When the Duke and Duchess of Sussex inked their blockbuster deal with Netflix in 2020 — a sprawling £100million contract that promised to reshape their post-royal fortunes — it seemed like the ultimate vindication. They had walked away from the institution, seized control of their own narrative and secured a golden ticket to entertainment industry stardom. Yet five years later, the fairy tale has curdled into something far more complicated.
Their initial contract expired in 2025, but rather than the triumphant renewal many anticipated, Netflix offered them something altogether different: a diminished 'first-look' deal that puts the streaming giant in the driver's seat, granting them the power to greenlight or reject any project the couple proposes. It's a humbling pivot that signals mounting doubts about the commercial viability of their brand, according to royal author Duncan Larcombe, who believes the Sussexes' waning fortunes have become impossible to ignore.
