It was intended to be a heartwarming story: Prince Harry leveraging his celebrity status to raise funds and awareness for his charitable organization, which supports vulnerable children in Africa.
However, the Duke of Sussex's plans for a Netflix documentary about his annual Polo tournament in Aspen have reportedly been derailed by his wife, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex. According to multiple reports, Netflix has canceled the documentary project after Meghan insisted on joining Harry in Aspen for the filming. This demand reportedly disrupted production schedules and inflated budgets. This incident is the latest in a series of complications that have affected the high-profile couple’s partnerships since their dramatic step back from royal duties in 2020.
In 2020, Harry and Meghan signed a lucrative multi-year deal with Netflix shortly after relocating to California. The agreement was designed to help the couple establish their own media brand and earn a living independent of the British royal family. Their first project was supposed to be a documentary covering Harry’s Sentebale Polo Cup, an annual charity match he has hosted for years to benefit his nonprofit organization.
Sources indicate that Netflix executives grew increasingly frustrated with Meghan's last-minute demands to be involved in the documentary's production. Meghan's insistence on joining Harry for the filming in Aspen, Colorado—where the tournament is held each summer—reportedly threw a wrench into the production team’s carefully crafted plans. This could have led to delays and additional costs. Ultimately, Netflix decided that the complications were too great and chose to cancel the project entirely.
Without Netflix's financial backing, Harry's Sentebale Polo Cup may now face jeopardy. This represents a significant setback not only for the prince's personal passion project but also for the vulnerable children his charity supports in Lesotho and Botswana.
The cancellation is seen by some royal observers as evidence that Netflix is growing less tolerant of Harry and Meghan's demands, particularly regarding programming related to the royal family. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have faced criticism for their attempts to exert creative control over their Netflix projects. Reports suggest that the couple has insisted on having final say over everything from scripts to casting.
Their first Netflix documentary series, titled "Heart of Invictus," has faced multiple production delays due to Harry and Meghan’s insistence on full oversight. Additionally, the couple’s planned biographical documentary series, intended to provide an unprecedented look into their lives, has encountered setbacks amid reports of creative disagreements with Netflix.
Royal experts argue that Netflix may be growing weary of catering to Harry and Meghan's demands, particularly when it comes to programming that could be perceived as overly deferential to the couple. The cancellation of the polo documentary may suggest that Netflix is becoming wary of Harry's diminishing star power and Meghan’s reputation for high-maintenance demands.
"Netflix signed the Sussexes for their royal connections and access, but if Meghan is going to be a constant disruption to production, they’ll get fed up very quickly," said one industry insider. With Harry's star power fading since his departure from the royal family, Netflix may conclude that he is no longer worth the hassle.
Indeed, the reported cancellation comes amid growing questions about the ongoing appeal of Harry and Meghan as a brand. Their bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021 was a massive hit for CBS, but their subsequent projects have not generated the same level of buzz or viewership. Meghan’s animated children’s series, "Pearl," which was set to be the first project released under their Archewell Productions banner, was scrapped by Netflix earlier this year. Moreover, the couple’s podcast for Spotify, while initially touted as a major coup, has struggled to attract a significant audience.
With their royal allure apparently waning, some wonder whether Harry and Meghan will be able to sustain their lucrative media deals and fund their lavish California lifestyle. The loss of the Sentebale Polo Cup documentary, in particular, is seen as a blow to Harry’s personal brand and charitable work.
"This was meant to be Harry’s big chance to spotlight his passion project and the important work of Sentebale," said royal correspondent Britney Barger. "If Meghan’s last-minute demands have scuttled the whole thing, it’s a real disappointment—not just for Harry, but for the children who will miss out on the fundraising."
Only time will tell if Harry and Meghan can meet Netflix’s expectations without clashing with the streaming giant’s production needs. For now, it seems that the Duke of Sussex’s royal-adjacent celebrity may be losing its sheen, and his wife’s alleged demands could be a significant factor in this decline.
