Meghan Markle's Netflix Christmas special: What to expect from critic-savaged show

In just days, the holiday special of Meghan Markle’s Netflix show With Love, Meghan is set to drop on the streaming plaform – and here we look at what to expect

With Love, Meghan, which sees the Duchess of Sussex offer hosting tips while she cooks with celebrity friends, was savaged by critics following its release in March. A second series was released in August and the Christmas special will arrive on the streaming platform on Wednesday (December 3).

Prince Harry did not feature in the second series of the show. However, he does pop up for a cameo appearance in the holiday special. He ppears briefly in the the 65-second clip when he and the duchess share a kiss in a kitchen. “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.”

Celebrity friends join Meghan once again in the forthcoming special, which sees the duchess trying out festive crafts, decorating and baking. The duchess is seen adding gifts to red-and-white advent calendars personalised with “Archie” and “Lili” on them, for her children Prince Archie, six, and Princess Lilibet, four. In the trailer, the Duchess makes crafts with Japanese tennis player Naomi Osaka, cooks with American chef Tom Colicchio and makes wreaths with old friends Kelly Zafjen and Lindsay Roth. She also skips through a Christmas tree farm before choosing her favourite and leaves biscuits and hot chocolate out for Santa by a roaring fireplace.

With Love, Meghan’s launch in March coincided with the unveiling of her As Ever brand, which sells products including raspberry jam and flower sprinkles, which she repeatedly promotes throughout the show.. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex secured a lucrative contract with Netflix, thought to be worth more than 100 million dollars (£74 million), in 2020, after quitting as senior working royals. Harry and Meghanannounced they had signed a new “multi-year, first-look deal for film and television projects” with the streaming platform in August. Meghan described the deal as “an incredible sign of the strength of our partnership”, despite rumours the streaming giant may be pivoting away from her and Harry.

However, it seems that the show will have a very awkward clash with the Royal Family. The show is set to hit Netflix on the same day the whole of the Royal Family is set to be out in force to welcome the German president to Windsor Castle during his state visit to the UK – also taking place on Wednesday.

READ THE FULL STORY: Meghan Markle raises eyebrows by using hidden Kate Middleton detail in As Ever promo