Harry and Meghan's U.S. Ventures Reviewed as Couple Plans Return to Britain

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, who stepped back from senior royal duties in early 2020, have announced a temporary relocation to the United Kingdom with their children. The couple’s six-year stay in California produced a series of media and commercial initiatives that yielded varied outcomes.

Meghan’s early investment in Clevr Blends, an instant-oat-latte brand founded by women, remains operational but has not achieved notable market impact. Her children’s picture book, The Bench, sold approximately 8,000 copies in the United Kingdom.

The couple’s high-profile interview with Oprah Winfrey on CBS attracted an estimated 49 million viewers worldwide, becoming a widely discussed media event. Their Netflix partnership generated several docuseries, including a five-part series on mental health co-produced with Oprah, which received limited viewership, and a more successful documentary series that reached nearly 29 million households in its first week.

Other Netflix projects, such as Live to Lead, Heart of Invictus, Polo, and With Love, Meghan, attracted modest audiences and, in some cases, were discontinued after short runs. Harry’s memoir, Spare, set a record for rapid nonfiction sales.

In the podcast arena, a 12-episode series titled Archetypes was released under a $20 million Spotify agreement, featuring guests such as Paris Hilton. A separate Lemonada Media podcast hosted by Meghan, Confessions of a Female Founder, produced limited episodes and is currently on hold.

Meghan also launched a lifestyle brand initially called American Riviera Orchard, later rebranded as As Ever, after trademark issues arose. The associated Netflix series was cancelled after two seasons.

Overall, the Sussexes’ American endeavors encompassed investments, publishing, television, and audio content, with some projects achieving significant reach while others saw limited commercial success.