Netflix has apparently reached its breaking point with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and is reportedly pulling the plug on their $100 million deal. The streaming giant's CEO is said to be furious over their latest project—a polo documentary that failed to generate interest or views.
The five-part series, titled Polo, was a complete failure, unable to crack the top 10 in any of Netflix's major markets, including the UK and the US. Both the country Harry left behind and the one he moved to dismissed it with indifference, proving just how little appeal their latest endeavor had. When even your home audience doesn’t care, it’s a glaring sign of trouble. Critics have been ruthless, with Eric Schiffer of Reputation Management Consultants calling it "a pompous portrayal of privilege disguised as a documentary." The Guardian gave it a mere two-star rating, describing it as an unintentionally comical look at an already ridiculed sport. They even mocked its over-the-top dramatics, such as players selecting fixtures with confetti-filled balloons and mourning their losses in darkened rooms. The absurdity of it all is almost beyond belief.
The real shocker, however, is Netflix's reported decision to cut ties with Harry and Meghan entirely. According to The Sun, the company has no plans to renew their partnership as their deal nears expiration. The massive payout they once flaunted after stepping away from royal life is now on the verge of disappearing. In hindsight, this was inevitable. Their track record with Netflix has been a series of disappointments. While their initial documentary about their royal exit garnered attention, it was driven more by public curiosity than genuine interest in their work. Since then, every subsequent project has flopped. Heart of Invictus barely made an impact, Live to Lead was quickly forgotten, and now Polo has cemented their status as financial dead weight for the platform.
The timing of their downfall is particularly ironic, considering how Prince William and Princess Catherine continue to embody true royal duty. Despite Catherine’s brave battle with cancer, the Prince and Princess of Wales remain committed to their service. In stark contrast, Harry and Meghan have pushed out a documentary that attempts to glorify a niche sport played by the wealthy as if it were a meaningful contribution to society. Harry even claimed the series offers an "unprecedented behind-the-scenes look at the passion and grit of elite polo players," a statement that rings hollow when those players are multimillionaires with an arsenal of horses at their disposal. The disconnect from reality is staggering.
One of the major factors rumored to have sealed their fate with Netflix is controversy surrounding the charity Sentebale, which Harry co-founded in 2006 to support children with HIV in Lesotho and Botswana. While it is one of the more admirable initiatives tied to Harry, whispers of a scandal surrounding the charity have reportedly made Netflix wary of further association. Harry and Meghan have long used charity work as a means of bolstering their public image, often juxtaposing their humanitarian efforts with their extravagant lifestyle. Whether it's attending climate summits via private jets or lecturing about carbon footprints while flying on Elton John’s personal plane, their actions repeatedly contradict their words.
The same pattern can be seen in how they've handled Harry’s military ties and the Invictus Games. While the initiative itself is commendable, critics argue that the Sussexes have leveraged it for personal branding rather than keeping the focus on the veterans it was meant to honor. The potential for Harry to do meaningful work as a working royal was immense—he had the platform, the respect, and the connections to make a genuine impact. Instead, he followed Meghan to California in pursuit of Hollywood fame, a move that has backfired spectacularly. The belief that they could conquer the entertainment industry simply by capitalizing on Harry’s royal status and Meghan’s experience in television has proven to be a miscalculation. Netflix is a business, and businesses demand results. When those results fail to materialize, contracts are not renewed.
A source close to the situation claims that Harry and Meghan had little control over Polo’s direction, with Netflix executives steering it toward a reality-TV style in hopes of engaging viewers. However, when the project flopped, the Sussexes reportedly distanced themselves from its failure. This pattern of claiming credit for successes and blaming others for failures has become all too familiar. Meanwhile, back in the UK, King Charles and Queen Camilla have remained steadfast, carrying on their royal duties with dignity despite Charles' own health struggles.
Had Harry and Meghan chosen to remain within the royal fold, they would have had lifelong security, a respected platform, and the ability to champion meaningful causes with the full backing of the monarchy. Instead, they now find themselves with a dwindling list of opportunities. Their Spotify deal has already dissolved, their Netflix contract is all but dead, and their brand value is plummeting. With Hollywood’s unforgiving attitude toward failures, their prospects are looking increasingly bleak.
As their professional ventures continue to crumble, it’s likely they will resort to their old tactics—more high-profile interviews, more exposés on the royal family, and more attempts to frame themselves as victims. However, the public is growing weary of their repetitive narratives. For Harry, this could be a moment of reflection. Far from home, estranged from his family, and watching his career choices collapse, one has to wonder if he ever questions whether leaving behind his birthright was truly worth it. As for Meghan, she is likely scrambling to have her PR team repackage this debacle into yet another redemption arc. Whether or not the public is still interested remains to be seen.
