Meghan and Prince Harry sparked clamour among some royal watchers and commentators after they announced they signed a multi-year deal with Netflix. However, the deal itself is “quite respectable” and should cause no issue within the Royal Family if the Duke and Duchess of Sussex dedicated their time as TV producers to creating documentaries on causes they are deeply involved and invested in, according to royal author Robert Lacey.
What could become a problem for the Crown, however, would be the decision by the Sussexes to take part in a tell-all documentary touching upon their lives as royals and Megxit, Mr Lacey said.
He told Express.co.uk: “The one question mark over the Sussexes’ deal with Netflix is whether it does contain, as it has been reported, plans for some sort of tell-all documentary.
“Harry and Meghan have denied they are doing a reality show.
“But that is slightly disingenuous, they have denied doing a reality show but not a documentary.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have been warned against doing a tell-all documentary (Image: GETTY)
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry now live in California (Image: GETTY)
“And if they did do a documentary about how they left the Royal Family and why and how they are getting on away from the Royal Family, that could be the actual end, that could finalise the rift.
“That would finally break the taboos, it could be impossible for them to come back.”
Meghan and Prince Harry announced their Netflix deal in early September.
READ MORE: Prince Philip fury: Duke ‘can’t fathom’ why Meghan and Harry left
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s deal with Netflix is ‘quite respectable’ – expert (Image: GETTY)
In their joint statement, the pair said: “Through our work with diverse communities and their environments, to shining a light on people and causes around the world, our focus will be on creating content that informs but also gives hope.
“As new parents, making inspirational family programming is also important to us, as is powerful storytelling through a truthful and relatable lens.”
Among the programmes they are to create through their newly-founded production company, there are documentaries, children’s programmes and informative TV shows.
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Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have signed a deal with Netflix (Image: GETTY)
Meghan, who starred in several films and TV shows before landing a protagonist role in the TV legal drama Suits, reportedly has no intention to resume her acting career.
Weeks after this announcement, a source claimed the pair had, among their shows in the pipeline, a “tasteful” fly-on-the-wall reality show.
They told : “Much of the docu-series will be about their philanthropy rather than what they get up to behind closed doors.
“But it will still be a fascinating insight and Meghan hopes viewers will get to see the real her.”
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have stepped down as senior royals (Image: EXPRESS)
A spokesperson for the Sussexes denied any reality show was in the making.
They said: “The Duke and Duchess are not taking part in any reality shows.”
Netflix also issued a statement, saying: “The couple already has several projects in development, including an innovative nature docu-series and an animated series that celebrates inspiring women but we are not disclosing any of the programming slate at this time.”
Meghan and Harry’s Netflix deal has no precedents in the history of Neflix, according to one expert.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have created a yet-to-be-named production company (Image: GETTY)
Eric Schiffer, chairman of Reputation Management Consultants, said: “This is an economic earthquake for a streaming company and trumps the Obamas in size for sure.
“It sets on fire anything Harry and Meghan have done before in terms of precedent.”
Mr Schiffer also highlighted the Duke and Duchess of Sussex may be under a tremendous amount of pressure to deliver quality and profitable products to the streaming platform.
He told Newsweek: “I think they’re going to have tremendous pressure to show they can create a quality product.
“My bet is that they’ll find the right team and Netflix will guide them because there’s just too much money involved.
“Netflix isn’t going to want to see this go up in smoke.”
