With the Duchess of Sussex’s divisive Christmas holiday special just around the corner, the future of her lifestyle programme With Love, Meghan could be in jeopardy
With Meghan Markle ’s holiday special premiering on Netflix in mere hours, a PR expert believes that the future of her lifestyle show With Love, Meghan all rides on how well the Christmas programme is received.
The With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration will air on Wednesday, showing the Duchess of Sussex being joined by a range of guests to take part in festive cooking and crafts, all while spreading Christmas cheer. “I love the holiday season,” Meghan says in a voiceover on the trailer, posted to her Instagram. “It’s about finding time to connect with the people we love, embracing traditions, and making new ones.”
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While some fans have shared their excitement about the festive programme online, a public relations expert has revealed that if the one-off holiday episode fails to draw in a significant viewership, the future of the show could be in jeopardy.
Season two of With Love, Meghan – which was released in August – was subject to incredibly harsh critiques and failed to break into the top 10 shows on the streaming service. With season three of the show yet to be confirmed, the Christmas-themed episode will hold the key to the show’s future.
PR Expert Mayah Riaz told the Mirror: “Given that the second season of With Love, Meghan didn’t generate significant viewing numbers, this holiday programme may very well act as an informal test for Netflix to see whether there is still enough audience appetite to justify a third season. The timing also suggests that Netflix might be hoping the holiday season can inject some fresh momentum into the franchise, especially since it’s airing so soon after Season 2.
Riaz added: “When it comes to the future of the series, the previous season’s performance can’t be ignored. Season 2 didn’t crack Netflix’s Top 10 in key markets, and the broader reception was mixed, with some critics describing the format as contrived or lacking spark.
“Because of that, if the Christmas special also struggles to attract strong viewership, it could very realistically influence Netflix’s decision about whether to proceed with a third season. That said, the show also functions as an extension of her broader lifestyle brand, so its value to Netflix isn’t purely ratings-driven.
“I think even if the special doesn’t perform strongly, Netflix may still weigh brand synergy and overall commercial alignment before making a final call.”
While the trailer of the festive episode drew harsh criticism, Mayah believes Meghan appeared “warm, cosy and intentionally relatable”, although admitting that the duchess is very divisive.
She said: “The imagery is clearly curated to evoke authenticity and domestic charm. For fans who already feel positively towards her, that tone is likely to resonate. However, she is still a very polarising figure, and for viewers who are sceptical, the highly polished presentation may come across as overly produced or a little too perfectly crafted.”
Mayah added that it would be best for Meghan to not put too much pressure on her holiday-themed episode, despite the pressures of needing a success with Netflix, and to hone her lifestyle brand As Ever while Netflix weighs their options.
The PR expert said: “If I were advising Meghan, I would position the Christmas special as a heartfelt, standalone gesture which is designed to offer warmth and connection rather than placing expectations on it to revive the franchise.
“I’d also ensure the messaging protects her image in the event this becomes the final instalment of the series, while still leveraging the positive, family-focused themes to strengthen her lifestyle brand regardless of the viewership outcome.”
