Six years after their sensational departure for North America, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are preparing to return to live part of the year in the United Kingdom with their children. A return which should also allow the Duchess of Sussex to reconnect with her former profession as an actress, announced “The Sun”. But his possible involvement in the Netflix series “The Gentlemen” caused such an uproar that the project would have already been abandoned. The story resembles a screenplay in three acts.
Act I: “Megxit” and departure for California
It all started in January 2020. Less than two years after their wedding in Windsor, Harry and Meghan announced their intention to give up their status as working members of the royal family and become financially independent. The rupture, quickly named “Megxit”, caused an earthquake within the monarchy.
After passing through Canada, the couple settled in California, in Montecito, with their son Archie. Their daughter Lilibet will be born there in 2021. Far from Buckingham Palace, the Sussexes then set about building their own media empire. In particular, they signed a major contract with Netflix and multiplied documentaries, podcasts and personal projects.
The break with the Windsors becomes deeper and deeper. Explosive interview given to Oprah Winfrey in 2021, documentary series on Netflix, publication of the prince’s memoirs in 2023: Harry and Meghan publicly deliver their version of the conflicts which opposed them to the royal family. Relations with Prince William remain particularly tense.
Act II: an unexpected return to the United Kingdom
Six years after their departure, a new twist of events. Harry and Meghan are now preparing a return to the United Kingdom with Archie, 7, and Lilibet, 5. However, this is not a return to the royal family: the Sussexes will retain their independence and should reside in a private home, outside London. According to several media, their children were enrolled in a British school for the start of the school year. At the same time, the couple intends to maintain their ties to the United States.
This rapprochement comes as relations between Harry and his father have warmed up somewhat. The family notably found Charles III this summer. On the other hand, no real reconciliation with William seems to be taking shape for the moment.
But behind this family return there was also a possible professional shift for Meghan: returning to her profession as an actress. Before becoming Duchess of Sussex, the American made herself known worldwide in “Suits”, where she played Rachel Zane. She left the series and her career before her marriage to Harry in 2018.
This week, several specialist media, including Variety and CNN, revealed that Meghan was in discussions to join a possible third season of “The Gentlemen”, the hit detective series created by Guy Ritchie for Netflix and filmed in the United Kingdom. However, no contract had been signed and Netflix has not even officially ordered this third season yet.
The “Sun” mentioned a role of “temptress”, but this detail was not confirmed by specialist sources. According to “The Hollywood Reporter,” discussions were far enough along that a character could be written especially for her. The potential fee would have exceeded a million pounds.
Act III: the controversy derails his return
However, the announcement was cut short in just a few hours. The prospect of Meghan Markle returning to play in the United Kingdom has triggered numerous hostile reactions in the press and on British social networks.
On Saturday, Tina Brown, a former editor-in-chief of “Vanity Fair” and the “New Yorker” and a longtime watcher of the royal family, said she had learned that the project had been abandoned. According to his information, the extent of the negative reactions in the United Kingdom would have made the casting of Meghan impossible to maintain.
The “Telegraph” also reports that Netflix would have expressed reservations in the face of the controversy. None of the main parties involved – Meghan Markle, Guy Ritchie or Netflix – has, however, officially confirmed the abandonment of discussions. It is therefore appropriate, at this stage, to speak of a project which would have been withdrawn, and not of an officially announced cancellation.
The symbol is no less cruel for the duchess. His return to the United Kingdom was to open a new chapter after six years in California. Even before she really sets foot on a British set again, the old fractures around the Sussexes have already resurfaced.
