Prince Harry and Meghan Markle: What Really Happened with the 2026 Rebrand

If you’ve been scrolling through social media lately, you’ve probably seen the video. It’s grainy, black-and-white, and features a couple dancing in a field like nobody’s watching. Except everyone is watching. It’s Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, and the clip—filmed by their daughter Lilibet—is a pointed "we’re fine" to a world currently obsessed with their supposed "professional divorce."

Things are changing fast in Montecito. We aren't just talking about a new hair color or a guest spot on a podcast. It's 2026, and the Sussexes have basically hit the reset button on their entire public identity.

The "As Ever" Pivot: More Than Just Jam

Remember American Riviera Orchard? That brand name that sounded like a very expensive scented candle? Well, it’s gone. Or rather, it evolved. Meghan officially rebranded the venture to As Ever after a series of trademark hurdles and a realization that the original name was a bit too geographically limiting.

The strategy here is actually pretty smart. By moving away from "American Riviera," she isn't just selling Santa Barbara; she’s selling a lifestyle that’s "as it has always been" for her—cooking, gardening, and that specific brand of California wellness.

The launch wasn't just a website update. It was a full-scale partnership with Netflix.

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• The Show: With Love, Meghan is now a two-season reality/lifestyle hybrid.
• The Product: A sold-out "unwind set" featuring sage honey and a leather bookmark she designed herself.
• The Revenue: Estimates from The Independent suggest her initial fruit spreads alone moved nearly 900,000 units, bringing in roughly £26.7m.

Critics like Jan Moir have been quick to call it "hypocrisy from an anti-royal rebel," but the numbers suggest a different story. People are buying it. Not just for the jam, but for the proximity to the "aspirational Princess energy" Meghan still carries, whether the Palace likes it or not.

Highgrove and the 2026 Olive Branch

While Meghan is building a retail empire, Harry is stuck in the legal mud. He’s back in the U.K. this month for the final stages of his lawsuit against tabloid publishers, and the vibes are... heavy. His legal team is currently navigating some "exceptionally serious" allegations of fraud and dishonesty, which hasn't made his homecoming any easier.

But there’s a massive plot twist: King Charles has reportedly offered Highgrove House as a place for them to stay.

This isn't just a "spare room" situation. Highgrove is the King’s beloved country estate. Offering it to Harry and Meghan is a loud, public olive branch. It suggests that while Prince William’s "anger and mistrust runs deep," according to sources close to the Princess of Wales, the King is looking for a way back to his son.

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The big question is security. Harry has been vocal about not bringing Archie and Lili to the U.K. without police protection. However, a new risk assessment by RAVEC (the committee that handles royal security) has reportedly shifted. There’s a very real chance Harry might regain the protection he’s been fighting for, which would change everything for a potential summer visit to Birmingham for the 2027 Invictus Games countdown.

Why Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Are Pivoting to Fiction

If you thought they were done with Netflix, you’d be wrong. They just extended their deal, but the focus has shifted from "here is our trauma" to "here is a cute story."

Archewell Productions is currently adapting Jasmine Guillory’s bestseller The Wedding Date. They’ve also got Meet Me at the Lake in the pipeline. It’s a deliberate move into scripted rom-coms. Honestly, it’s a relief. The world is a bit tired of the "he said, she said" documentaries, and the Sussexes seem to know it.

What most people get wrong about their "separation"

The tabloids love the "split" narrative. They see Harry visiting fire stations in Santa Barbara solo and Meghan posting throwbacks to 2016, and they assume the marriage is over.

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But look at the actual work. Archewell Philanthropies (the newly rebranded foundation) is functioning as a joint venture with a hyper-focus on wildfire response and mental health for frontline workers. Harry’s recent appearance with Watch Duty—a wildfire alert app they’ve funded—wasn't a solo PR stunt; it was the execution of a strategy they built together.

Actionable Insights for Following the Sussexes in 2026

If you're trying to cut through the noise of what's actually happening with the couple, keep these three things in mind:

1. Watch the Trademarks, Not the Headlines
The most honest look at their future is in their business filings. The shift to As Ever tells us Meghan is looking for long-term retail longevity that doesn't rely on Royal gossip.

2. The Security Ruling is the Key
Forget the "feud" for a second. The only thing that determines if the Sussex kids set foot in London is the RAVEC security ruling. If that gets reinstated, expect a massive family photo op by July 2026.

3. Scripted is the New Documentary
Their move into producing rom-coms like The Wedding Date is an attempt to build a "Shonda Rhimes" style production house. Success here means they no longer need to sell their personal lives to keep the Netflix contract alive.

The reality of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2026 isn't a soap opera of "will they or won't they" return to the Palace. It's a calculated transition from "exiled royals" to "global media moguls" who occasionally use their titles to sell sage honey and produce Netflix hits.