Meghan Markle’s year of redemption: Numerous projects, some setbacks and a brand that is finally taking off

Willingly or not, Meghan Markle, 44, has been making headlines for years. It doesn’t matter whether she keeps silent, goes months without appearing at a public event, or launches a new project—her name dominates the news every day. Markle’s every step is scrutinized, criticized on social media by her detractors and reported on by the media, especially in Great Britain, where publications have found in the Duchess of Sussex a figure forever worthy of being blamed for something. But in the year now coming to its end, the wife of Prince Harry has truly given people something to talk about —and for good reason. For the last 12 months, she’s been everywhere. The year 2025 may be remembered as her year of redemption, when she managed to get projects off the ground and return to a normality that once seemed lost. However, it hasn’t all been victories.

The saying goes “new year, new you,” and it appears that Markle took the line to heart. On January 1, 2025, she returned to social media after a six-year absence. It was just a video of her running on the beach and writing “2025” in the sand — but today, the clip seems to have been a statement of intent for the months that were to follow. Hours later, she used her Instagram account — now boasting 4.2 million followers — to announce the launch of her major Netflix project (the same platform on which the couple explained their reasons for stepping back from the royal family): With Love, Megan, a lifestyle series. The rest is history — a story she herself has been narrating in real time, something she was barred from doing for a period.

Ever since her name began to appear in the press nearly a decade ago due to her relationship with Prince Harry, Markle has faced a media storm. There was the royal wedding, marked by the comments of her in-laws, the couple’s flight from London, their new life in California and desperate attempt to keep controversy at bay. Ten years marked by highs and lows, by failed projects and repeated efforts to make a name for herself in an industry that seemed to turn its back on her. Now, all of that appears to be behind her.

Three days before the premiere of With Love, Meghan, Netflix had to announce that its release would be postponed because of the devastating Los Angeles wildfires. The new date? Almost two months later than planned — a waiting period during which Markle had to endure, among other things, remarks from Donald Trump. During his presidential campaign, he had threatened to deport her husband from the United States: “[Harry]’s got enough problems with his wife. She’s terrible,” the Republican told The New York Times in February. Back in 2016, she had called the politician “misogynist” and “divisive.” He responded during a 2020 visit to London, retorting that he was “not a fan” of hers, wishing Harry luck and adding that “he’s going to need it.”

More controversy came when Markle announced the launch of her American Riviera Orchard brand in March 2024, and was forced to change its name after running into problems at the patent office. As Ever was the final choice, though that moniker came with its own issues when a town in Mallorca unsuccessfully demanded that she withdraw the company logo due to its resemblance to the coat of arms of Porreres.

At last came the moment she had been waiting for months: the premiere of her lifestyle show. Over eight episodes, she shared her culinary, beauty and decoration secrets. She was the star, and as such, the target of critics.

“I lost the will to live after the episode about making ice cubes,” quipped journalist Rebecca English. “It is so awful it is almost compelling,” said another. “If you thought With Love, Meghan…. would be a smug, syrupy endurance watch, and that you would rather fry your eyeballs than sit through it, I have news for you. It is so much worse than that,“ wrote The Times columnist Carol Midgley.

Markle ignored the criticism, and continued to share posts on her increasingly popular Instagram profile, announcing new projects all the while. “I’m so excited to share with you something else I’ve been working on: Confessions of a Female Founder, my new podcast,” she wrote. The excitement lasted 14 episodes. After airing the final one in June, she herself announced that there would be no second season, as she was focusing on getting her brand off the ground.

After years of work, a name change and patent problems, As Ever finally materialized in April. It included products that Markle had promoted on her show, from a raspberry spread to shortbread cookie mix, to decorative dried flowers and wildflower honey. Its short list of wares sold out in less than an hour, which demonstrated a certain level of interest, though exact numbers on how many units had been made available were never released. Since then, Markle and her team have continued to expand the catalog, which now includes wine, candles, tea, and chocolate.

Less than half a year later, the Duchess of Sussex has regained a growing public presence after several difficult years. But her moves — and especially those of her husband — ultimately drove her popularity in the U.K. to historic lows following a BBC interview in which Prince Harry accused King Charles III of being behind his legal defeat over security arrangements during visits to Britain. Only 20% of respondents held a positive opinion of her, despite her constant efforts to reverse the trend.

It seemed the storm would never cease. In the summer, the press announced that the couple’s five-year agreement with Netflix had come to an end. Their projects were not delivering the expected results for the platform’s estimated $100 million investment. Official numbers show that With Love, Meghan had received 5.3 million views around the world, and was 383^rd on the list of most-watched shows. Three weeks later, the announcement was softened: the deal with Netflix was renewed under new terms, with less money and new projects that are now beginning to emerge.

The biggest change came in November. After nearly a decade away from acting, the Duchess of Sussex took her first steps towards a return to Hollywood. Few details have been made public, but it is known she will play herself in Close Personal Friends, a film produced by Amazon MGM Studios. “It is Meghan’s way of gently putting her toe back in the water and seeing how she enjoys being back on set,” a source told People.

She has no shortage of projects, but money is not unlimited either, given the lifestyle the couple maintains in Montecito: travel, galas, designer wardrobes, security staff, elite schools — and their mansion. Added to that is their growing immersion in the Hollywood scene and its lavish parties, including a recent birthday celebration for Kris Jenner.

But 2025 has ended in the best way possible for Markle. In the last few days, it has been confirmed that the couple will produce a documentary for Sundance about the Girl Scouts, as well as an adaptation of the book The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory. The announcements come at a time when Markle’s private life is once again in the headlines, as her father had to undergo an emergency leg amputation.

This new chapter has unfolded almost in real time. A spokesperson for the Duchess said that a Daily Mail journalist had breached “clear ethical boundaries” by raising doubts about whether Markle had shown interest in Thomas Markle’s health at all. With its share of missteps and successes, the past 12 months have been packed with work and long-held goals that have finally been fulfilled.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAÍS USA Edition