Meghan Markle makes veiled swipe at Royal Family as awkward Harry joins Netflix show

Meghan Markle’s new Netflix show With Love, Meghan has finally hit the streaming platform – and in the very last episode she is joined by Prince Harry and appears to take a dig at the Royal Family

Meghan Markle’s eagerly-awaited Netflix show has been released today – with an awkward Prince Harry making only a fleeting appearance as the Duchess makes an apparent swipe at the Royal Family.

With Love, Meghan launched on the streaming platform this morning after being delayed from January due to the Los Angeles wildfires. The show is being seen as a make-or-break moment for the Sussexes, who signed a multimillion-pound deal with Netflix in 2020.

The eight episodes, which are each 33 minutes long, see Meghan inviting famous friends to “a beautiful California estate, where she shares cooking, gardening and hosting tips”. But viewers have to wait until the final episode to catch a glimpse of Harry and Meghan together.

It comes as Meghan hosts a brunch for Harry, her mum Doria and several of her friends and she gives a speech about her new business venture, As Ever. The launch of As Ever and her new Instagram account comes off the back of her previous successful lifestyle blog, The Tig, which Meghan closed down after becoming engaged to Harry before becoming a royal.

And in a speech at the end of the final episode, she drops a veiled dig about how she missed her ‘creativity’. She says: “I just want to raise a glass to you guys. This feels like a new chapter that I’m so excited that I’m able to share and I’ve been able to learn from all of you.

“So I just thank you for all the love and support. And here we go, there’s a business! All of that is part of that creativity that I’ve missed so much, so thank you for loving me so much and celebrating with me.”

Meghan’s speech comes after she introduces Harry to the camera at the brunch party and he awkwardly waves. After they kiss and hug and look at the spread of food Meghan has made, the prince tells her: “Well done. You did a great job.”. Meghan adds: “Thank you” before Harry says: “I love it.”

The show, which has the mood tags ‘relaxing’, ‘feel-good’ and ‘lifestyle’, features appearances from comedian and actress Mindy Kaling and her former Suits co-star, Abigail Spencer. Episode one called Hello Honey! features Meghan’s friend Daniel Martin as she prepares a “thoughtful guest basket”. .

It began with Meghan harvesting honey from bees as she says: “The biggest things is keeping a low tone – talk in our bee voice.”

The Duke of Sussex, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet sent Meghan a bouquet of flowers ahead of the start of the series, with a handwritten card reading “Congratulations mumma! We love your show, and we love you!” which was signed Lili, Archie and Papa.

The duchess also shared videos of herself surprising fans at a special screening of the show, with some showing off temporary tattoos of Meghan’s As Ever logo. Meghan renamed her lifestyle brand As Ever, switching from the name American Riviera Orchard just weeks before the launch after facing trademarking setbacks. Netflix is a partner in her business, the duchess has said.

Meghan began a soft launch of then-called American Riviera Orchard in April last year by sending celebrity friends jars of her homemade strawberry jam.

Before marrying Harry, she closed down her lifestyle website called The Tig, which she had used as a platform to discuss social issues such as gender equality in addition to articles on travel, food and fashion. The duchess has faced criticism over authenticity for hosting With Love, Meghan from a Californian farmhouse, rather than her own Montecito home.