Meghan Markle’s new show makes Netflix top 10 but viewing numbers lower than 2022’s Harry & Meghan

Meghan Markle’s new cooking show has reached Netflix’s Top 10 list but her solo venture isn’t breaking any records yet. It comes as Netflix crew reveal what she was really like to work with.

Meghan Markle’s latest Netflix venture, the eight-part series “With Love, Meghan,” has earned lower viewership numbers than her 2022 series “Harry & Meghan.”

New figures appear to suggest that viewers prefer seeing the Duchess of Sussex on-screen with her husband, Prince Harry, rather than solo.

The “Suits” alum, 43, premiered her cooking show March 4. And, while it managed to find a way into Netflix’s Top 10 list, streaming figures show a stark contrast between her solo venture and her joint tell-all series alongside the Duke of Sussex.

“With Love, Meghan” — a series that shows the and to mum of two offer a “how-to guide” for entertaining — pulled in 526,000 US households in the first five days it was available, according to data obtained by data analytics firm Samba TV.

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, stars in With Love, Meghan, which is streaming on Netflix. Picture: Netflix

By comparison, Part 1 of Meghan and Harry’s 2022 series drew 2.1 million US households in roughly the same number of days, the data seen by The Daily Mail showed.

Meghan’s latest project proved to be most successful among viewers aged 45 to 54.

As for geographical success, “With Love, Meghan” was most successful in the Baltic States: Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia.

While the show did trend in the US, UK and Canada for a few days, it slid down the Top 10 list after three days, and officially fell off the list over the weekend.

According to Netflix’s own data, “With Love, Meghan” landed the No. 10 spot globally and a tally of 12.6 million hours watched in its first 6 days, compared with the record 81.5 million hours set by 2022’s “Harry & Meghan,” which became the No. 2 English language TV show in just 4 days on the platform.

Still, it appears as though Netflix was chuffed with the streaming numbers “With Love, Meghan” raked in, as it said last week the show has been greenlit for Season 2.

The Sussexes signed a $US100 million ($A159 million) deal with the streamer in 2020.

They came out with their five-part “Harry & Meghan” docuseries in 2022, in which the pair provided an intimate look into their new life in California after stepping down as senior members of the royal family in 2020.

Meghan markle creates a rainbow fruit platter for the show. Picture: Netflix

They also executive-produced Netflix’s docuseries “Live to Lead,” which focused on trailblazers such as New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Greta Thunberg, Gloria Steinem and Equal Justice Initiative lawyer Bryan Stevenson.

The project was closely followed by “Heart of Invictus,” a documentary following athletes preparing for the Harry-founded Invictus Games, which aired in August 2023.

In December, Harry released his “Polo” documentary. The project — which barely featured the exiled royal — received a scathing reception from critics.

MEGAN ‘MADE US FEEL SEEN’

Netflix staffers who worked with Meghan Markle behind the scenes of her new cooking show say she made them feel “part of” the experience.

While palace aides have leaked stories about Meghan’s allegedly difficult behaviour, the With Love, Meghan crew have nothing but good things to say about the duchess.

“She made sure everyone felt included, from Netflix executives to our director to every PA on set. No one was left out,” a staffer told People magazine.

“Most of the time, we’re expected to fade into the background, to be invisible. But in this show, we were part of it. We were included. It was a very unique and refreshing experience.”

The same staffer shared a touching anecdote about how Meghan had ensured everyone around her “felt seen”.

A screengrab from With Love, Meghan. Picture: Netflix

“During a break in filming, Meghan asked everyone about their favourite cocktails. I shared that I gave up drinking when I became a father, so I’ve been sober for almost 14 years,” the crew member said.

To his surprise, Meghan complimented him several days later about his commitment to sobriety.

“Meghan made us feel seen,” he said.

HARRY AND MEGHAN’S PARENTING UNDER FIRE

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have been criticised after fans spotted a risky detail in the image of daughter Princess Lilibet that was shared online.

To mark International Women’s Day, Meghan posted an image of three-year-old Lilibet cuddling up to her father while they took a boat ride.

The adorable image, which showed doting dad Harry kissing the top of his daughter’s head, was published alongside other images “celebrating strong women”, including a snap of Meghan as a toddler with her mother, Doria Ragland.

The controversial image of Prince Harry and daughter Princess Lilibet, which was shared by Meghan Markle. Picture: Meghan, Duchess of Sussex/Instagram

However, social media users were quick to point out one “irresponsible” detail in the image — Lilibet was not wearing a life jacket while on board the vessel.

While it is not known where the image was taken, children in the US state of California, where the Sussexes reside, must wear a life jacket at all times while on a moving vessel.

Angry social media users took to X to criticise the pair’s parenting skills.

“Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are so good at showing the world how much they suck at being parents,” one person wrote in a scathing post.

Another warned: “My family has been in the boating industry for four generations. A very big no-no — things happen in a blink of an eye.”

One critic called the move “insane”, while another said the Sussexes’ “priorities seem to be anywhere but on actual parenting”.

The Duchess of Sussex also shared a romantic snap with Prince Harry. Picture: Meghan, Duchess of Sussex/Instagram

The image was posted alongside the caption: “Celebrating the strong women around us and the girls with dreams who will become women with vision. Also thanking those who uplift us every day.”

It came after Meghan celebrated Netflix the renewal of her controversial series, With Love, Meghan for a second season.

The series has been slammed by critics, with accusations it is smug and elitist “lifestyle filler”.

Shortly after the official announcement by Netflix, Meghan took to her Instagram page to celebrate.

“If you’re loving Season 1, just wait until you see the fun we cooked up on Season 2!” she wrote.

“Thanks for joining the party, and an endless thanks to the amazing team and crew who helped bring it all to life!.”

Originally published as Meghan Markle’s new show makes Netflix top 10 but viewing numbers lower than 2022’s Harry & Meghan