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| Slicing veggies, baking cakes - will Meghan's rebrand work? | Slicing veggies, baking cakes - will Meghan's rebrand work? |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| The duchess's new eight-part series premieres on 15 January | The duchess's new eight-part series premieres on 15 January |
| It's the picture of domestic bliss. | It's the picture of domestic bliss. |
| The Duchess of Sussex, picking flowers, slicing veggies and decorating cakes in a trailer for her new Netflix show. | The Duchess of Sussex, picking flowers, slicing veggies and decorating cakes in a trailer for her new Netflix show. |
| There's also a scene where she harvests honey, and hugs her husband, Prince Harry. | There's also a scene where she harvests honey, and hugs her husband, Prince Harry. |
| Meghan, it appears, has rebranded herself. Her new look is described by public relations expert Chloe Franses as similar to the "trad wife" social media trend, inspired by 1950s housewives. | Meghan, it appears, has rebranded herself. Her new look is described by public relations expert Chloe Franses as similar to the "trad wife" social media trend, inspired by 1950s housewives. |
| In that sense, it is a departure for Meghan, who has been known as a feminist and a Hollywood actress. | In that sense, it is a departure for Meghan, who has been known as a feminist and a Hollywood actress. |
| But Frances says it's actually a return to Meghan's roots, as the duchess used to be a lifestyle blogger before she married Harry. | But Frances says it's actually a return to Meghan's roots, as the duchess used to be a lifestyle blogger before she married Harry. |
| And as ever with Meghan, it's proving divisive. Franses praises it as "authentic," while Alex Silver, a media relations expert, calls it "tone deaf". | And as ever with Meghan, it's proving divisive. Franses praises it as "authentic," while Alex Silver, a media relations expert, calls it "tone deaf". |
| So what's the reason for her new TV show, With Love, and will it work? | So what's the reason for her new TV show, With Love, and will it work? |
| 'Harry and Meghan are separating their brands' | 'Harry and Meghan are separating their brands' |
| Harry and Meghan met in 2016 and married in 2018 | Harry and Meghan met in 2016 and married in 2018 |
| One of the most striking things about the trailer is that it's Meghan on her own, rather than with Harry. | One of the most striking things about the trailer is that it's Meghan on her own, rather than with Harry. |
| Since stepping down as senior royals in 2020 and moving to California, the pair have pursued various ventures together, including starting a production company and charitable foundation. | Since stepping down as senior royals in 2020 and moving to California, the pair have pursued various ventures together, including starting a production company and charitable foundation. |
| Where do Harry and Meghan get their money? | Where do Harry and Meghan get their money? |
| But with this new show, it looks like the couple increasingly want to do their own thing professionally - and to create two separate income streams. | But with this new show, it looks like the couple increasingly want to do their own thing professionally - and to create two separate income streams. |
| "They seem to have separated their brands," says Pauline Maclaran, professor of marketing and consumer research at Royal Holloway. | "They seem to have separated their brands," says Pauline Maclaran, professor of marketing and consumer research at Royal Holloway. |
| "I think it's likely to be much more successful, because I think the two of them together weren't really getting any strong recognition." | "I think it's likely to be much more successful, because I think the two of them together weren't really getting any strong recognition." |
| Moving away from royal connections | Moving away from royal connections |
| The relaunch also signifies a move away from royal life. | The relaunch also signifies a move away from royal life. |
| Since stepping back as senior royals, Harry and Meghan have continued to talk about the monarchy - including in their 2021 Oprah Winfrey interview and Harry's book Spare. | Since stepping back as senior royals, Harry and Meghan have continued to talk about the monarchy - including in their 2021 Oprah Winfrey interview and Harry's book Spare. |
| But in this new TV show, Meghan "isn't drawing on her royal connections" anymore, says Maclaren. | But in this new TV show, Meghan "isn't drawing on her royal connections" anymore, says Maclaren. |
| Instead, it focuses on lifestyle and wellness - areas she already explored before she met Harry through her lifestyle blog The Tig. | Instead, it focuses on lifestyle and wellness - areas she already explored before she met Harry through her lifestyle blog The Tig. |
| On The Tig, Meghan shared beauty, diet and fashion tips, recipes, travel advice, and words of wisdom about love and life. | On The Tig, Meghan shared beauty, diet and fashion tips, recipes, travel advice, and words of wisdom about love and life. |
| Meghan Markle: The wellness guru she could have been | Meghan Markle: The wellness guru she could have been |
| The Tig was closed in 2017, but PR experts have said that returning to lifestyle could be a smart move. | The Tig was closed in 2017, but PR experts have said that returning to lifestyle could be a smart move. |
| "This is a well-trodden path for a woman in the public eye who has a lifestyle that straddles aspirational as well as challenging," Frances says. | "This is a well-trodden path for a woman in the public eye who has a lifestyle that straddles aspirational as well as challenging," Frances says. |
| Others are more sceptical. | Others are more sceptical. |
| Famous guests star in Megan's new show, including actress Mindy Kaling | Famous guests star in Megan's new show, including actress Mindy Kaling |
| "There are more interesting and significant world events that are happening, which she could be talking about," Silver says. "She could've been raising awareness for charitable work or something. | "There are more interesting and significant world events that are happening, which she could be talking about," Silver says. "She could've been raising awareness for charitable work or something. |
| "I think she is all about herself. As a publicist, I can't understand how she can't read a room." | "I think she is all about herself. As a publicist, I can't understand how she can't read a room." |
| Experimenting in the world of lifestyle has also backfired for some others in the public eye. | Experimenting in the world of lifestyle has also backfired for some others in the public eye. |
| Brooklyn Beckham's debut photography book was roundly mocked on social media, for instance - with one picture of an elephant receiving particular ire. | Brooklyn Beckham's debut photography book was roundly mocked on social media, for instance - with one picture of an elephant receiving particular ire. |
| 'It's about her own commercial interests' | 'It's about her own commercial interests' |
| This is not Meghan's first foray into the business world - an industry fraught with risk and reward. | This is not Meghan's first foray into the business world - an industry fraught with risk and reward. |
| The couple's previous business initiatives include a multi-million pound deal with Netflix. | The couple's previous business initiatives include a multi-million pound deal with Netflix. |
| They appeared in another Netflix show, called Harry & Meghan, about their relationship. Both were also named as executive producers for the recent Polo documentary, but it drew low ratings from critics including in The Guardian and The Telegraph. | They appeared in another Netflix show, called Harry & Meghan, about their relationship. Both were also named as executive producers for the recent Polo documentary, but it drew low ratings from critics including in The Guardian and The Telegraph. |
| Spotify's big bet on Meghan also fell flat. | Spotify's big bet on Meghan also fell flat. |
| In July 2023, the streaming giant and the Sussexes's Archewell Audio announced they were parting ways in a mutual decision. | In July 2023, the streaming giant and the Sussexes's Archewell Audio announced they were parting ways in a mutual decision. |
| At the time, experts suggested there hadn't been a big enough audience for Megan's Archetypes podcast to justify keeping it going. | At the time, experts suggested there hadn't been a big enough audience for Megan's Archetypes podcast to justify keeping it going. |
| Last March, she launched a different lifestyle brand called American Riviera Orchard. It currently has more than 600,000 followers on Instagram, and features nine posts from when it launched - but there have been no posts since then. | Last March, she launched a different lifestyle brand called American Riviera Orchard. It currently has more than 600,000 followers on Instagram, and features nine posts from when it launched - but there have been no posts since then. |
| With this new venture, some have speculated that Meghan is hoping to open up further business opportunities for herself, such as partnerships with major supermarkets and brands. | With this new venture, some have speculated that Meghan is hoping to open up further business opportunities for herself, such as partnerships with major supermarkets and brands. |
| If so, she would be following in the path of others such as Hollywood A-lister Gwyneth Paltrow, with her hugely successful lifestyle platform Goop. | If so, she would be following in the path of others such as Hollywood A-lister Gwyneth Paltrow, with her hugely successful lifestyle platform Goop. |
| "This is clearly all about her own commercial interests," says Silver. | "This is clearly all about her own commercial interests," says Silver. |
| "They're aware their income is going to dry up at some stage. Their lifestyles are quite lavish, they're mixing in upmarket circles and they don't want to be the poor relation." | "They're aware their income is going to dry up at some stage. Their lifestyles are quite lavish, they're mixing in upmarket circles and they don't want to be the poor relation." |
| Will it change the public's view of her? | Will it change the public's view of her? |
| When it comes to the new TV show, royal expert Victoria Murphy says she "[doesn't] think there's any doubt that people will watch it initially and it will do well". | When it comes to the new TV show, royal expert Victoria Murphy says she "[doesn't] think there's any doubt that people will watch it initially and it will do well". |
| But she says the real test is whether it engages a consistently large following and really builds a strong global brand for Meghan outside the monarchy. | |
| McLaren agrees, saying she thinks the show will chime with certain groups of people, particularly in the US. | McLaren agrees, saying she thinks the show will chime with certain groups of people, particularly in the US. |
| "A lot of the public won't be interested in this but I don't think that's her aim - I think she'll be trying to get other mothers like herself really." | "A lot of the public won't be interested in this but I don't think that's her aim - I think she'll be trying to get other mothers like herself really." |
| Silver, for her part, argues that Meghan may be hoping to "detoxify" her brand with the new show. | Silver, for her part, argues that Meghan may be hoping to "detoxify" her brand with the new show. |
| But she doesn't think the show will resonate with the public. | But she doesn't think the show will resonate with the public. |
| "I can't imagine this is going to be a well viewed thing," Silver says. | "I can't imagine this is going to be a well viewed thing," Silver says. |
| I want to stop hate towards Meghan, Harry tells court | I want to stop hate towards Meghan, Harry tells court |
| Perhaps the reaction to the trailer tells us everything we need to know about how this latest venture is likely to go down. | Perhaps the reaction to the trailer tells us everything we need to know about how this latest venture is likely to go down. |
| After it dropped on Thursday, thousands of column inches were dedicated to it. | After it dropped on Thursday, thousands of column inches were dedicated to it. |
| The Daily Mail, for example, picked apart every single detail of every frame in the trailer, most of it unsympathetic. | The Daily Mail, for example, picked apart every single detail of every frame in the trailer, most of it unsympathetic. |
| The duchess, it seems, is of never ending interest - especially for the British tabloids. But she also has a core fan base on social media. | The duchess, it seems, is of never ending interest - especially for the British tabloids. But she also has a core fan base on social media. |
| For her detractors, they will say this is glossy and superficial, Hollywood at its worst. | For her detractors, they will say this is glossy and superficial, Hollywood at its worst. |
| But for her fans, they will say it's great to see her back, and that this shows exactly what the Royal Family are missing. | But for her fans, they will say it's great to see her back, and that this shows exactly what the Royal Family are missing. |
| In other words, this is likely to reinforce whatever people already think about Meghan, on either side of the debate. | |
| Additional reporting by Guy Lambert and Nadine Yousif. | Additional reporting by Guy Lambert and Nadine Yousif. |