Director describes what it was like working on Meghan’s Netflix show

The filmmaker behind Meghan’s new Netflix series, as well as some production staffers, have lifted the lid on working with her.

IN LONDON

The director of Meghan’s new Netflix series, Michael Steed, has opened up about his experience working with her, following reports employees have found her difficult in the past.

“Everyone has their own version of her, but she’s just someone who’s constantly hustling and working,” he told People magazine.

“Her cooking is pretty spot-on. She’s not a chef, and it’s definitely not meant to make it seem like she is, but there’s just a love of cooking that is palpable.”

Another staffer, speaking anonymously to the publication, described the Duchess of Sussex as “warm”, “approachable” and “genuine” throughout production on With Love, Meghan, which has just been renewed for season two. It’s understood filming has already wrapped.

“She made sure everyone felt included, from Netflix executives to our director to every PA on set. No one was left out,” he said.

“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.”

Meghan was also open to learning throughout the process, according to the crew member.

“She didn’t seem too married to any one idea. If something didn’t go perfectly, she was fine with it and moved on to the next thing,” he said.

With Love, Meghan premiered last week. Picture: Netflix

The director has spoken about working on her show.

The staffer added that she was “a great hostess” and that there were occasional set visits from Prince Harry and the couple’s two children, Prince Archie, 5, and Princess Lilibet, 3.

“Whenever Harry visited set, he was always super polite and friendly. But it was clear he wanted this to be Meghan’s moment to shine,” he said.

“She was super attentive and doting on [the kids]. We would give them headphones so they could listen to audio.”

Negative workplace allegations have dogged Meghan for years, dating back to her time working as a royal within Kensington Palace.

Harry occasionally visited the set. Picture: Netflix

A royal staffer told Tom Quinn for the The Times UK last month that they had even nicknamed her “Duchess of Difficult”.

“She could be difficult because she was finding life difficult — trying to feel her way and work out the intricacies of a positively medieval, labyrinthine system,” the Palace employee said, speaking anonymously.

Then, a 8,000-word piece with a series of explosive, unflatting allegations, made by “dozens of people who have worked with and lived alongside the couple” and “over many months” dropped in Vanity Fair in January.

Meghan was portrayed as a ruthless boss, with one staffer revealing they had not believed previous bullying claims about her – but quickly changed her mind after being hired, admitting it could happen “any given Tuesday”.

Another ex-staffer compared Meghan to a “Mean Girls teenager”, and described working on her Archetypes podcast as “really, really awful” and “very painful”.

Others described “taking extended breaks” to “escape scrutiny” or “undergoing long-term therapy” after working with her.

It followed a bombshell article in The Hollywood Reporter in September, which claimed Meghan “belittles people” and that she and Harry are “poor decision-makers”.

“They change their minds frequently. Harry is a very, very charming person — no airs at all — but he’s very much an enabler,” the insider alleged.

“And she’s just terrible.”

Meghan has also firmly denied previous allegations of bullying, which surfaced in 2021 but were claimed to have occurred during her time as a working royal.

As well as her team’s denials, friends and supporters of Meghan have also spoken out in her defence over the years, including in US Weekly last year.

“Best bosses I have ever had,” one current team member said of working with Harry and Meghan, while another described their employment with the couple as “truly an honour”.