Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have received a caution from royal expert Phil Dampier regarding their ongoing criticism of the Royal Family in their Netflix projects. According to Dampier, the couple’s future documentaries on the streaming platform may face challenges if they continue focusing on family grievances.
Speaking with The Sun, Dampier pointed to past royal ventures into documentary-making, notably recalling Prince Edward’s attempts, which ultimately “ended in disaster.” Dampier advised Harry to consider a different direction to avoid similar pitfalls. “Making documentaries has never really gone well for the royals, particularly Prince Edward when he started making lots of documentaries about his own family. That ended in disaster,” Dampier noted.
Dampier continued, suggesting that Harry should avoid the “trap” of revisiting criticisms of his family in public. “To not fall into the same trap, he needs to rein back, and hopefully we’re not going to get any more slagging off the royal family in his documentaries,” he said, adding that shifting focus would allow Harry to explore other meaningful topics.
In September, Netflix announced Harry’s upcoming polo docuseries, scheduled to premiere in December. The streaming giant described the series as offering “an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at the fast-paced world of the sport” and following elite global players.
Dampier acknowledged Harry’s attempt to branch out with new content but noted that the polo series hasn’t generated the attention Netflix might have hoped for. “The Polo one, I don’t think it’s gone down that well,” he observed. “Apparently, Netflix isn’t very happy because there’s hardly anything of the prince in it.”
Dampier’s comments reflect concerns that the Sussexes’ Netflix ventures could struggle to resonate with audiences if they rely too heavily on royal drama, rather than developing fresh narratives. As Harry and Meghan explore new content, they face the challenge of engaging viewers while moving beyond the controversies surrounding their royalties.