{
  "id": 2347745,
  "title": "What happened to Harry and Meghan's American dream?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/21/what-happened-to-harry-and-meghans-american-dream-2347745",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-21T02:57:34.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "BBC World",
    "slug": "bbc-world",
    "url": "https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c935rk91vg5o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In 2020, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepped away from their roles within the Royal Family and relocated to California. Their arrival in Hollywood brought them some success, but it was ultimately brief. Upon their return to the UK, the situation received little reaction. Initially, they sought more than financial freedom in the US; they yearned for greater privacy and autonomy akin to what they believed their mother Diana would have provided them. They chose Montecito as their home, a neighborhood filled with celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Rob Lowe. The couple's newfound status led to lucrative media deals, including high-profile podcasts and a Netflix contract. These opportunities often came with intense media scrutiny, featuring numerous events and promotional activities driven by the couple's celebrity status.\n\nHowever, the excitement in Hollywood soon waned. While critics hailed their initial success, few anticipated the challenges they'd face maintaining relevance. Despite securing a Spotify deal worth up to $25 million and a five-year Netflix deal reportedly valued between $60 million and $100 million, these ventures eventually fizzled out. Their production company faced high staff turnover, with employees referring to themselves as the \"Sussex Survivors Club.\" Prince Harry found success through his memoir, \"Spare,\" which sold over six million copies worldwide, but his ventures didn't match the initial hype. Meghan, too, attempted to diversify her career with a Netflix cooking show and lifestyle brand. Both projects eventually faltered, despite garnering attention for their idyllic portrayal of their life in Santa Ynez Mountains. As Netflix ended its collaboration with Meghan, the couple's return to the UK appears driven by a desire to reconnect with their royal roots and financial stability.",
  "summary": "Harry and Meghan enjoyed some showbusiness success, but their Hollywood reign proved short-lived.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "BBC News",
        "title": "What happened to Harry and Meghan's American dream?",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/21/what-happened-to-harry-and-meghans-american-dream",
        "published": "2026-08-21T02:57:34.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "IOL",
        "title": "Harry and Meghan moving back to the UK after six years",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/21/harry-and-meghan-moving-back-to-the-uk-after-six-years",
        "published": "2026-08-21T15:00:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}