Surprise truth about Meghan Markle’s new Netflix show
Fans are calling out the Duchess of Sussex after revelations her life in the US is a lie.
A surprising new detail has emerged about Meghan Markle’s upcoming Netflix series.
The Duchess of Sussex gave fans a sneak peek of her show, “With Love, Meghan”, which airs on January 15.
The eight-episode lifestyle series offers viewers an opportunity to “feel at home” with the former “Suits” actress.
The irony? The reality show wasn’t actually shot at her home.
Instead of using her sprawling $US14.65 million ($A20.9 million) mansion in Montecito, California, Meghan, 43, filmed the series at an $US8 million ($A12.8 million) farmhouse just three kilometres down the road, owned by local philanthropists Tom and Sherrie Cipolla, the Daily Mail revealed.
The choice of location has raised eyebrows, with critics calling it yet another tone-deaf move by the former working royal.
One insider told the New York Post Meghan had initially sought out the farmhouse aesthetic thinking it would help bring an “average rustic-look vibe” to viewers instead of filming at her extravagant Montecito mansion.
But it turns out to have had the opposite effect.
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According to Realtor, the Cipollas purchased the farmhouse in 2017 for $US4.7 million.
Nestled on 5 acres of avocado and lemon groves, the property features four bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms, an open floor plan and ample windows that flood the home with plenty of light.
Its centrepiece is the kitchen, where Meghan showcases her cooking and entertaining skills on a $US19,000 ($A30,000) Thermador range, flanked by $US750 ($A1,200) copper pans and $US80 ($A120) chopping boards.
In the two-minute trailer, the mother of two can be seen whipping up a variety of treats in the kitchen, oftentimes with the help of her celebrity guests, including Mindy Kaling, Abigail Spencer, Roy Choi, and, of course, Prince Harry.
Much of the clip centres around the kitchen space in which the Duchess cooks up a cake, a fish dish, ice cream, an omelette, and many more delicacies.
However, Meghan can also be seen venturing around the grounds of the Montecito property and even stepping outside of the home, heading to a local flower market and a beehive, where she learns to harvest honey.
“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,” she said in the trailer.
“I’m going to share some little tips and tricks. And how you can incorporate these practices every day.
“This is about connecting with friends, making new friends, and just learning.
“We’re not in the pursuit of perfection, we’re in the pursuit of joy. Love is in the details.”
Despite not filming in her own mansion, Meghan did make sure that she felt as at home as possible in the Cipollas’ abode, even bringing along her dog, Guy, for much of the shoot — with the rescue pooch seen happily snoring away in his dog bed as she continued cooking.
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It is not the first time that Meghan has borrowed another home in order to film an “at-home” style Netflix show.
When she and Harry filmed their controversial 2022 documentary, “Meghan & Harry,” the couple did so in a $US30 million estate not far from their own house.
The six-bedroom property — which is currently on the market — was used by the Sussexes only briefly while they were filming their interviews for the dramatic series.
“If this [Netflix series] was filmed at her own mansion, at least it would have come off more authentic,” the insider added.
The decision to film at the Cipolla estate has added fuel to criticism of the Sussexes’ “relatability problem.”
The couple’s own mansion, purchased in 2020, features manicured gardens, sweeping views, and enough space to accommodate multiple filming setups.
Yet, Meghan and Harry continue to shield much of their private life from public view.
In 2022, Meghan revealed in an interview with The Cut that the property’s two palm trees were a key reason they purchased the home.
“One of the first things my husband saw when we walked around the house was those two palm trees,” she shared.
“We did everything we could to get this house.”
Although Harry and Meghan have gone to great lengths to keep the interiors of their home private, they have shared a few small glimpses inside the property over the years — including images and clips that were aired as part of “Harry & Meghan.”
At one point, Meghan could be seen posing for a photo in the nursery, while another shot showed Harry in an office, taking calls on his laptop.
The pair’s desire for privacy has rubbed one of their Montecito neighbours the wrong way.
Speaking in a German documentary “Harry: The Lost Prince,” Richard Mineards, one of their close neighbours, issued a scathing opinion of Meghan claiming that she has not been an “asset” to the neighbourhood.
“I personally don’t think that Meghan is an asset to our community,” he told the program.
“She doesn’t really go out or get involved with the community.”
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Coupled with the high-profile failures of her Spotify podcast “Archetypes” and the axing of her Netflix series “Pearl”, some question whether Meghan’s pivot to lifestyle content is the right move.
Even her American Riviera Orchard brand — a Goop-like venture focused on home, garden and food products — has faced setbacks, including trademark disputes, staffing problems and delays.
Meghan McCain also ripped Markle as “tone deaf” for releasing the “out of touch” project.
“Now that she wants to be American again instead of British aristocracy what she seems to forget is Americans want real, raw, uncensored,” The daughter of the late US senator John McCain wrote on X Thursday.
“There have been 2 terror attacks in 2 days, major wars raging and Americans can’t pay for groceries. We are a country in rage, uncertainty and intensity right now. This concept is ill advised,” Ms McCain said.
“I would have told her to do a show helping bring fresh food to food deserts in low income neighbourhoods.
Do something to help people instead of your ego. This is why the world doesn’t like you, nothing else. Just completely and utterly tone deaf to the moment.”
“All of this even in the trailer is highly curated, produced and out of touch,” McCain said.
The Netflix series is part of the couple’s reported $US100 million deal with the streaming giant.
Markle’s team has framed the project as a chance to connect with viewers on a more personal level, with Netflix promising moments of “playfulness.”
“We’re not in the pursuit of perfection; we’re in the pursuit of joy,” Meghan said in the trailer.
Parts of this story first appeared in the New York Post and Realtor and were republished with permission.
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