Meghan Markle has announced big changes ahead for her podcast entity Archetypes, which will also see her create new content for the first time since the first season aired.
The news was shared on a new website set up by the Sussexes, Sussex.com, which will replace their old one, Archewell.
Podcast network Lemonada media has embarked on a new creative partnership with Meghan, distributing the first season of Archetypes as well as developing “new original podcast series” to be hosted by Meghan, The Duchess Of Sussex.
At this stage we do not know what the podcast will be called, but it seems that Harry will not be involved in the project.
The Duchess’ split with Spotify back in June 2023 began with an amicable statement to part ways, nearly three years after the royals first signed on.
While the official statement was mutual, a few hours later the head of Spotify’s podcast innovation and monetization, Bill Simmons put the couple on blast on his podcast.
“Let’s say I wish I had been involved in the ‘Meghan and Harry leave Spotify’ negotiation,” he said on his eponymous podcast.
He added: “‘The F*** Grifters.’ That’s the podcast we should have launched them. I gotta get drunk one night and tell the story of the Zoom I had with Harry to try to help him with a podcast idea.”
However, it seems that the relationship with Lemonada has been much more fruitful.
“As we’ve started development with The Duchess of Sussex, we are blown away by her collaborative spirit and clear vision, along with her deep desire to build compassion and community through this work,” Lemonada’s statement read.
“The Lemonada team felt immediate kinship with Meghan and the Archewell Productions team, and we are delighted to be working together.”
Lemonada produce a series of other popular podcasts including Hard Feelings with Jennette McCurdy and Wiser Than Me with Julia Louis-Dreyfus.
While the announcement is of much excitement to the couple’s fans, there was some reticence about the website it was launched on.
It bears Meghan’s royal coat of arms, which she was given just days after marrying Prince Harry, featuring a white bird, coronet, quills and blue-and-gold background representing the sea and sunshine of California. Underneath is wintersweet that grows at Kensington Palace and golden poppies which grow in California. Her crest is ‘impaled’ the technical term to split with Prince Harry’s royal crest, which represents the four quadrants of the United Kingdom.
Some royal experts have commented that the website has a very ‘regal’ feel, using their official royal titles (which they retain) and the crest to promote their website.
“They are cashing in on their royal connections that they say they hate so much,” royal expert Angela Levin told The Sun. “They left the Royal Family because they didn’t want anything to do with it but now realise they can use Sussex rather than Archewell.”
However, it is important to note that the couple are indeed still the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and that both of their children retain Prince and Princess titles. Thus, while they are not working members of the British royal family, much to do with their name still is grounded in that heritage.
