Meghan Markle and Prince Harry dispute claims Netflix was blindsided by Oprah Interview and Spare. The couple’s collaboration with Netflix since signing their production deal in September 2020 shortly after stepping back from their royal roles and relocating to Monteceto, California.
Their first project was a six episode doceries Harry and Megan which chronicled the couple’s relationship from its early days to their royal wedding and decision to step back from royal life. According to Variety, production on Harry and Megan involved shifts in his creative team with multiple directors linked the project at different stages before Liz Garbus ultimately came on board to helm the series.
The report also points attentions around the release of the series during production on Harry and Megan. The couple sat down with Oprah Winfrey in May 2021 for a widely watched interview that covered many personal details later included in the docuseries. While they were not accused of violating their production deal, Netflix was allegedly annoyed by what Variety described as a lack of communication.

Sources cited by Variety claimed the company was only made aware shortly before the interview aired. A spokesperson for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex disputed that account, telling the outlet it is categorically false that Netflix was unaware of the Winfrey interview regarding the deal. The representative added that Netflix and Archwell had legal council involved to oversee the evolution of the deal as is common practice for any deal changes in Hollywood.

A source familiar with the situation tells people that the couple’s Netflix deal was limited to specific categories and that the streamer was aware of and signed off on the Oprah interview. Following the interview, attention turned to the possibility of a memoir from Prince Harry. According to Variety, Netflix raised questions about how a potential book deal might affect the roll out of Harry and Megan.

Sources cited by Variety claimed Megan downplayed the prospect at the time to Netflix CEO Ted Sandos, suggesting any publication would be far in the future, if it happened at all. The memoir Spare was later formally announced in 2021. Variety reports that Summit Netflix felt blindsided by that development and its timing in relation to the docuseries.
A spokesperson for the Duchess of Sussex disputed that characterization, calling it categorically untrue and saying it was open communication with Netflix months in advance to coordinate the timing of the book and the series. A source familiar with the situation also tells People that Netflix was aware of Prince Harry’s plans to pursue a separate book and podcast deal, noting that the original agreement