Meghan Markle's Netflix role withdrawn amid UK backlash, reports say
A planned appearance by Meghan Markle in a Netflix series filmed in the United Kingdom has been cancelled, reportedly due to strong public opposition as the couple considers moving back to the UK.
Meghan Markle’s prospective role in the third season of Guy Ritchie’s Netflix drama "The Gentlemen" has been cancelled, according to royal commentator Tina Brown. Brown said the offer was withdrawn after intense backlash in the United Kingdom over the casting, making the project untenable.
Brown, who writes on the Fresh Hell Substack, added that the loss of the acting job could hinder Markle’s plans to return to the UK with Prince Harry, noting that employment would ease the couple’s relocation. She quoted a source saying the role would have helped secure Harry’s desire to move back to his home country.
British journalist Tom Sykes, who runs The Royalist Subhash, described the public hostility toward Markle as “off the charts” and said he had reached out to the couple’s office for comment but received no response. He also questioned whether the couple’s announced move is a genuine relocation or a temporary arrangement, citing language in their statements that suggests a limited stay.
Other royal observers, including writer Rob Shuter, have reported that the couple may be planning a six-month stay in the UK while keeping their residence in California and a vacation home in Portugal. Sources cited by Shuter said the move is intended to address Harry’s dissatisfaction with life in California and to place their children in British schools, rather than reflecting Markle’s personal preference.
Analysts note that the couple faces ongoing challenges, such as strained relations with senior members of the royal family, the loss of major media deals, and potential legal expenses. Royal biographer Andrew Lownie expressed doubt that a short-term return to the UK would resolve these issues.
The story has been updated to reflect the latest information.