When Meghan Markle first joined the royal family, she was met with cautious optimism by the Windsors. Behind palace doors, however, Queen Elizabeth reportedly harbored deep reservations about her intentions. Multiple royal aides have since revealed that the late monarch privately worried Meghan was more actress than duchess—a view dismissed at the time by many as old-fashioned or even biased. Yet, the path Meghan and Harry have forged since their dramatic exit from royal duties, dubbed "Megxit," has lent credence to those early concerns. Their string of lucrative content deals, particularly with Netflix, showcases how they’ve leveraged their royal status for financial gain while simultaneously undermining the very institution that propelled them to global fame.
Their latest Netflix partnership is a glaring case in point. Critics argue it’s a textbook example of monetizing royal ties, with the couple raking in millions while distancing themselves from the monarchy’s values. Their first Netflix docuseries, *Harry & Meghan*, stirred outrage with its personal attacks on the royal family, unverified claims of racism, and a clear attempt to rewrite their narrative. Meghan’s knack for casting herself as a victim, all while building a powerhouse media empire, has fractured family ties and fueled perceptions of her as a cunning, divisive figure.
Royal biographers and palace insiders are increasingly vocal about these developments. Angela Levin, a seasoned author of royal books, didn’t mince words: “The Queen knew what she saw. Meghan wanted fame and influence, and she used the royal brand as her springboard.” Levin’s view is echoed by former palace staff, speaking anonymously, who describe Meghan as ruthlessly ambitious and a master of narrative control. They recall her disdain for royal protocol—dismissing it as outdated—while eagerly wielding her title to land high-profile deals and media attention.
What’s more, the Sussexes’ media ventures often seem to lack originality unless tethered to royal drama. Their Spotify deal famously fizzled out amid reports that Meghan failed to produce meaningful content, and Harry’s memoir, Spare, drew flak for leaning heavily on palace gossip rather than offering fresh insights. Yet Netflix continues to bank on the couple, betting big on the world’s insatiable appetite for royal controversy—the very thing Queen Elizabeth worked tirelessly to protect the monarchy from.
As public opinion shifts, more people are revisiting the Queen’s subtle but sharp skepticism about Meghan. What once felt like a grandmother’s protective caution now appears to be uncanny foresight. Meghan’s rise as a media mogul—embracing her duchess title when it suits her and rejecting it when it doesn’t—has left many pondering an uncomfortable question: Was the Queen right all along? With each new deal, the late monarch’s instincts seem less like prejudice and more like prophecy, raising doubts about the true cost of Meghan and Harry’s relentless pursuit of fame and fortune.
