Meghan Markle's Netflix lifestyle series, "With Love, Meghan," has received a Daytime Emmy Awards nomination, a development that has been described as "somewhat baffling" by industry experts due to the show's reportedly low viewership.
The Duchess of Sussex celebrated the nomination for Outstanding Lifestyle Series on Instagram. However, critics like Hilary Fordwich, a British Royals Expert, expressed surprise, noting the show's "lackluster" audience reception and weak commercial traction. "The really weak commercial traction of her show, with dreadfully low on-going watching demonstrated by lack of audience appeal, doesn’t warrant such an award," Fordwich told Fox News Digital.
Despite the criticism, some experts believe the nomination offers tangible benefits for Markle's career. Kinsey Schofield, host of YouTube’s "Kinsey Schofield Unfiltered," stated that the nomination provides "something tangible to point to in meetings with studios, networks, and advertisers," as "Hollywood values third-party validation."
Schofield cautioned, however, that "one nomination doesn’t erase years of inconsistent commercial results." She emphasized that the industry ultimately prioritizes consistent audience attraction and project profitability, a challenge she believes still surrounds Markle's Archewell production company. "Parodies on TikTok generated more eyeballs than With Love, Meghan on Netflix. That’s undeniable," Schofield added.
Doug Eldridge, Founder of Achilles PR, suggested that the nomination's impact is more about optics than industry standing. He compared it to an aspiring author changing their social media bio to "published author" after self-publishing, versus becoming a "New York Times best-selling author." "In terms of optics among fans, yes; for key stakeholders and decision makers within the industry, no," Eldridge explained.
He further elaborated that while the nomination may not fundamentally alter Markle's standing within Hollywood decision-making circles, it serves as a significant public relations boost. "For Markle, the true value-add of this nomination doesn’t reflect on her entertainment aspirations, but rather, on her fledgling lifestyle empire," he concluded.
When "With Love, Meghan" premiered in March 2025, it received mixed reviews, with a 38% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes. Despite critical reception, Netflix commissioned a second season, which was released on August 26, 2025. The series is reportedly not returning for a third season. The 53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards ceremony is scheduled for October 30, 2026, in Los Angeles.