Protecting Family Privacy Amid Netflix Production
Netflix’s recently debuted lifestyle series, “With Love, Meghan,” has sparked curiosity among viewers about the filming location, prompting Meghan Markle to clarify her decision during an appearance at the 2025 TIME100 Summit. Despite the cozy and personal feel of the series, Markle revealed that filming primarily took place at a neighboring farmhouse rather than at her own home in Montecito, California. She emphasized that this choice was driven by her commitment to maintaining her family’s private space and ensuring a sense of normalcy for her children, Archie and Lilibet.
“Having 80 people in the kitchen isn’t really the childhood memory I’d want for them,” Markle explained candidly, highlighting her intent to create a calm and undisturbed environment for her family. The series, which premiered on March 4, 2025, has been warmly received by global audiences, despite receiving mixed critical reviews. While maintaining privacy, Markle did allow certain scenes to be filmed at her residence, including segments set in her own orchard and chicken coop—a choice reflecting her careful balancing of privacy and openness.
“Archie even got involved in small ways,” Markle elaborated, “He would sometimes handle the filming clapboard on set, which was a lovely way to include him without compromising our family’s comfort.”
“With Love, Meghan” documented 12.6 million viewing hours within its first week alone and consistently appeared in Netflix’s Top 10 across 47 countries, signifying a considerable success despite a lukewarm 40% Rotten Tomatoes score. The series is renewed for a second season, and will include celebrity guest José Andrés, renowned chef and humanitarian, known for his work with World Central Kitchen.
Balancing Motherhood with Professional Ambitions
The Duchess of Sussex openly discussed the challenges and rewards of balancing her role as a mother with her entrepreneurial and creative ambitions. At the TIME100 Summit, Markle addressed the importance of setting clear boundaries to safeguard her family’s privacy and mental wellbeing, reflecting a deliberate strategy for managing her professional and personal lives.
She also acknowledged past missteps while adapting to her role as a public figure engaging in progressive business ventures. Markle, who also recently launched the podcast “Confessions of a Female Founder,” shared her enthusiasm for returning to creative pursuits reminiscent of her pre-royal career, when she operated the popular lifestyle blog “The Tig.” This renewed engagement in public life follows a period of adjustment after stepping back from royal duties five years prior.
“This is genuinely the happiest I’ve ever been,” Markle revealed, attributing her well-being to both professional authenticity and familial stability. “Balancing both has certainly been challenging at times, but prioritizing our family’s boundaries has been essential.”
Audience responses have praised Markle’s parenting choices, particularly her assertiveness in creating clear distinctions between family life and work obligations. This approach represents a broader trend among celebrity parents who increasingly opt for privacy and separation between professional activities and family life, aiming for healthier childhood experiences away from constant public exposure.
Historical Context and Implications of Markle’s Public Decisions
Meghan Markle’s recent decisions mark a continuation of her efforts to redefine the liminal space between personal and public life, a topic of contention since her marriage to Prince Harry. After their 2020 departure from official royal duties, the Sussexes have been involved in lawsuits and public dialogues addressing media intrusions into their private lives. Their decision to settle in Montecito was initially driven by the desire to create personal boundaries within the scrutiny intensified by royal ties.
This context highlights Markle’s strategic decision to film “With Love, Meghan” at a separate location as not merely a personal preference but a reflection of broader cultural and societal shifts regarding privacy. The choice parallels practices by other high-profile figures who seek to balance public personas with family privacy, underscoring a growing consensus on the importance of protecting personal spaces.
“Meghan and Harry’s experiences illuminate the pressures faced by public figures in maintaining family normalcy,” explained Dr. Alicia Branton, a media studies professor at UCLA. “Their choices continue to spark wider conversations about privacy, media ethics, and celebrity culture.”
The renewal of the series for a second season and Markle’s ongoing ventures suggest continued public interest in her lifestyle brand despite criticisms. Her moves could potentially reshape public perceptions, setting a precedent for other celebrities confronting similar challenges in maintaining familial privacy amidst professional exposure.
Overall, Markle’s strategic transparency regarding her filming location reflects an evolving understanding of media engagement, emphasizing deliberate, thoughtful approaches to public visibility and privacy for prominent families. Her actions not only address personal preferences but also contribute to ongoing societal dialogues about celebrity culture and privacy.