The Duchess of Sussex finds herself at a vital juncture. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are reportedly reeling as stunning allegations have surfaced about their alleged break up with Netflix.

After consulting industry insiders and those who have collaborated with the couple, leisure authority Variety asserted in a damning report that the connection between both events is “done”. The outlet suggests that sure actions from the couple – including their explosive Oprah interview – left executives “blindsided”. The Sussexes have vehemently denied these claims.

When their five-year settlement concluded last summer season, it was revealed that the Sussexes’ contract was being demoted to a less profitable “first look deal” that granted Netflix first refusal on any new initiatives. Then, just this month, it was announced that Netflix was severing ties with Meghan’s lifestyle model As Ever, rendering it absolutely impartial, having beforehand been financially backed by the streaming behemoth.

This has sparked queries about whether or not As Ever can thrive without the help of the streaming giant, and if Meghan can take her model worldwide amid doubts over gross sales.

There was appreciable anticipation amongst followers when Meghan’s model launched in April 2025. Initially, jam took the highlight, accompanied by flower sprinkles and cookie mixes. This was adopted by wine, candles, bookmarks, and tea.

Backed by Netflix, As Ever was immediately related to the Duchess’s lifestyle programme With Love, Meghan. It was anticipated that As Ever merchandise would show a success with audiences. But there have been contradictory studies on the efficiency of the model, and on 6 March it was announced that Netflix and As Ever had been terminating their partnership.

Inventory was reportedly an space of fear for the streamer, with Variety claiming that last August, Netflix was “sitting on a surplus of As Ever products, including tea and baking mixes, totaling more than $10 million in value”.

The magazine also alleges that the company started “giving inventory to employees for free, putting the goods on card tables in various office buildings”. In response, an Archewell spokesperson said that giveaways from pattern closets are commonplace observe at studios.

Just last month, Page Six also reported that Netflix’s Hollywood places of work had been inundated with unsold jam jars. The publication claimed that there are “two storage rooms” worth of stock, including candles, wine and flower sprinkles. “They’re actually just giving it away to staff – one (staffer) walked out with 10 merchandise for free,” one source claimed, alleging: “There’s so a lot overstock.”

But other sources claimed unsold As Ever stock was transferred from Netflix’s LA office to another warehouse ‘long ago’. “Any remaining stock is getting used for ‘gifting, sampling, and promotional use,” they said. This mirrors concerns voiced about Meghan’s lifestyle brand earlier in January. Internet detectives claim they were able to view stock numbers after trying to add an unusually large quantity of items to their online shopping cart, which caused the website to disclose the maximum stock it had on hand.

The stock, allegedly visible in screenshots of the website subsequently posted on Reddit, seemed to display more than 220,000 jars of spread, 30,000 jars of honey, 30,000 mulling kits, nearly 90,000 candles, over 110,000 jars of tea, and 80,000 jars of edible flower sprinkles.

This appeared to imply that Meghan’s stock wasn’t selling as robustly as previously believed. However, People magazine downplayed the speculation, citing a “source with inside information” of As Ever who stated the glitch “factors to a business that is not just profitable – it is flying, actually off the shelf.”

Netflix, for their part, suggested in a recent statement that they always planned to part ways with As Ever, stating: “Meghan’s ardour for elevating on a regular basis moments in lovely yet simple methods impressed the creation of the As Ever model, and we’re glad to have performed a function in bringing that imaginative and prescient to life.”

“As it was always supposed, Meghan will continue growing the model and take it into its next chapter independently, and we glance ahead to celebrating how she continues to carry pleasure to households around the world.”

A spokesperson for As Ever, meanwhile, stated: “As Ever is grateful for Netflix’s partnership through launch and our first 12 months. We have skilled significant and fast growth and As Ever is now prepared to stand on its own. We have an thrilling 12 months forward and cannot wait to share more.”

Netflix is reported to have envisaged a strategy for As Ever, which would have begun with wine, and progressed through five stages – incorporating the launch of china and glassware, then food, followed by an expansion into physical retail outlets, and ultimately a cookbook, according to the Mail.

The newspaper suggests that Netflix simply couldn’t persuade Meghan to embrace their vision. “Her enthusiasm for business was real enough – she and Harry are effectively conscious they need to make money – but she did not care to take the advice provided by the Netflix head of shopper merchandise, Josh Simon,” it alleges.

A source, meanwhile, suggested that sales had proved problematic. “The product was not taken up in the best way that people had hoped. The jam factor turned totemic. There was just all this jam. We had thought there could be more to it,” the source alleged.

There have long been questions surrounding Harry and Meghan’s future, having made substantial sums following their departure from royal life through various TV programmes, interviews and a memoir.

However, they do still have their scaled-back Netflix deal to rely upon. Following the publication of the Variety article, Netflix chief content officer Bela Bajaria publicly refuted the claims of a dispute, briefly addressing the speculation at the Next on Netflix event on Wednesday. Bajaria emphasised that Netflix maintains a partnership with the couple, stating: “We still have a relationship with them. We have films in development with them. We have an superb doc with them.”

“They have issues in development on the TV and movie aspect. Deals come and go all the time, and we do not renew so many offers, those just do not get as a lot press for apparent causes. There’s no juicy story there.”

Significantly, Harry and Meghan’s most substantial commercial triumphs appear to have resulted from their split with the royal family. An insider informed Variety: “The Sussexes’ perceived sample of promoting repackaged variations of the same story about their exit from royal life has exhausted Netflix.”

The profitable partnership commenced in September 2020 – 9 months following Harry and Meghan’s departure from royal duties. The pair signed a five-year contract with Netflix in September 2020, aiming to obtain financial independence in their post-royal existence.

Their six-part docuseries Harry and Meghan turned a vital success for the platform – however, subsequent initiatives failed to join with audiences, including Heart of Invictus, and Polo.

Then, in March 2025, the first season of With Love, Meghan was launched. It obtained widespread criticism and both the second season and a vacation particular failed to rank within the top 1,000 reveals on Netflix in 2025. It has since been confirmed it won’t be returning for a third sequence.