The Office writer Mindy Kaling.
In a clip from the trailer, Kaling, who is served a piece of Victoria sponge cake, says: ‘What! This is probably one of the most glamorous moments of my life.’
Elsewhere, Meghan talks about “making new friends” and learning new skills, such as beekeeping.
In each episode, Meghan invites friends new and old to roll up their sleeves and join her in the kitchen or garden, as they share candid conversations and top tips.
In addition to Mindy, who previously appeared on the Duchess’ Archetypes podcast, Prince Harry and chefs Roy Choi and Alice Waters also make appearances.
Meghan also welcomes some of her closest friends, from Suits co-star Abigail Spencer to her ‘sister’ and ‘polo partner’ Delfina Blaquier, wife of the Duke of Sussex’s friend Nacho Figueras.
Meghan, 43, also talks about learning new skills, including beekeeping, and gets into full gear in a clip.
Professional polo player Nacho was the first of the Figueras family to appear in a Sussex Netflix series, after starring in Netflix’s Harry & Meghan, as well as the show Duke’s Polo.
Meghan’s makeup artist Daniel Martin, often described as the mother-of-two’s best friend, also appeared in the trailer for the duchess’s new show.
Daniel is believed to have known Meghan for more than a decade, having met her while the former actress was working on Suits.
The couple then stayed in touch and while working on her old blog The Tig, Meghan asked Daniel to help her.
He has stayed in touch with the duchess throughout her life in the royal family and was by her side on her wedding day as she perfected her makeup.
The series also features celebrity literary agent Jennifer Rudolph Walsh and Harry and Meghan’s billionaire neighbor Vicky Tsai, who sold her beauty brand Tatcha to Unilever in 2019 for $500 million.
They are joined on the show by Tracy Robbins. Mrs Robbins and her husband, Paramount boss Brian Robbins, are friends of the Sussexes and invited them to the premiere of the Bob Marley film in Jamaica in January.
Meghan’s best friend Kelly McKee Zajfen, co-founder of the Alliance of Moms, is also included on the series’ guest list.
Meghan prepares a light, summery dish that appears to incorporate peaches, thinly sliced radishes, and cucumber with dressing.
Kelly and Meghan met through the duchess’ ex-husband, Trevor Engelson, who is a friend of the former model’s entertainment lawyer husband.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have formed a vital part of Kelly and her husband Julian’s support network following the death of Kelly’s son George, aged nine, in July 2022, after being found unconscious in his family home.
Kelly, who co-founded Alliance of Moms, a nonprofit that supports pregnant and parenting teens in the foster care system, praised Harry and Meghan for being a “guiding light” following the tragic death of their son.
Meghan’s announcement comes a day after the duchess made a dramatic return to Instagram with a video of her laughing on the beach near Montecito.
The Duchess of Sussex, 43, shared her first clip on the Instagram account, simply called ‘@meghan’.
Prince Harry was behind the camera for the new video, which sparked an online frenzy as tens of thousands of people followed within minutes, boosting his fan count from 115,000 to nearly 170,000.
The profile was long rumored to belong to him after the account was created in June 2022, but it remained empty.
He then teased fans again in 2023 when he declared that he was “getting back on Instagram.”
Now, the mother of two has confirmed that the profile is hers by posting a clip walking towards the California beach coast, where she lives with Prince Harry and her children Archie, five, and Lilibet, three.