‘It’s the fakest stuff EVER’ – Viewers give their verdict on Meghan Markle’s new Netflix show With Love, Meghan
MEGHAN Markle's show is the "FAKEST stuff ever" and "only for the richest people", viewers slam.
The Duchess, 43, hit screens in her Netflix cooking and lifestyle docuseries With Love, Meghan this morning.
Across eight 33-minute episodes the mum-of-two made cringe jokes about her bacon, shared recipes with pals, learnt from celeb chefs and even became emotional over bees.
But less than an hour since the release, harsh viewers have already left scathing criticism.
One penned on X: "I'm not even 30 seconds into the first episode and I already know that With Love, Meghan is the FAKESTEST stuff ever."
Another added: "Six minutes of with love Meghan... ok only for richest people..so.. bye bye."
"All of Meghan Markle’s “recipes” can be found on Pinterest," claimed someone else.
But others have been loving the series, with a fan posting: "I'm watching With Love, Meghan and it's delightful. I will never understand the people whose entire personalities are hating her. It's sickening."
Meg teases her next book…
The Duchess hints her future venture could be a Game Night Cooking book.
She gathers with her friends – called the Mom Squad – for a night of Mexican food and board game Mahjong.
This comes after insiders claimed Meghan is holding out until the opportune moment to release a tell-all book.
Meghan insists her name is 'Sussex'
The Duchess has insisted her surname is now "Sussex" after correcting a celebrity pal in her new Netflix show.
In the second episode, Meghan welcomes US Office star Mindy Kaling who says: "People wouldn’t believe that Meghan Markle ate at Jack in the Box."
Meghan fires back with: "It’s so funny, too, that you keep saying Meghan Markle. You know I’m Sussex now.”
Harry’s love of fried chicken
Meghan reveals one of Prince Harry’s favourite dishes in episode three.
She makes several courses with celebrity chef Roy Choi.
The Duchess tells him: “Have I fried chicken before solo? Never.
“My grandma, my mum’s mum used to fry chicken. But I love it and my husband loves fried chicken too. So maybe we’re going to start making some more of this.
“I feel as though if you’re making it at home, you’re going to want to make it with friends or family.”
Netflix viewers left baffled by how Meghan makes pasta
The former Suits actress makes some “noodles” for her friend Daniel.
Traditionally, the Italian method sees pasta cooking in a large pot of boiling water.
But Meghan only pours “three cups” of liquid into a pan and pops the lid on.
She says: “When I make this, I make it for my family”.
Harry should have 'bigger role'
Royal expert Ingrid Seward told The Sun that she believes Prince Harry should have had more screen time.
She said: "I think we're only aware of Meghan because of Harry and I still think that they made a mistake.
"Netflix should have persuaded Harry to be a much bigger part of this show, and made it there for an amusement value rather than sort of glossy look at me and my gold jewellery and my white clothes and my beautiful makeup.
"I think they've got it wrong. I think it could have really worked with a lot of humour in it, and a few mistakes. It's all too perfect.
"I don't think Harry would have done 8 episodes, but he might have done 4.
"I'm sure that Meghan could have persuaded him to be part of it, and then, of course, it would’ve still got criticised, but at least it would have been fun."
‘In loving memory of Guy’
The programme is dedicated “In loving memory of Guy”, after their beloved rescue dog who died in January.
Guy appears sleeping peacefully in the background of several episodes.
Meg also takes her pooch on a walk around their garden on a lead.
Meghan Netflix countdown - Six more days until our show launches on @netflix! Celebrating the crew and everyone who helped make this happen! The countdown begins ‘A breath of fresh air’
While the Netflix docuseries has garnered some negative reviews, others raved about the cooking show.
“With Love, Meghan is a breath of fresh air and it’s not just about food, beautiful food, but it’s more about sharing stories and making memories while preparing that beautiful food, definitely a good watch,” wrote one.
Another penned: “I am definitely inspired. I need a cook book named, with love Meghan.”
“Duchess Meghan makes it all look so easy and doable. I’m hooked already!” Added a third.
Meg’s ‘rainbow platter’ mocked
Richard Arnold displayed his own fruit dish on the breakfast show earlier today.
A clip of With Love Meghan played as he joked: “Here’s one we made earlier.
“Sprinkled with cornflakes, tomatoes… And there you have it, from Dickie, With Love.”
Susanna Reid jibed: “In the old days it used to be called a fruit salad”.
'Completely other world'
Hugo said that despite being a TV show the Netflix footage took away from the "realism".
Hugo continued: "Many of us don't even have a garden. We don't have bees. We can't make honey, we can't, you know.
"We can't do any of these things because we don't have the ingredients to hand, you know. Whether she does or not. I don't know, but it implies that she does so, you know."
He added: "It's not really what cooking is like with all the mess and whatnot, it is a completely other world. I would say."
'Out of touch'
Royal author and biographer Hugo Vickers has said that Meghan's show could appear "out of touch" to many viewers.
Hugo said: "I mean, it really is a rich woman in a very expensive kitchen, which is not her own, and one of the reports said you'd have to spend £8 million to get a house with a kitchen like that in it.
"The various pots and pans and devices that you need are all have all been listed in the media, and all very expensive, you know.
"I see figures like £450 for some things and £60 for some smaller things."
'Welcome to the Joy'
Meghan has now shared an email to her As Ever subscribers.
She wrote: "Dear friend, I am so happy to have you join me on this adventure. Some of you will remember receiving newsletters similar to this one back in 2014, when I founded The Tig.
"Though much has changed since then, so much has stayed the same. I still dance in my kitchen, experiment with recipes, get my hands dirty in the garden, laugh with friends over too many glasses of wine and pivot from going out in a date night worthy dress to being cozy at home in sweats and a baseball cap."
Meg added: "With As Ever, I trust you'll feel this in every beat of what we've created. It's a line of products designed to make your everyday moments memories.
"They say you have to break a lot of eggs to make an omelette - and that is true. Sometimes they fall, sometimes they crack and sometime you don't have enough eggs at all.
"But I will tell you this much, no matter how many eggs break in the process you can still end up with a pretty great omelette.
"Sometimes even better than you expected. There is so much more coming and I can't wait to share it with you."
Meghan channels 'inner Diana'
The Duchess of Sussex recreated Princess Diana's iconic look in her new show.
In episode seven, Elevating the Everyday, the mum-of-two appeared in a cream Northwestern sweatshirt, reminiscent of the one worn by Prince Harry's late mother nearly 30 years ago.
The Duchess is seen walking across her garden to her large vegetable patch wearing light blue jeans and the jumper.
Behind the scenes snaps...
Meghan shared some "BTS snaps" and shots of her simple yet elevated food.
She captioned the Instagram post: "Today is the day! Come join the party on @netflix!"
The pictures included a photograph of the Duchess with Mindy Kaling, her Fruit Platter, lemon cake, as well as some candid moments with guests Daniel Martin, Alice Waters and Vicky Tsai.
Prince Harry shows ‘gesture of sexual power’ before ‘loving nuzzle’
Speaking exclusively to Fabulous, body language expert Judi James explained: “He places an arm around Meghan’s shoulders, pulling her close to his torso, creating the impression that she is endearingly tucked under his arm.
“He nuzzles her affectionately, saying, ‘You’ve done a good job,’ in a gentle, intimate tone, even allowing his face to be partially obscured to give her his full attention."
The expert continued: "Harry’s body language here exudes a pronounced aura of machismo, as though he’s stepped straight out of his polo documentary into a world of ‘feminine’ soft skills.
“His shoulders are square, his legs are splayed, one hand is casually slung into his jeans pocket in a gesture of sexual power, while the other clutches his drink as though preparing to toast the regiment."
Credit: Netflix I watched Meghan M&S food ad so you don't have to
Straight from The Duchess of Sussex’s very own playbook, Netflix has attempted to ‘take something ordinary and elevate it.’
But if I may use a soufflé analogy for this schmaltzy serving of supposedly original television, then it arrived in our living rooms full of fluffy promise before swiftly collapsing in a gloopy heap of I told you so as all it’s hot air slowly seeped through the sides.
A Martha Stewart for the modern age was perhaps the aim of this eight-part series called ‘With Love, Meghan’ but the content was as predictable as Sir Rod Stewart donning a kilt to sing Auld Lang Syne and far less entertaining.
For despite her acting history, royal connections and obvious beauty, Meghan Markle just doesn’t have the crucial component you need when selling an idea to the viewing public… authenticity.
'Queasy and exhausting'
A mixed bag of reviews have poured in from viewers, fans and critics.
The Telegraph rated the Netflix show only two out of five stars.
Anita Singh, the newspaper's arts and entertainment editor, slammed the series as an "exercise in narcissism" and called it "insane".
Meanwhile, the Independent gave it just one measly star out of five, dubbing it "queasy and exhausting".
Katie Rosseinsky wrote it felt the "TV version of The Tig" was like "a millennial blog come to life".
But experts at the Evening Standard slapped four out of five stars on With Love, Meghan.
Journalist Melanie McDonagh hailed Meg for all her tips and tricks - "it's all so simple".
Credit: Netflix The Duchess' secret to the perfect scrambled eggs
As Meg makes fried chicken batter, her celeb chef pal tells her to add cold sparkling water to the mix.
"Do you ever put cold sparkling water in your eggs before you scramble them?" She asks.
Roy looks confused and says "no".
"It has the same sort of effect, it helps them rise," Meghan smiles.
Meg shares one thing she ALWAYS does at hotels
While cooking with Roy Choi, the pair bond over their shared love of cleanliness.
They both reveal they tidy as they go - and this isn't limited to the kitchen.
"I even clean up hotel rooms as I leave," says Roy.
Meg adds: "I do too, I tidy, make the bed, put dirty towels in the bathtub, even if you don't know the people, or they don't know who you are, I would always picture my mum or grandma saying 'where is your home training?"
Credit: Netflix 'In loving memory of Guy'
The programme is dedicated “In loving memory of Guy”, after their beloved rescue dog who died in January.
Guy appears sleeping peacefully in the background of several episodes.
Meg also takes her pooch on a walk around their garden on a lead.
Credit: Netflix Harry's love of fried chicken
Meghan reveals one of Prince Harry's favourite dishes in episode three.
She makes several courses with celebrity chef Roy Choi.
The Duchess tells him: "Have I fried chicken before solo? Never.
"My grandma, my mum's mum used to fry chicken. But I love it and my husband loves fried chicken too. So maybe we're going to start making some more of this.
"I feel as though if you're making it at home, you're going to want to make it with friends or family."
Credit: Netflix 'Head of morale'
While chatting with her former Suits co-star Abigail Spencer, the pair reminisce about the show.
The actress, who played Dana Scott, says: "You were head of moral on the show"
"I like to plan fun for everyone," Meg responds.
Abigail then gives credit to the Duchess for helping kick start her floral business.
"I would send you the early bouquets and you would say 'not this, add that', and now look at us!" she adds.
Credit: Netflix
Meg teases her next book...
The Duchess hints her future venture could be a Game Night Cooking book.
She gathers with her friends - called the Mom Squad - for a night of Mexican food and board game Mahjong.
This comes after insiders claimed Meghan is holding out until the opportune moment to release a tell-all book.
Netflix viewers left baffled by how Meghan makes pasta
The former Suits actress makes some "noodles" for her friend Daniel.
Traditionally, the Italian method sees pasta cooking in a large pot of boiling water.
But Meghan only pours "three cups" of liquid into a pan and pops the lid on.
She says: "When I make this, I make it for my family".
Credit: Netflix The Duchess reveals adorable secrets about Archie and Lilibet
Meghan says her kids "take their gardening very seriously".
In episode two she explains: "Our kids have real sets, they take their gardening very seriously.
"We have them every day because I think that's how our kids love eating vegetables, you make it present beautifully with your eyes first".
As she scoops strawberry preserve, Meg adds: "Lili and I actually made this batch together.
"She picked these with me, she is like 'no mamma I will stir it'. But she is proud, that part feels good".
Trolls accuse Meghan of ripping off LA food blogger
One person has claimed the Duchess copied Meg Quinn, who posts under "Ain't too proud Meg", with her "Fruit Rainbow".
The critical post read: "Meghan Markle copied food blogger Ain't too proud to Meg.
"She couldn't even change up some of the fruits!"
Credit: x