Meghan's divisiveness may well work to her advantage

Five years after Megxit, the Duchess of Sussex is launching a lifestyle empire. Her viewing figures are high, but her popularity in the UK is low. Ahead of her new podcast release tomorrow, experts wonder if she can gain wider appeal.

"The problem is that people prefer royal gossip over jam-making tips," says the Countess of Sandwich. She understands Meghan's rebranding challenges as an American in British aristocracy.

Before "Megxit," the countess believed Meghan would win over the nation. She admired Meghan's American optimism and go-getter attitude. Seven years later, she still sees Meghan as a hustler using opportunities to advance her goals.

However, not everyone agrees with this view. A YouGov poll shows Meghan's popularity at just 19% in early 2025, down from 26% a year earlier. In contrast, her rating in the US was slightly better at 43%.

Her Netflix series, *With Love, Meghan*, received mixed reviews. It featured upcycling supermarket bouquets and scenting flannels with lavender water. Despite being the tenth most-watched Netflix program globally in its first week, it only earned a 33% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Meghan recently launched her brand As Ever, selling items like £11 edible flower petals and £21.50 wildflower honey. These sold out quickly but faced criticism for their prices and lack of clear vision.

Now she will host a new podcast called *Confessions of a Female Founder*. In an Instagram post, she expressed excitement about candid conversations with inspiring women. The question remains: how will this be received?

As she builds her brand as a lifestyle influencer and businesswoman, experts wonder what it will take for her to broaden her appeal. Some believe deeper issues may hinder her success despite any achievements.

Five years have passed since Prince Harry and Meghan left royal duties behind after the Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey. Their departure created tension around that event.

The service's printed order did not include them in the official royal arrival plan. This upset Harry and Meghan according to those involved in planning it.

To ease tensions, it was decided that Prince William and Catherine would also enter early instead of following Queen Elizabeth II into the Abbey. An attendee described the atmosphere as "deeply uncomfortable."

This friction set a tone for future interactions between Harry and Meghan and the Royal Family. Although they have only visited the UK twice since March 2020, experts say their impact lingers.

Evan Nierman, a public relations expert based in the US, notes that everything Meghan does relates back to Buckingham Palace and her family ties there.

Mark Borkowski believes all coverage of them returns to whether they are thriving or failing post-royalty. Questions about their choices since leaving include their polarizing interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021 and Prince Harry's memoir *Spare* published in 2023.

One source described their actions as "brave yet idiotic." With those chapters behind them now, they focus on income streams unrelated to royalty.

Nierman states that while she's trying to stand out independently, fame remains tied to her royal connections. James Crawford adds that much of how people perceive Meghan stems from her marriage to Prince Harry.

Critics suggest that despite low public popularity ratings, business success may still be possible for them. Tina Brown harshly reviewed Meghan’s efforts by saying she has an "unerring instinct for getting it wrong."

Brown criticized *With Love,* stating it came out during a backlash against fake perfectionism. Others noted its perceived lack of relatability due to filming outside her home kitchen.

British Vogue called it "high on gloss" but lacking human connection; The Guardian labeled it "toe-curlingly unlovable." Royal author Sally Beddell Smith questioned why not relaunch *The Tig*, which had strong brand loyalty before its closure.

Despite negative feedback expected by Harry and Meghan’s team, some international press praised their show’s warm tone and visual quality as reminiscent of pre-royal life roots.

*With Love* garnered 2.6 million views during its first week—far from disastrous but lower than other shows like *Halo: Season One*. Experts argue comparisons may be unfair given genre differences between lifestyle shows and dramas or thrillers.

Katie Nicholl believes much potential lies beyond lifestyle programming for them now; existing fans will likely enjoy new content while critics remain unimpressed—a classic “Marmite effect.”

In today’s polarized media landscape divisiveness can sometimes benefit brands according to PR experts like Crawford who emphasize responding effectively is key moving forward.

Meghan has adopted more direct approaches lately when addressing criticism or rumors about feuds with celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow through humor-filled responses online.

Away from business pursuits life for Harry and Meghan centers around privacy at home near Los Angeles where they maintain close friendships including tennis star Serena Williams.

When dining out they often enjoy meals without disturbance while showing respect towards staff members present during visits.

Contradictory claims arise regarding experiences shared by those who’ve worked closely with them suggesting varying perceptions exist surrounding couple dynamics.

Recent disputes involving Sentebale—the charity co-founded by Prince Harry—have escalated into investigations raising questions about both his role within charity work alongside ongoing interest surrounding his wife.

Looking ahead many wonder how best both should navigate future endeavors together balancing personal ambitions alongside public expectations placed upon them due largely because of past associations made through royalty connections established previously.

Experts suggest careful consideration must guide next steps taken especially concerning how Prince Harry fits into overall plans moving forward given current circumstances surrounding couple dynamics evolving continuously over time.

While some speculate potential returns toward acting roles might emerge others feel such ideas unrealistic considering changes undergone since then leading towards becoming successful entrepreneurs instead focused primarily upon philanthropy efforts aimed at making positive impacts globally through initiatives developed under Archewell Foundation umbrella specifically designed towards helping others effectively utilize spotlight gained throughout journey thus far successfully navigating challenges faced along way ahead!