For years, Meghan Markle has been known as an advocate for feminism and social justice, and has used her platform to advocate for women’s rights and global causes.
From her Archetypes podcast exploring gender stereotypes to writing letters to world leaders about gender equality, the Duchess of Sussex has been a strong voice for empowerment.
However, her latest venture, a Netflix cooking series titled With Love, Meghan, has sparked accusations of a dramatic rebranding: from feminist trailblazer to queen of the “traditional wives” trend.
The new show, described as a “celebration of food, family and togetherness”, shows Meghan as the epitome of domestic perfection.
Set in an elegant yet cozy kitchen adorned with pastel hues and vintage-inspired decor, Meghan guides viewers through recipes while sharing heartwarming anecdotes about family life.
Think lit candles, artfully arranged charcuterie boards, and perfectly fluffy pillows. She’s a far cry from the feminist firebrand who once wrote to Procter & Gamble at age 11, demanding they change a sexist ad.
The “traditional wives” trend, a phenomenon that has gained traction on social media, romanticizes women’s return to traditional domestic roles.
The former actress invites guests into her kitchen, where she learns and shares tips on how to ‘elevate’ simple dishes.
Located on five acres of avocado and lemon groves, the sprawling ‘Shark Bay’ in Montecito, CA, just two miles from Prince Harry and Meghan’s ultra-luxurious abode.
One of the Duchess’s first guests is her old friend (and recipient of American Riviera Orchard jam) Mindy Kaling.
Influencers like Alena Kate Pettitt, author of The Darling Academy, and viral stay-at-home moms like Nara Smith (nearly 16 million followers on TikTok and Instagram) and Hannah Neeleman (nearly 20 million) have built online empires by sharing aspirational content about household chores. home, baking and family life.
Their feeds are filled with idyllic snapshots of spotless homes, healthy dinners, and moments of maternal joy, all wrapped in a comforting aesthetic that dates back to the 1950s.
Critics have noted that Meghan’s show on Netflix aligns closely with this movement. From the polished apron she wears in the trailer to the intimate glimpses of her life with Prince Harry and her children, it seems carefully curated to present a vision of harmonious domesticity.
The message? Meghan, who once criticized societal expectations about women, now finds fulfillment in the role of homemaker.
However, the twist has not gone unnoticed by critics, who argue that it is at odds with Meghan’s feminist ethos.
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams, the clip was ‘Disneyfied’ and ‘all about’ Meghan. He noted how, if the mother-of-two had stayed as a senior member of the Royal Family, she could have “helped significantly”.
He also warns that Meghan and Harry are entering a decisive period as their current media deals are set to expire.
“If their multimillion-dollar deal with Netflix is not extended this year, it would be a disaster for them,” he says.
This is not the first time that Meghan has reinvented herself. She has been Meghan the Hollywood actress, Meghan the royal disruptor, Meghan the podcast host and now Meghan the business wife/influencer.
However, many see this move as an attempt to recover from a series of setbacks that have affected her and Prince Harry’s brand in recent months.
Their feeds are filled with idyllic snapshots of spotless homes, healthy dinners, and moments of maternal joy, all wrapped in a comforting aesthetic that dates back to the 1950s.
The view of the garden from the property where they will film the television show in Montecito.
Meghan, 43, also talks about learning new skills, including beekeeping, and gets into full gear in a clip.
The past two years have proven to be challenging for the Sussexes, marked by notable blunders that included the cancellation of Meghan’s much-hyped Spotify Archetypes podcast, reportedly due to a lack of impactful content.
Their joint Netflix documentary, Heart of Invictus, focused on Prince Harry’s beloved Invictus Games, but failed to generate the hype expected for their multimillion-dollar deal.
Perhaps most evident was the failure of his Netflix project Polo, a documentary series chronicling Harry’s adventures in polo, where they inexplicably only appeared towards the end, leaving audiences disappointed.
And on top of that, Meghan’s American Riviera Orchard lifestyle brand, once conceived as the cornerstone of her post-royal projects, has been mired in trademark disputes and a lack of tangible progress.
These obstacles have left his future in Hollywood uncertain, particularly as his contract with Netflix approaches its expiration in 2025.
MailOnline can reveal that she has chosen to film the eight-episode series ‘Love, Meghan’ in a kitchen and house that is not her own, despite living just around the corner.
The 43-year-old duchess chose a sprawling property just two miles from the £11million Montecito estate she shares with Prince Harry and their children, Archie and Lilibet.
The 43-year-old duchess chose a sprawling property just two miles from the £11million Montecito estate she shares with Prince Harry and their children, Archie and Lilibet.
Meghan’s American Riviera Orchard lifestyle brand, once envisioned as the cornerstone of her post-royal projects, has been mired in trademark disputes and a lack of tangible progress.
‘Polo’ is the third Prince Harry and Meghan documentary that disappoints both viewers and critics
The mansion where his Netflix show was filmed last year, an idyllic $8 million (£5 million) estate located within a gated community, features eight acres of avocado and lemon trees and is owned by Montecito’s influential Cipolla family.
Tom and Sherrie Cipolla, prominent figures in the high society circles of the American Riviera, are both in their 70s. They are prominent philanthropists with a $20 million property portfolio, including a physical therapy practice with more than $1.3 million in annual sales.
Their 4,500-square-foot home, with four bedrooms and four bathrooms, has stunning French doors that open to a patio, lawn, and stunning mountain views.
And according to a trailer posted on her new Instagram account last night, it’s the stage for Meghan to show off her cooking and domestic skills, including a series of British-inspired recipes, such as the classic Eton dish and a Victoria sponge cake.
In it, she gives her fans a sneak peek into her cooking, baking, cocktail making, flower arranging and party planning using her £15,000 kitchen, £600 frying pans, £60 chopping boards and hosting friends at the impressive rooms, gardens and orchards on the property.