Meghan Markle’s friends accuse Netflix of ‘using’ Duchess of Sussex to promote Guy Ritchie’s The Gentlemen

Reports emerged in August the Duchess had been in advanced talks to join the cast of the show’s next instalment prior to her move to Britain with Prince Harry.

GB News reported the acting opportunity played a part in the family’s decision to relocate to the UK with their two children, although it was not the only factor.

Yet within 24 hours of the news becoming public, the prospective deal was cast into serious doubt, with former Vanity Fair editor Tina Brown reporting the offer “has been withdrawn due to a public backlash”.

Season 2 of the Netflix series, featuring Theo James as an aristocrat who discovers his inherited estate conceals a sprawling cannabis operation, was released on September 3.

Within its first week, the premiere attracted three million viewers in Britain.

That represents a decline of roughly 15 per cent compared with the first season’s debut, which drew 3.5 million streams when it launched in March 2024.

And now, friends of Meghan have told The Telegraph she was “used to help promote” to second season of the show.

One told the newspaper: “Some people in her camp feel she was used to help promote season two, because they knew it wasn’t as good as the first season and had already commissioned a third.

“It’s the oldest marketing trick in the book: get a big name to read a script, then leak that you’re ‘in conversation’ with them when, in reality, nothing is particularly far along.”

The source said the alleged leak had “left a bit of a sour taste” in the Sussex camp’s mouth.

They added: “Needless to say, Netflix got what it wanted: huge viewing figures for season two and a lot of publicity.”

The relationship between the streaming giant and Meghan appeared to collapse last year after her £74million five-year deal was not renewed.

It has been reported that the extension was not offered following a breakdown in relations between the royal and senior Netflix executives.

Last week, it was reported the Duchess was eyeing a return to acting but was “very cautious” about reading scripts amid fears of leaks to the media.

One insider said: “They’re being very cautious about which scripts they agree to read at the moment.

“Everyone knows that whatever Meghan’s first film or show turns out to be, it’s going to attract huge interest.

“The prospect of seeing her return to acting will drive big audiences, and ultimately, someone – whether it’s Netflix, Amazon or another studio – is going to make a lot of money from it.”

The allegations surrounding Netflix come just days after Meghan and Prince Harry made their first joint public engagement since returning to the UK in Nottingham.

On Thursday, the royals spent time with young people at The Community Recording Studio in St Ann’s, which was set up in 1991 by Trevor Rose and Nick Sterrett with the original aim of providing music and recording access to local youth.

GB News has approached Netflix for comment.

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