Reports emerged in August that 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 that 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prospective deal was cast into serious doubt, with former Vanity Fair editor Tina Brown reporting the offer “has been withdrawn due to a public backlash”.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” the 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.

Meghan Markle’s Friends Accuse Netflix of ‘Using’ the Duchess to Promote Guy Ritchie’s The Gentlemen

The relationship between Meghan Markle, Netflix and the entertainment industry has become the subject of renewed discussion following claims that people close to the Duchess of Sussex are unhappy with how her public profile may be used to promote other productions. The reported criticism raises questions about celebrity partnerships, the commercial value of royal connections and the delicate balance between personal reputation and business interests.

At the centre of the controversy is the suggestion that Netflix could benefit from Meghan’s name and international recognition while promoting The Gentlemen, the crime drama associated with British filmmaker Guy Ritchie. The allegation, attributed to people described as friends of the Duchess, has prompted questions about whether the streaming company is making the most of her celebrity status in ways that may not align with her own commercial priorities.

However, an accusation of this kind should not automatically be treated as proof of deliberate exploitation. The details of any promotional arrangement, the context of the reported comments and Netflix’s own position would be necessary to establish what actually happened.

Nevertheless, the controversy illustrates the complicated relationship between celebrity, streaming platforms and the increasingly commercial world of entertainment.

Meghan Markle’s Relationship with Netflix

Meghan and Prince Harry have attracted considerable attention since stepping back from their roles as senior working members of the British royal family in 2020. Their decision to pursue independent careers brought new opportunities in media, entertainment and business.

Netflix became one of the most prominent companies associated with their post-royal ventures. The partnership opened the door to documentary projects and other productions connected with their experiences, interests and public identities.

For a global streaming service, the appeal of a famous couple is obvious. Their names attract international attention, generate discussion across social media and encourage audiences to explore content connected with them. In a crowded entertainment market, that recognition can be commercially valuable.

For Meghan and Harry, meanwhile, working with a major platform offers access to a large audience and the resources needed to develop projects. But any such relationship also involves competing interests, because a streaming company must promote a broad catalogue of programmes while individual creators want their own work to receive attention.

That tension can become particularly sensitive when a celebrity’s personal brand is closely associated with a business partnership.