Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, released a Christmas special of her Netflix show, With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration, which came out on Wednesday, December 3. In the 56-minute episode, Meghan shares festive tips, creates personalised crackers, hosts a brunch for friends, and enjoys crafting with tennis star Naomi Osaka, cooking with renowned chef and Top Chef star, Tom Colicchio, Will Guidara, restaurateur and hospitality expert, and longtime friends Kelly Zajfen and Lindsay Jill Roth. In the episode, Meghan takes viewers on a cozy holiday journey, including a trip to a Christmas tree lot in Santa Barbara, California, painting holiday plates, creating handmade wreaths, icing cookies, and making traditional Christmas crackers.
She hosts a brunch where guests reflect on gratitude, family, and creativity, and Prince Harry also made a surprise appearance. However, audiences were quick to voice disappointment.
Critics from The Independent, The Daily Telegraph, The London Evening Standard, and The Guardian largely criticised the special, with most awarding no more than two stars and The Telegraph and The Independent giving a single star each.
Hannah Ewens from The Independent said: “It’s all a little Stepford Wives; not informative, fun, enjoyable or even aspirational. Because the people watching this, including me, will never have a Christmas like this.”
Anita Singh from The Telegraph wrote: “Meghan’s Christmas special is quite mad and a little bit sad.”
Meanwhile, it had an average score of 2.4 out of 10 on IMDb and a 14% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes at the time of writing.
One person who rated it a 1 out of 10 on IMDb and said it “didn’t hit the mark.” They added: “I was hoping this season would be an improvement on the first two, but for me it still didn’t quite hit the mark.
“It’s a shame that neither Meghan nor Harry’s family were involved, and instead the guests seemed to be people who don’t appear particularly close to them. The show felt a bit off, as if something important was missing.”
Someone else called it “unoriginal and boring”: “Despite its promising premise, the work ultimately falls flat due to a lack of originality and any real sense of energy.
“Ultimately, the show feels like a missed opportunity: a production with the resources and setup to be engaging but without the narrative depth to truly connect. It’s not unwatchable, but it fails to offer the richness or resonance that elevates a series from passable to memorable.”
Someone else wrote on Rotten Tomatoes: “I find it odd that Meghan released a ‘holiday’ special without including anyone from her or Harry’s family. Unfortunately, part three was the weakest of the series. It didn’t feel like a true holiday special for several reasons: there was no family involvement, the conversations were bland and uneventful, the whole thing felt staged, Meghan just doesn’t come across as a natural host.”
But not everyone shared the same opinion. Sophia A. Nelson, from Forbes, said it is a “Christmas lesson in creative hospitality.”
She added: “Meghan Markle’s Netflix holiday special reminds us that presence, simplicity, and intentional care—not perfection—create the most meaningful celebrations.”
One viewer, called Alicia, wrote on Rotten Tomatoes: “Holiday specials aren’t really my thing, but this was just a cosy, easy watch and gave me quite a few ideas and tips for simple things like wrapping and making Christmas-related goodies. Really liked Meghan’s chemistry with her guests.”
Another person rated it a 10/10 and said: “I loved watching this episode. It was so wholesome, sweet, and soothing. In the true spirit of Christmas, I loved that Meghan reminded us that we shouldn’t strive for perfection, but simply enjoy spending time with our guests in a spirit of kindness. Her tips are affordable and, at the same time, visually appealing. I’m going to try some of them for the holidays. Watch it as often as you like to feel calm and enjoy a moment of sweetness.”
Someone else agreed with this adding: “What makes this special great is its warmth. There’s craft, there’s intention, and there’s also an effortless charm that keeps the whole thing from feeling like any other lifestyle show. The gift-wrapping segment is particularly full of useful tips. More than a holiday episode, it feels like a gentle nudge to slow down and choose to be more present while enjoying any kind of Christmas activities with loved ones.”
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‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.express.co.uk ’
