If you’ve spent any time on the internet lately, you know the vibe around Prince Harry and Meghan Markle has shifted. It’s no longer just about the "Megxit" drama or the high-stakes royal feuds that dominated 2020. Honestly, we’re seeing something closer to a corporate rebrand than a royal soap opera.
They’ve stopped trying to please everyone.
Basically, 2026 is becoming the year of the "Sussex Pivot." While the tabloids are still obsessing over whether they’ll ever set foot in Buckingham Palace again, the couple is quietly building a weirdly specific lifestyle and legal empire from their home in Montecito. It's a mix of high-end jam, intensive court battles, and a total overhaul of how they do charity.
The Rebrand: Why "As Ever" is More Than Just a Name
Meghan’s big move this year hasn't been a return to acting—sorry Suits fans—but the launch of her brand, As Ever. You might remember the buzz around "American Riviera Orchard" back in 2024. That name is gone.
She rebranded it to As Ever in early 2025, and by January 13, 2026, we saw the first major product drop of the year: a $18 leather bookmark.
It sounds simple, right? A bookmark. But it's actually a calculated move into "quiet luxury." The bookmark features her own calligraphy and is produced in the UK, which is a pretty pointed nod to her past life. People are buying it, too. Her "Moment to Unwind" sets, which bundle tea and honey for about $64, have been selling out faster than most influencers can post a Reel.
Netflix isn't just a platform for them anymore; they are now business partners in the brand itself. This is a massive shift from their original deal. Instead of just making documentaries, Netflix is helping her put products into "Netflix House" retail spaces. It's a savvy way to make sure the brand survives even if the streaming numbers for their shows aren't always breaking records.
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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle: The Legal Showdown in London
While Meghan is focused on the lifestyle side, Harry is currently in the middle of what people are calling his "final showdown" with the British press.
As of mid-January 2026, he’s back in London for the Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL) trial. He’s not alone either. He’s part of a heavy-hitting group including Elton John and Elizabeth Hurley. They are alleging some pretty wild stuff: secret listening devices in cars, "blagging" private medical records, and accessing phone conversations.
Harry is expected to take the witness stand for a full day of testimony on Thursday, January 22, 2026.
It’s personal for him. He’s said before that he’s doing this to protect his family, but there’s also a sense that he wants to fundamentally change how the UK media operates. Whether he wins or loses, the legal fees alone are already in the tens of millions of pounds. He isn't backing down. It’s becoming a core part of his identity—the royal who took on the tabloids and didn't stop until the end.
The New Philanthropy Model
They also just blew up their old charity model.
For five years, we knew everything as "The Archewell Foundation." Not anymore. In late December 2025, they officially rebranded to Archewell Philanthropies. It’s not just a name change; they moved to a "fiscal sponsorship" model.
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What does that actually mean for the rest of us?
- Less Bureaucracy: They don't have to manage the day-to-day admin of a standalone non-profit.
- Family Focus: The new mission statement specifically mentions their children, Archie and Lilibet, suggesting they want this to be a multi-generational thing.
- Global Reach: They’ve already announced major "humanitarian missions" for 2026, though they haven't confirmed which countries yet.
Some critics say this is a way to scale back, but supporters argue it’s just a smarter way to work. They’re leaning on established 501(c)(3) organizations to handle the paperwork while they focus on "showing up and doing good."
The Netflix Reality Check
Let's be real: the Sussexes' track record with content has been a mixed bag.
Their original documentary Harry & Meghan was a monster hit, pulling in over 23 million views in its first few days. But since then? It’s been tougher. Harry’s Polo series didn't exactly set the world on fire, ranking somewhere in the 3,000s on Netflix’s internal charts.
That’s likely why their new deal, signed in August 2025, is a "first-look" deal rather than an exclusive one.
This gives them way more flexibility. If Netflix says "no" to a project, they can take it to Apple TV+ or Disney. It’s a less lucrative deal upfront—first-look deals usually are—but it prevents them from being stuck in a "content graveyard" where they have ideas but no way to release them.
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Currently, they have an adaptation of the novel Meet Me at the Lake in the works, along with a second season of With Love, Meghan.
What’s Next for the Sussexes?
The roadmap for 2026 and 2027 is actually pretty clear if you look at the calendar.
- Invictus Games 2027: These are heading to Birmingham, UK. This will be the biggest "return" for Harry since he left. It’s going to be a massive security and PR challenge.
- Product Expansion: Expect As Ever to move into home décor and maybe even wine.
- The Paperback Era: Harry’s memoir Spare is hitting the paperback market with a new design, though the text stays the same.
If you're trying to keep up with the Duke and Duchess, the best thing to do is ignore the "anonymous source" rumors about them moving back to the UK full-time. All the evidence points to them doubling down on California. They’ve built a life that’s part Hollywood, part venture capital, and part activist.
To stay informed on their actual moves rather than the gossip, you should keep an eye on the official Sussex.com portal. It’s where they’ve started posting their primary statements to bypass the traditional media filters. You can also watch for the official filing updates from Archewell Philanthropies if you’re interested in where their grant money is actually going this year.
The era of "complaining" is over; the era of "the brand" is very much here.