Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's Netflix show ratings slip as ‘Beckham’ grabs top spot
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM: Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's Netflix show, 'Harry & Meghan' has slumped to No. 211 on the streaming platform's global chart while the royal couple's former friends' 'Beckham' is on No.1 with 3.5 times the viewing figures.
The new viewing figures were released by Netflix, as per Daily Mail.
For tne unversed, the royal couple once shared a close friendship with Victoria and David Beckham but now the friendship has soured.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's Netflix show ratings slip
Engagement figures for the year 2023 were released last week. It revealed that the Beckhams' documentary that goes by the same name hit the top spot for global viewing with a whopping 43.9 million views between July and December last year.
In that same period, 'Harry & Meghan's Limited Series Volumes I and II, could get just 1.9 million views and 12.6 million total views across the year.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's docuseries was an immediate hit when it debuted in December 2022, making Netflix history with 81.6 million hours watched in the first four days. However, following a brief spike, the numbers steadily declined as millions of people lost interest and the show became unpopular well before the sixth episode aired.
With 3.5 times the watching stats and 208.5 million hours viewed in the first two months alone, 'Beckham' is at the top of the streaming platform's global ranking, while 'Harry & Meghan' has already fallen to No. 211.
Comparing 'Beckham' and 'Harry & Meghan'
The difference in the viewing figures of the two shows may be partially explained by the fact that viewers of Harry and Meghan's docuseries were worn out by their unrelentingly depressing "woe is me" tone. Viewers seem to be tired of the couple's attempts at always projecting that they have been wronged by the royal family.
Critics bemoaned the couple's self-importance and the fact that, despite their incredible affluence, they appeared to do nothing but lament their circumstances.
On the other hand, the family dynamic, friendship, and work ethics of the Beckhams inspired viewers of 'Beckham'. Viewers praised the pair's "resilience" and expressed admiration for the Beckhams' tenacity and drive. While Harry and Meghan were a couple fans could leave behind, this was a couple that they could support.
The $100 million deal that Harry, 39, and Meghan, 42, signed with Netflix back in 2020 has been the subject of more conjecture in recent months. Apart from their critically acclaimed docuseries, the couple's highly anticipated Netflix partnership has only yielded two series thus far, both of which have failed to elicit any kind of viewership.
With only 300,000 views in 2023, 'Heart of Invictus' released in August 2023, which covered Prince Harry's games for injured soldiers, barely made it over the finish line.
The Beckhams' fallout with the royal couple explained
Harry and Meghan's close friendship with Victoria and David Beckham has soured. In May 2019, the ex-Spice Girl turned fashion designer and her spouse attended the Sussexes' wedding.
When Meghan first moved to the UK, Victoria gave her contacts with UK stylists, and Meghan frequently donned Victoria's designs. Things were going on fine until, as per royal biographer Tom Bower, Meghan "suspected Victoria Beckham of indiscretion".
In his book 'Revenge: Meghan, Harry and the War Between the Windsors', Bower claimed that when Harry called the football star to confront him about certain things, the equation between the couples changed.
Bower wrote, "Harry called David Beckham to repeat the accusation. Outraged, Beckham's truthful denials damaged their relationship," per Nicki Swift.
