Meghan Markle’s new Netflix project takes her number of side hustles to six

Meghan Markle has launched several exciting ventures since stepping back from royal life

Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex visits ActionAid during the royal tour of South Africa
(Image credit: Photo by Samir Hussein/WireImage via Getty)

Meghan Markle has announced an exciting new Netflix project that will see her showcasing her creativity and producing skills once again after stepping back as a senior royal. 

  • Meghan Markle has confirmed a brilliant new project with streaming giant Netflix inspired by influential women from history.  
  • This is thought to be the sixth major venture for the Duchess of Sussex since she and Prince Harry stepped back as senior members of the Royal Family. 
  • In other royal news, Princess Eugenie cancels August’s christening this weekend.  

Meghan Markle has taken on a number of impressive projects since she and Prince Harry made the decision to “step back” as senior members of the Royal Family last year. The Sussexes have now settled in their Santa Barbara mansion with their son Archie and newborn daughter Lilibet “Lili“ Diana. And it seems life outside the spotlight has once again allowed Meghan to spread her creative wings, as it’s now been confirmed she has a brand new venture in the works. 

Taking to Twitter, Omid Scobie, co-author of the best-selling Sussex biography, Finding Freedom, shared the news from Netflix.  

“Big news from Archewell Productions today, who have announced a new @netflix animated series following the adventures of a 12-year-old girl, who has been inspired by influential women from history. Pearl (working title) is executive produced by Duchess Meghan and David Furnish” he captioned the intriguing announcement. 

The Duchess of Sussex has long been a passionate advocate for women’s rights and for promoting equality and diversity. Drawing inspiration from influential women from history, Meghan’s new project, Pearl, certainly sounds as though it will be celebrating and introducing young viewers to exceptional role models on-screen. 

In a powerful statement introducing the project, Duchess Meghan declared, “Like many girls her age, our heroine Pearl is on a journey of self-discovery as she tries to overcome life’s daily challenges.

“I’m thrilled that Archewell Productions, partnered with the powerhouse platform of Netflix, and these incredible producers, will together bring you this new animated series, which celebrates extraordinary women throughout history. David Furnish and I have been eager to bring this special series to light, and I am delighted we are able to announce it today.”

While no official release date has yet been confirmed, fans will no doubt be looking forward to seeing Meghan’s creation come to life in the hopefully not-too-distant future. This comes after what has already been a momentous past 12 months for the Duchess of Sussex. After she and Prince Harry stepped back from royal life last year, Meghan has gone on to confirm several other new ventures. 

Perhaps one of the most prominent of these is her recent foray into the world of publishing. Just days after she and Prince Harry announced the birth of their daughter Lilibet, Meghan’s first children’s book, The Bench, was released. 

A illustration of a father and son are seen inside a copy of Meghan Markle's book "The Bench" on a display in Europe's largest bookstore Waterstones Piccadilly

(Image credit: Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)

Inspired by the sweet relationship between Harry and their son Archie, Meghan's book originally started life as a poem written for Father's Day. Now expanded into a beautifully illustrated book, Meghan revealed how it explores “another side of masculinity” as she gave thanks for its New York Times bestseller status—an accolade gained after only a week of being on sale.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s impact-driven, non-profit Archewell Foundation, as well as their Archewell Audio podcast with Spotify, Archewell Productions company and wider Netflix multi-year deal have meant that this past year has certainly been busy for the mom-of-two.

Royal fans across the world will no doubt be eager to see what other projects Meghan Markle might announce over the coming months! 

Emma Shacklock

Emma is a Royal Editor with eight years experience working in publishing. Her specialist areas include the British Royal Family, ranging from protocol to outfits. Alongside putting her royal knowledge to good use, Emma knows all there is to know about the latest TV shows on the BBC, ITV and more. When she’s not writing about the next unmissable show to add to your to-watch list or delving into royal protocol, Emma enjoys cooking, long walks and watching yet more crime dramas!