The expenses surrounding Archewell’s anticipated 2024 return have raised eyebrows, with speculation that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s involvement in quasi-royal tours to Nigeria and Colombia may have contributed to the hefty costs.

During these visits, Meghan Markle, the former star of Suits, made headlines with her numerous outfit changes and expensive designer wardrobe as she engaged with national leaders, visited schools, and attended lavish dinners in her honor.

However, in 2025, the royal couple shifted their focus back home to salvage their struggling business ventures. Their partnership with Netflix took a hit when the streaming giant opted for a first-look deal over an exclusive five-year agreement in August.

Unfortunately, the content produced under this new arrangement failed to resonate with audiences. Meghan Markle’s lifestyle series, With Love, Meghan, received poor viewership despite two seasons, while Harry’s docuseries, Polo, garnered less than 500,000 views in the first half of the year.

Adding to their woes, Markle’s As Ever product line, featuring fruit spreads, honey, teas, and wine, struggled to attract customers. According to data from Similarweb, Asever.com only received 196,831 monthly visits in October, significantly lower than competitors like Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop.com, which amassed 812,462 visits.

Industry insiders have described Markle’s disappointment with the lackluster performance of As Ever, with one source revealing, “She is still viewing the figures as her ultimate mortification as she idolizes Paltrow and her success so much.”