Meghan Markle is copping a fresh wave of criticism after sharing a trailer for her upcoming Netflix Christmas special that features a steamy moment with Prince Harry- posted only moments before Prince William and Princess Catherine hit the Royal Variety Performance in London.
The Duchess of Sussex, 44, uploaded the preview for her With Love, Meghan holiday program on Wednesday evening via Instagram.
The minute-long teaser shows Meghan bustling around her lavish Montecito home, decorating for Christmas, chatting about traditions and, early on, leaning in for a heated kiss with Harry, 41.
“I love the holiday season,” she said in the voice-over, as a jazz rendition of Jingle Bells plays.
The trailer opens with Meghan browsing Christmas trees in California before cutting to the pair locking lips in their kitchen.
“It’s about finding time to connect with the people we love, embracing traditions, and making new ones,” she said.
In another scene, Meghan laughed: “It’s pretty jolly in here” before adding: “Let’s go craft!”
The trailer features several well-known faces, including tennis great Naomi Osaka and chef Tom Colicchio, and also nods to her children- six-year-old Prince Archie and four-year-old Princess Lilibet- through a mug scrawled with her signature handwriting asking Santa for presents and a handmade advent calendar.
Another scene shows Meghan in a green satin gown lighting candles in her living room.
“Being a hostess or host- it’s about making people feel comfortable,” she says.
“Let the festivities commence and embrace the special touches that bring you joy.”
The timing of the release caused the biggest stir.
Meghan’s trailer went live just as the Prince and Princess of Wales, both 43, arrived for the annual Royal Variety Performance- their sixth appearance at the charity event and Catherine’s first since recovering from an undisclosed cancer battle.
Catherine stepped out in a striking green velvet gown, accessorised with the late Queen Elizabeth II’s Cartier diamond drop earrings, while Prince William donned a velvet jacket and crisp white shirt.
The pair beamed as they greeted crowds outside the Royal Albert Hall.
“The Royal Variety Charity is thrilled that Their Royal Highnesses The Prince and Princess of Wales will once again attend the Royal Variety Performance,” Giles Cooper, chairman of the Royal Variety Charity and executive producer of the event, said.
“This annual great British institution, viewed by a worldwide TV audience of over 150 million, continues to be a crucial fundraising event supporting people in all areas of performance, either on or off stage.
“In this pressurised world of working in the entertainment industry, our mental health initiative, started in 2024, has been a lifeline for many who are experiencing issues such as anxiety, depression or addiction.”
Whether strategic or simply unfortunate timing, the move was quickly called out by royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams.
“William and Kate attend the Royal Variety Performance tonight, but they will probably find Harry and Meghan’s kiss gets more coverage,” he said moments before their arrival.
“The timing is execrable and Harry’s reported offer to share diaries hasn’t got very far. The trouble is, when Meghan’s festive show airs he may be little more than an extra – he should beware, it may be a sign.”
Fitzwilliams also argued the trailer “needed Serena Williams” or another major name to help it “reach beyond the smiley, cringey world she has created”, adding that he doubted the series would push Meghan’s brand anywhere new.
“I strongly doubt that Netflix will want more of what she’s produced so far in With Love, Meghan in the New Year.
“You see this and wonder what is in it for the streaming giant,” he said.
The With Love, Meghan holiday special premieres on December 3.
It arrives just weeks after the Sussexes confirmed they had entered a scaled-down agreement with Netflix, following a five-year $100 million deal that delivered mixed results and formally ended in September.
While Meghan’s lifestyle brand, As Ever, is also supported by the streaming service- and several of her fruit spreads appear in the closing frames of the trailer- the brand was notably absent from Netflix’s new physical store in Philadelphia, which opened on 10 November.
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