Levy's travel comedy, The Reluctant Traveller, has secured two Primetime Emmy nominations following a high-profile appearance by Prince William. Simultaneously, Meghan Markle's Netflix series, With Love, Meghan, has earned a Daytime Emmy nod.
Prince William’s candid Windsor Castle appearance drives Emmy buzz
The travel series The Reluctant Traveller, starring 79-year-old Eugene Levy, has been recognized by the Primetime Emmys with nominations for Outstanding Writing for a Nonfiction Program and Outstanding Hosted Nonfiction Series or Special. According to the report, the show's profile was significantly elevated by a surprise visit from Prince William, the 44-year-old Prince of Wales. during the episode, William invited Levy to Windsor Castle, where the two shared a conversation about the personal challenges the royal family has faced due to the cancer diagnoses of King Charles and Kate Middleton.
The interaction between the two men offered a rare, informal look at the monarchy, featuring William riding an electric scooter and sharing a pint at a local pub.. The report notes that William described 2024 as "the hardest year I've ever had," a moment of vulnerability that likely contributed to the show's critical recognition. In one memorable exchange, William jokingly asked Levy if getting drunk with a Prince was on his bucket list, to which Levy replied, "That's the bucket."
Meghan Markle’s 'With Love, Meghan' targets Daytime Emmy glory
Meghan Markle has also entered the Emmy conversation, receiving a Daytime Emmy nomination for her Netflix series With Love, Meghan in the Outstanding Lifestyle Series category. The show, which is tied to her lifestyle brand As Ever, was filmed in a £5 million mansion located near her home in Montecito. Meghan shared the news regarding the nomination on Instagram, congratulating her production crew.
Despite the nomination, the series has faced a complicated reception. As the source reports, the program received mixed reviews and struggled to reach Netflix's top 1,000 most-watched programs . This recognition comes at a pivotal moment for the Duchess of Sussex, who in March 2025 transitioned away from a direct Netflix partnership to take full control of her As Ever brand.
The shift from Royal duties to Archewell Productions' Hollywood amibtions
The media success of both the Prince and the Duchess highlights a broader trend of the Royal Family's members engaging with global audiences through vastly different lenses. While Prince William appears as a guest in established documentary formats, Meghan Markle is building a media empire through Archewell Productions. This move follows her decision to step back from royal duties in 2020,a period that marked a line in the sand between her acting career and her former royal life.
Archewell Productions currently maintains a first-look deal with Netflix, providing the streaming giant with the first option on projects from the Sussexes. This business strategy is expanding beyond lifestyle content, as it was announced in May that the company will produce a war film based on a memoir about Afghanistan. This expansion suggests a long-term goal of moving from lifestyle branding into more substantial cinematic productions.
Will the Sussexes' brand independence pay off at the Emmys?
Several quesitons remain regarding the long-term trajectory of Meghan Markle's media ventures. While the Daytime Emmy nomination is a significant milestone, it remains to be seen if her move to independent brand ownership will translate into higher viewership numbers on platforms like Netflix. The report does not clarify how the split from Netflix in March 2025 will affect the distribution of future Archewell Productions content.
Furthermore, the source does not confirm whether the mixed reviews of With Love, Meghan will impact the critical reception of her upcoming film projects. As the Sussexes continue to build their Hollywood presence, the industry will be watching to see if their creative output can match their significant media reach.
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