A royal expert says Meghan Markle has to deliver one crucial thing if she wants to make a success of her upcoming Christmas With Love special
Meghan Markle
Meghan Markle’s reality TV career is “doomed” if she fails to secure a Hollywood A-lister for her Christmas special which comes out this week, a royal commentator claims. Meghan’s latest Netflix offering – With Love, Meghan: Holiday – lands on Wednesday, 3 December, two days before Kate Middleton hosts her annual Together at Christmas event at Westminster Abbey.
According to Richard Fitzwilliams, a former editor of the International Who’s Who, Meghan, 44, needs to seriously raise the bar after the critically-panned first two series of With Love if she wants to make a success of her As Ever lifestyle brand and TV career. The first series landed in the Netflix Global Top 10 for TV shows when it dropped in March, and was the 389th most-watched show during the first half of 2025. The second instalment, however, failed to break into the Top 10.
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Meghan Markle’s special Christmas series will be released next month
“She has not made a great success of With Love so far “ he told the Mirror, “so her Christmas show is a test because if she doesn’t get an A-lister for it, it’s doomed.”
A one-minute trailer for the Duchess of Sussex’s new episode released last month gave viewers a sneak peek of what to expect – and it included short cameos from Prince Harry, 41, and tennis player Naomi Osaka.
In the voiceover on the clip, Meghan says, “I love the holiday season. It’s about finding time to connect with the people we love, embracing traditions, and making new ones. Let the festivities commence and embrace the special touches that bring you joy.”
Guests on her past seasons of With Love included actresses Chrissy Teigen and Mindy Kaling, makeup artist Daniel Martin, and celebrity chef Samin Nostrat.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
Richard told us that in his view one of Meghan’s biggest problems is that she “can’t break into the A-list” crowd. Her recent trip to Paris to attend the Balenciaga fashion show was an example, he added, of her trying to address this.
“It made perfect sense, because there she was with Anna Wintour, with Anne Hathaway and with Baz Luhrmann,” he said. “It was a very high-profile event and there’s nothing wrong in attending an event of that sort.
“But if you look at all her podcasts and her Netflix episodes, you do not find well known names. As far as I can see, she has got one A-list friend, Serena Williams, who she has been friends with for a long time, but she hasn’t got A-list backing in Hollywood.”
Meanwhile, Kate and William, both 43, are preparing to film the Princess of Wales ’ Together at Christmas carol concert at Westminster Abbey on Friday. The fifth annual concert has an impressive line-up of guests confirmed already – with Kate Winslet, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Hannah Waddingham and Prince William delivering festive readings to an audience of other royals and charity workers from various causes connected to the royal family.
The theme is “the power of love and togetherness”, which organisers said was chosen because “in a world that can often feel fragmented and disconnected, love is the force that reconnects us all”.
A statement from Kensington Palace said, “This year, the Service will bring people together to celebrate love in all its forms – whether it’s love within families, through friendships, across communities, or even through powerful moments of connection with strangers.”
It continued, “This year, Her Royal Highness wanted to recognise and thank the many people around the country who are acting with love in their communities, contributing to a more cohesive and connected society.”
Prince William will also deliver a reading to the 1,600-strong congregation, and Nine Million Bicycles singer/songwriter Katie Melua, Cornish folk group Fisherman’s Friends and rising star Griff will provide some of the musical entertainment.
By mirror.co.uk