The Duchess of Sussex finds herself at a significant juncture. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are reportedly reeling as shocking allegations have surfaced about their alleged split with Netflix.

After consulting industry insiders and those who have collaborated with the couple, entertainment authority Variety asserted in a damning report that the relationship between both parties is "done". The outlet suggests that certain actions from the couple - including their explosive Oprah interview - left executives "blindsided". The Sussexes have vehemently denied these claims.

When their five-year agreement concluded last summer, it was revealed that the Sussexes' contract was being demoted to a less profitable "first look deal" that granted Netflix first refusal on any new projects. Then, just this month, it was announced that Netflix was severing ties with Meghan's lifestyle brand As Ever, rendering it fully independent, having previously been financially backed by the streaming behemoth.

This has sparked queries about whether As Ever can thrive without the support of the streaming giant, and if Meghan can take her brand international amid doubts over sales.

There was considerable anticipation amongst fans when Meghan's brand launched in April 2025. Initially, jam took the spotlight, accompanied by flower sprinkles and cookie mixes. This was followed by wine, candles, bookmarks, and tea.

Backed by Netflix, As Ever was directly connected to the Duchess's lifestyle programme With Love, Meghan. It was anticipated that As Ever merchandise would prove a success with audiences. But there were contradictory reports on the performance of the brand, and on 6 March it was announced that Netflix and As Ever were terminating their partnership.

Inventory was reportedly an area of worry for the streamer, with Variety claiming that last August, Netflix was "sitting on a surplus of As Ever products, including tea and baking mixes, totaling more than $10 million in value".

The magazine also alleges that the company began "giving inventory to employees for free, putting the goods on card tables in various office buildings". In response, an Archewell spokesperson said that giveaways from sample closets are standard practice at studios.

Just last month, Page Six also reported that Netflix's Hollywood offices were inundated with unsold jam jars. The publication claimed that there are "two storage rooms'' worth of stock, including candles, wine and flower sprinkles. "They're literally just giving it away to employees - one (staffer) walked out with 10 products for free," one source claimed, alleging: "There's so much overstock."

But other sources claimed unsold As Ever stock was transferred from Netflix's LA office to another warehouse 'long ago'. "Any remaining stock is being used for 'gifting, sampling, and promotional use," they said. This mirrors concerns voiced about Meghan's lifestyle brand earlier in January. Internet detectives claim they were able to view stock numbers after trying to add an unusually large quantity of items to their online shopping cart, which caused the website to disclose the maximum stock it had on hand.

The stock, allegedly visible in screenshots of the website subsequently posted on Reddit, seemed to display more than 220,000 jars of spread, 30,000 jars of honey, 30,000 mulling kits, nearly 90,000 candles, over 110,000 jars of tea, and 80,000 jars of edible flower sprinkles.

This appeared to imply that Meghan's stock wasn't selling as robustly as previously believed. However, People magazine downplayed the speculation, citing a "source with inside knowledge" of As Ever who stated the glitch "points to a business that isn't just successful – it's flying, literally off the shelf."

Netflix, for their part, suggested in a recent statement that they always planned to part ways with As Ever, stating: "Meghan's passion for elevating everyday moments in beautiful yet simple ways inspired the creation of the As Ever brand, and we are glad to have played a role in bringing that vision to life."

"As it was always intended, Meghan will continue growing the brand and take it into its next chapter independently, and we look forward to celebrating how she continues to bring joy to households around the world."

A spokesperson for As Ever, meanwhile, stated: "As Ever is grateful for Netflix's partnership through launch and our first year. We have experienced meaningful and rapid growth and As Ever is now ready to stand on its own. We have an exciting year ahead and can't wait to share more."

Netflix is reported to have envisaged a strategy for As Ever, which would have begun with wine, and progressed through five stages - incorporating the launch of china and glassware, then food, followed by an expansion into physical retail outlets, and ultimately a cookbook, according to the Mail.

The newspaper suggests that Netflix simply couldn't persuade Meghan to embrace their vision. "Her enthusiasm for business was genuine enough – she and Harry are well aware they need to make money – but she didn't care to take the advice offered by the Netflix head of consumer products, Josh Simon," it alleges.

A source, meanwhile, suggested that sales had proved problematic. "The product was not taken up in the way that people had hoped. The jam thing became totemic. There was just all this jam. We had thought there would be more to it," the source alleged.

There have long been questions surrounding Harry and Meghan's future, having made substantial sums following their departure from royal life through various TV programmes, interviews and a memoir.

However, they do still have their scaled-back Netflix deal to rely upon. Following the publication of the Variety article, Netflix chief content officer Bela Bajaria publicly refuted the claims of a dispute, briefly addressing the speculation at the Next on Netflix event on Wednesday. Bajaria emphasised that Netflix maintains a partnership with the couple, stating: "We still have a relationship with them. We have movies in development with them. We have an amazing doc with them."

"They have things in development on the TV and film side. Deals come and go all the time, and we don't renew so many deals, those just don't get as much press for obvious reasons. There's no juicy story there."

Significantly, Harry and Meghan's most substantial commercial triumphs appear to have resulted from their split with the royal family. An insider informed Variety: "The Sussexes' perceived pattern of selling repackaged versions of the same story about their exit from royal life has exhausted Netflix."

The profitable partnership commenced in September 2020 - nine months following Harry and Meghan's departure from royal duties. The pair signed a five-year contract with Netflix in September 2020, aiming to achieve financial independence in their post-royal existence.

Their six-part docuseries Harry and Meghan became a significant success for the platform - however, subsequent projects failed to connect with audiences, including Heart of Invictus, and Polo.

Then, in March 2025, the first season of With Love, Meghan was released. It received widespread criticism and both the second season and a holiday special failed to rank within the top 1,000 shows on Netflix in 2025. It has since been confirmed it will not be returning for a third series.