Meghan Markle Fulfils Her Dream with the Premiere of 'With Love, Meghan' After Numerous Setbacks

After Meghan Markle decided to postpone the launch of 'With Love, Meghan' in mid-January due to the wildfires ravaging California, the first episode of the series starring the Duchess of Sussex is finally available. Netflix describes it as "the inspiring series that reinvents the lifestyle programming genre." The daughter-in-law of King Charles presents herself as a domestic goddess, welcoming guests into her perfectly arranged kitchen and entertaining her (famous) friends at her California home.

In 33-minute episodes, Markle shares "how even the smallest details can add beauty to our lives and, most importantly, help bring people together." The actress compiles "some of her favourite tips and tricks for cooking, gardening, crafting, and more" to become the ultimate hostess or the new Martha Stewart of Montecito.

The premiere has not been without controversy and obstacles. Besides the delay in its release, the Duchess of Sussex's lifestyle brand, also backed by Netflix, has faced several issues. First, there was a name change, followed by accusations of logo plagiarism, which closely resembled the coat of arms of the Mallorcan town of Porreres.

Meghan introduced American Riviera Orchard, inspired by Montecito, California, where she resides with Harry and their two children since leaving the UK. However, the geographical reference to Santa Barbara hindered its commercial registration, limiting it to products made or grown in the area. As a result, she decided to rebrand it as 'As Ever'. The new image was unveiled just two weeks ago, revealing the logo's similarity to Porreres' coat of arms, featuring a central tree flanked by two flying birds.

Amidst the commotion, the first criticisms of the programme's content have emerged, with some considering it misaligned with the women's empowerment ideas Meghan often expresses in conferences and gatherings. The shift towards domestic matters is seen as a nod to the 'traditional wives' or 'tradwives' gaining prominence on social media, reinforcing ideals of femininity that seemed outdated.

In any case, Meghan has managed to overcome all obstacles and finally achieved her dream. A dream that dates back to 2014 when, as an actress on 'Suits', she created 'The Tig', a website named after an Italian wine (Tignanello) about gastronomy and travel, featuring interviews with personalities. The daughter-in-law of King Charles closed 'The Tig' in 2017, coinciding with her romance with Prince Harry, and her aspirations were put on hold until now, as she returns with lifestyle content in eight episodes.

The programme could also help improve her public image. Meghan has always been a controversial figure, and her departure from the British Crown only fuelled criticism against her. This was further exacerbated when the Sussexes gave an interview to Oprah Winfrey shortly after settling in Montecito, accusing the British royal family of affecting their mental health and making racist comments.

Recently, the daughter-in-law of King Charles has found herself in the spotlight again due to accusations from former employees who criticise her for a despotic and disrespectful attitude in her daily life. Even former US President Donald Trump dismissed the potential expulsion of Prince Harry from the country for drug use, arguing he already had enough with his wife. To add to this, English tabloids frequently report on alleged marital crises. The latest, this month, saw 'The List' claiming "there are warning signs in the marriage that are hard to ignore," while 'Newsnation' reported "they need money. The way they live and the pace at which they spend... They'll run out of cash sooner rather than later."

It remains to be seen if the premiere of 'With Love, Meghan' will silence all these criticisms and speculations, presenting a new image of the Duchess of Sussex, more amiable and relatable to the public.