00:00Meghan Markle faces claims of copying Kate Middleton with Christmas special.
00:04Royal watchers are buzzing with controversy as Meghan Markle prepares to release a holiday
00:08special for her lifestyle series with Love, Meghan.
00:10Meghan has been trailing Catherine's fashion footsteps for years.
00:14We're talking clothes, even photo setups with her kids.
00:18Royal fans are accusing Meghan Markle of imitating the Princess of Wales
00:21after revealing that season two of her With Love, Meghan Netflix series
00:26will include a festive holiday special.
00:29Viewers quickly drew parallels with Kate Middleton's own seasonal projects,
00:33such as her annual Royal Carols, together at Christmas concert,
00:37and her 2019 BBC cooking special with Mary Berry, A Berry Royal Christmas.
00:46One social media user wrote,
00:48Anything to compete with Catherine? A December holiday special, really?
00:52Another added,
00:53Is there nothing Meghan won't attempt to do better than Catherine, Princess of Wales?
00:57and fail miserably at, some worried the two specials might clash in release timing.
01:03Meghan's Christmas special may land on the same day as Catherine's concert,
01:07a fan speculated, suggesting it could be an intentional scheduling move.
01:12Kate Middleton's festive shows have become a beloved royal tradition.
01:16Kate Middleton has made Christmas-themed productions a staple of her public work.
01:20In 2024, she hosted her fourth annual concert at Westminster Abbey on December 6th, 2024,
01:28alongside Prince William and their children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.
01:33The event delighted royal fans and was described by Kate as a bright spot after probably the hardest year of my life.
01:42Her 2019 special with Mary Berry showcased her baking skills, charity work, and love for homegrown produce.
01:49The program was warmly received and set a precedent for warm, family-focused royal holiday programming.
01:56Meghan Markle confirms new holiday episode and second Netflix season.
01:59Announcing the extended Netflix deal, Meghan revealed that her show's second season would debut in August 2025,
02:07followed by With Love, Meghan Holiday Celebration, in December 2025.
02:13The holiday special will be filmed in Montecito, California,
02:17where Meghan and Prince Harry live with their children, Archie and Lilibet.
02:21In a joint statement, the couple said,
02:23This December, join Meghan and Montecito for a magical holiday celebration.
02:28The news comes after their original $100 million contract with Netflix
02:32was replaced by a less lucrative multi-year first-look deal.
02:38Meghan Markle and Prince Harry accept smaller Netflix deal after flops.
02:43The Sussex's new Netflix agreement allows the streamer first rights to their film
02:47and TV projects, but does not guarantee funding for every idea.
02:52Industry experts note this is a downgrade from their blockbuster 2020 deal.
02:57Publicist Mark Borkowski commented,
03:00This is less carte blanche, more curated cameo, less champagne budget, more Prosecco by the glass.
03:07With Love, Meghan failed to break into Netflix's top 10 shows
03:11and currently ranks 383rd for the year, with 5.3 million views.
03:17By contrast, their 2022 documentary Harry and Meghan
03:20remains the most-watched Netflix docuseries in its first four days.
03:25Kate Middleton's Holiday Productions and Meghan Markle's Special Compared.
03:30Royal watchers have pointed out key differences between Meghan's upcoming special
03:34and Kate's long-running Christmas programming.
03:38Kate's Together at Christmas concerts have royal family attendance,
03:41and a strong charitable element, often tied to community projects.
03:46Meghan's holiday special, by contrast, will center on her lifestyle brand, as ever,
03:51and feature cooking, decor, and celebrity guests.
03:54Some critics believe Meghan's project is more commercial in nature,
03:58while others say the timing and format echo Kate's initiatives too closely.
04:03So just like Princess Catherine's holiday special, then.
04:06One online comment read,
04:08The difference is Meghan has no royals or family attending hers.
04:13Meghan Markle pushes forward with lifestyle brand.
04:17Despite public criticism, the Duchess has remained upbeat about the New Deal,
04:21emphasizing her creative vision.
04:22My husband and I feel inspired by our partners to create thoughtful content across genres
04:28that resonates globally, she said.
04:31Meghan's as-ever brand sells specialty food items and lifestyle products,
04:36many of which have sold out quickly after appearing on her show.
04:39Netflix's chief content officer, Bella Bajaria, said,
04:42Harry and Meghan are influential voices whose stories resonate with audiences everywhere.
04:47She noted that, with love, Meghan inspired strong product sales,
04:52even if the series itself didn't top streaming charts.
04:56Brand expert Nick Ede believes Netflix is retaining the couple
04:59to prevent them from signing with a rival platform, but at a lower cost.
05:04Only two of the shows they made were real winners for the streamer, he said,
05:08Citing Harry and Meghan and Live to Lead as their biggest successes.
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