You’ve seen the clips. Maybe it’s a grainy TikTok of Meghan Markle laughing in a kitchen or a polished Netflix trailer featuring Prince Harry looking somberly into a camera lens. People can’t stop watching. In fact, just a few days ago on January 8, 2026, the couple popped up on a video call with Gayle King to talk about the digital world and "phone-based childhoods." Even their dog, Pula, decided to crash the party by chewing a stick in the background.
It’s these little moments that keep the "Harry and Meghan videos" search term trending year after year.
But there is a massive gap between what we see in a thirty-second clip and the reality of their media machine. Some people think every video is a calculated PR move. Others see them as raw, unfiltered glimpses into a life of "freedom." Honestly, it’s probably a bit of both, but if you're looking for the truth behind the lens, you have to look at the numbers and the shifts in their strategy over the last few months.
The Pivot to "As Ever" and Lifestyle Content
For a long time, the Sussexes were defined by their "tell-all" era. The 2022 Netflix docuseries was a juggernaut, pulling in 81.6 million hours of watch time in its first four days. It was heavy. It was dramatic. It was full of slow-motion shots and emotional music.
Things look different now.
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Meghan has been rolling out a lifestyle brand, recently rebranded as As Ever (formerly American Riviera Orchard). If you’ve seen the teaser videos, they feel worlds away from the palace drama. We're talking Nancy Wilson songs, flower arranging, and glimpses of Montecito sunlight.
- The Content Shift: They are moving away from "what happened to us" toward "what we are doing now."
- The Netflix Factor: While rumors swirled that their $100 million deal might vanish, they’ve stayed the course with projects like Polo and Meghan’s upcoming cooking and gardening show.
- Engagement Stats: Interestingly, Meghan’s lifestyle-centric content—like the "As Ever" announcement video where Harry actually hands her the phone to record—tends to get higher "positive" engagement than the older, more confrontational clips.
Why the Invictus Games Videos Still Hit Different
If there is one area where the public sentiment remains somewhat consistent, it’s the Invictus Games. The videos coming out of the Vancouver Whistler 2025 events showed a different energy. There’s a specific clip of Harry on The Daily Show with JJ Chalmers that reminds people why they liked him in the first place. He’s funny. He’s passionate. He’s not talking about his family; he’s talking about veterans.
Watching the footage from the 2025 opener, you see Meghan in the stands, and the cameras are obsessed with her "loving gaze." Is it performative? Some critics say yes. But for the Invictus community, these videos are about the athletes. The Duke and Duchess basically act as high-profile megaphones for the cause.
The Reality of the "Archewell" Videos
Behind the scenes, the Archewell Foundation often releases "impact reports" in video form. These aren't the ones that go viral on TMZ, but they’re the ones that matter for their brand longevity. In late 2025, they dropped a video showcasing their work on digital safety. It featured a very brief, from-the-back shot of Archie and Lilibet.
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People lost their minds.
The inclusion of the kids—even just their hair—is a tactical choice. It humanizes the brand. But it also highlights the contradiction: they moved to the States for privacy, yet they use their private lives as the primary currency for their media content. It’s a tightrope walk.
The Viral Misconception: Are the Videos "Failing"?
You'll see headlines claiming their Netflix shows are "flops." It’s a bit more nuanced than that. While With Love, Meghan (the 2025 series) didn't reach the astronomical heights of their first documentary, it still pulled in 5.3 million views according to Netflix’s internal data.
Is that a failure? For a regular creator, no. For a couple with a $100 million price tag on their heads? It’s a bit of a gray area.
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The "waxwork dummy" comments from their recent Gayle King appearance show that the public is getting a bit of "Sussex fatigue." The videos feel very controlled. When Harry and Meghan appear on screen now, it’s rarely a "caught in the wild" moment. It’s a lighting-designed, script-adjacent presentation.
How to Spot a Genuine Moment
If you want to find the "real" Harry and Meghan in these videos, look for the technical glitches. Look for the January 2026 video where Harry laughs because the dog won't stop making noise. Or the 2025 Invictus footage where they are genuinely surprised by a score.
The "human" quality people crave is often found in the margins of their high-production videos.
Actionable Insights for the Casual Viewer
If you're following the Sussex media trail, keep these things in mind to avoid the clickbait trap:
- Check the Source: Videos on the "Archewell" or "Invictus" official channels are the most accurate representation of their current goals.
- Ignore the "Body Language Experts": Most YouTube creators who "analyze" every blink are just chasing the algorithm.
- Watch the Rebrands: The transition from American Riviera Orchard to As Ever tells you everything you need to know about their current business strategy—it's about heritage and "sticking to the roots."
The cycle of Harry and Meghan videos isn't slowing down. Whether they're selling jam or advocating for mental health, they've figured out that in 2026, if you aren't on video, you don't exist in the public consciousness. Just keep an eye out for the dog in the background—that's usually the only part that isn't rehearsed.