Harry and Meghan Are Moving Back to London — Here's What Happens to the Netflix Deal
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are leaving California and returning to London, with their children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet enrolled in a British school for September, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The couple will keep their homes in California and Portugal. They plan to stay in England for an undisclosed period, likely at least a full school year, and will reside in a private residence rather than a royal residence. ABC News, citing a source familiar with the matter, reported that there will be no change to their royal titles. They have no plans to resume senior royal duties. (The Hollywood Reporter; ABC News)
The move comes six years after Harry and Meghan settled in Montecito, about 80 miles north of Los Angeles, in 2020. That same year, in September, they signed an overall deal with Netflix — meaning the streaming platform would get first access to projects from their production company, Archewell — widely reported to be worth around $100 million.
Their Netflix slate grew to include the documentary Harry & Meghan, polo docuseries Polo, Heart of Invictus, Live to Lead, a holiday special, and two seasons of With Love, Meghan. Of those, only Harry & Meghan performed well for the platform, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Netflix also cancelled the animated children's series Pearl before production began. (The Hollywood Reporter)
About a year ago, Netflix downgraded the couple's overall deal to a first-look deal — meaning Netflix gets right of first refusal on Archewell projects rather than exclusive access — and described the change as an "extension." Archewell Productions remains in active development on several projects at Netflix, including a feature-length adaptation of Carley Fortune's novel Meet Me at the Lake, and maintains an office at Netflix's headquarters. (The Hollywood Reporter)
The couple's business footprint extends beyond Netflix. Netflix became a business partner to Meghan's lifestyle brand, As Ever, which sells products including $64 scented candles. That partnership lasted seven months. As Ever is now fully owned by Meghan and continues operating in the U.S. Separately, Archewell's documentary Cookie Queens is currently in theaters. (The Hollywood Reporter)
In March, People reported that Archewell had promised more shows, including projects for Netflix as well as for other streamers — a signal that the production company's ambitions are not limited to a single platform. (People)
For a family that has built its post-royal life around California, the return to London is a striking shift. Whether it lasts a single school year or longer, the move puts Harry and Meghan back in the country they left in 2020 — this time as private residents, not working royals, with a production company and a lifestyle brand still running on the other side of the Atlantic.
