MEGHAN Markle has been slammed as a “total con” by royal experts following the release of her Netflix series With Love, Meghan.
The Duchess of Sussex stars in the eight-episode series, showcasing her cookery skills, wrapping hacks, and harvest basket making.
Meghan Markle’s show has been slammed by critics[/caption]
Prince Harry and Meghan share a kiss in the a garden[/caption]
Meghan Markle and Daniel Martin decorating a cake on the show[/caption]
However, royal experts claim Meghan, 43, hasn’t been entirely authentic in her appearance, branding the show as “false.”
Speaking to The Sun’s royal editor, Matt Wilkinson, on The Sun’s Royal Exclusive show, News.com.au royal editor Bronte Coy and The Sun’s royal photographer Arthur Edwards weighed in on the series.
Throughout the show, Meghan shares a variety of recipes, including a cooked breakfast, skillet spaghetti, honey and lemon cake, and salads.
She also reveals her method for making tea by steeping bags in cold water under the sun for two to three hours, using “nice silk bags, lots of leaf tea, and just let it steep with the warmth of the sun.”
But Arthur was unimpressed, saying: “Everything about it was false – nobody has got time in the morning to cook breakfast like that. If someone gave me tea like that, I’d hand it back to you – it looked like a urine sample.”
Each 33-minute episode features Meghan demonstrating her cookery skills and life hacks. However, critics have dismissed the series as a “Montecito ego trip not worth taking.”
Reacting to reviews, Bronte remarked: “I was so bored, and I was so disappointed to be so bored.
“You watch it and you go, ‘OK, who is she trying to reach here?’ She is trying to reach America, but the reality is the reviews aren’t very good there either.
“It has clearly not landed, and the reason I think that is: if you’re watching it and you are thinking, ‘this was finally five years on from leaving the Royal Family after all these re-branding attempts, this was the moment we were going to see just Meg.
“‘This is the Meghan that we’ve heard about, we are finally going to see her in this happy environment.’
“There were so many times during the show where she began to say something so wild and personal, and then just completely steered away and started talking about an egg yolk instead.”
Bronte also compared Meghan to lifestyle moguls: “You look at the Gwyneth Paltrows and Jessica Albas of the world, who have billion-dollar lifestyle companies.
“They spent years selling themselves as personalities. We don’t have that of Meghan yet, so we needed to see more of her personality intertwined.”
Critics also belatedly criticised the show for being “so bad” that it might make Harry and Meghan “become more exciting and start dishing the dirt” again.
I think it was a con. She was so nice [on her show], but pretty sure she wasn’t so nice to her own staff at Kensington Palace
Arthur Edwards
During The Royal Show, Matt asked: “Is the danger that this is quite dull, and the only way she succeeds is if she comes out and speaks about the royals?”
Arthur responded: “You can’t say much more about the royals than they already have.
“Harry went all in with his book. And in the Oprah Winfrey interview, Meghan didn’t really hold back. I don’t think they can do it anymore – people don’t want to listen to that.
“With a TV program, you’re looking for the next episode, but I couldn’t face another series. She wasn’t a bad actress, and she should stick to acting.
“I mean, it was all false – using somebody else’s house, all the stuff brand new, the kettle gleaming – kitchens aren’t like that. People haven’t got time for cooking like that. She is no Mary Berry.”
Arthur continued: “I think it was a con. She was so nice [on her show], but pretty sure she wasn’t so nice to her own staff at Kensington Palace. It was false. Absolutely false.
Meghan Markle in a kitchen, from With Love, Meghan[/caption]
The Sun’s Royal Photographer, Arthur Edwards at the Royal Exclusive Event[/caption]
Bronte Coy is a royal expert at news.com.au[/caption]
“And I tell you what, I think there will be no second series.”
Bronte added: “There wasn’t a sense of self-awareness about how lavish it all was.
“There’s a way to make that work, but this didn’t land at all. It just felt overly glossy, and again, we learned nothing about her.”
She believes this was Meghan’s “one big chance to steer the ship in a different direction” but added: “Human nature loves gossip – even people who hate Spare or hate-watched Harry & Meghan have an element of curiosity.
“I think they did the right thing moving away from that, but they needed to sell themselves in a different way – and she hasn’t really landed it.
The only thing we learned about him? A fun fact – he likes bacon and salt
Bronte Coy
“I don’t know how they go back or reach the level of success they had with explosive tell-alls.
“Now she’s faced with the problem that reviews from all over the world say she’s quite boring on screen.”
Earlier this week, reports suggested Meghan struggled to book Hollywood stars for her “make or break” Netflix cookery show.
A few friends and neighbours appeared, as well as two celebrity chefs she had never met, but none of her A-list friends – such as Oprah Winfrey or the Beckhams – showed up.
The Duchess shared recipes including how to make spaghetti[/caption]
Meghan features in eight 33-minute episodes[/caption]
Meghan finishes her final episode by hosting friends and family[/caption]
Arthur noted: “Not even her husband turned up until the end. She is married to a prince, and he didn’t even bother to show up.”
Bronte added: “I can see why she kept things separate from him [Harry], but at the same time, she referenced him a lot as ‘my husband.’
“We all know it’s Harry – you can just say Harry.
“The only thing we learned about him? A fun fact – he likes bacon and salt.
“Again, there was an opportunity. He didn’t even need to be a presence in the show, and it didn’t need to be all about him, but let’s learn about you, Meghan, and your life with Harry – the person you’re trying to sell us.”
What do we know about Meghan Markle’s new cooking show, With Love, Meghan?
MEGHAN Markle’s new Netflix documentary trailer shows her cooking with Hollywood pals.
The Duchess of Sussex gave fans an insight into her show, With Love, Meghan, which airs soon.
There will be eight 33 minute episodes featuring a host of Meg’s various Hollywood friends trying her simple, yet “elevated”, food.
A montage of various clips in the nearly two-minute video showed Meghan walking through vegetable patches and fields.
She was also filmed browsing florists, hand-selecting beautiful flowers for table arrangements, showing off her creative side.
The Duchess even tried her hand at beekeeping, fully suited up, as she collected honey.
In the exciting new trailer, Meghan shared: “I’ve always loved taking something pretty ordinary and elevating it.
“Surprising people with moments that let them know I was really thinking of them.
“I’m going to share some little tips and tricks. I see what colour I gravitate to, and everything goes from there. And how you incorporate these practices every day.
“This is about connecting with friends… I love that we’re doing this together for the first time. Making new friends… and just learning.
“We’re not in the pursuit of perfection. We’re in the pursuit of joy. I have to get it totally wrong, to get it totally right.”
The trailer showcased many “candid” moments, from Meghan accidentally squeezing some lemon juice in her eye, to knocking freshly baked goodies off a plate.
Prince Harry featured at the end of the video, embracing his wife in a warm hug.
