Kelle Bryan, a regular panellist on the ITV talk show Loose Women, has opened up about her unwavering support for Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, following her appearance in the Netflix documentary series Harry & Meghan. The 51-year-old television personality featured in the 2022 documentary, which detailed Prince Harry and Meghan's decision to step back from senior royal duties in 2020.
Sympathy for Meghan's Royal Struggles
In an interview with Woman's Own magazine, Bryan revealed that while she has never met Meghan personally, she feels deep sympathy for her. "I got featured in her documentary, so that was very nice," Bryan said with a laugh. "I've not met her, but I just feel for her." She went on to discuss the challenges Meghan faced adjusting to royal life, emphasising that the journey "cannot have been easy" and that Meghan likely wasn't prepared for the intense scrutiny.
Consistent Advocacy on Loose Women
On Loose Women, where royal matters are frequently debated, Bryan has consistently shown compassion towards Meghan, who has publicly spoken about experiencing suicidal thoughts during her time as a working royal. "She didn't know it was going to be quite what it was," Bryan remarked. "I just support her in any way that I can. I think she's got enough people against her, hasn't she?"
Netflix Partnership Tensions and Clarifications
Bryan's comments come amid reports of apparent tensions between Harry and Meghan and Netflix. Variety suggested, citing multiple sources, that the partnership hasn't always been smooth, with friction linked to audience figures for some projects and dissatisfaction over recurring themes about their royal departure. The report also alleged Netflix was surprised by the couple's 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, though a representative for Harry and Meghan has called this assertion "categorically false."
Netflix Executives Address the Situation
Bela Bajaria, Netflix's chief content officer, recently addressed the speculation at the Next on Netflix press event, urging people not to "believe whatever you read." As reported by Deadline, she stated, "We still have a relationship with them. We have movies in development with them. We have an amazing doc with them." Bajaria added that deals come and go regularly, and not all renewals attract press attention, implying there's no major conflict.
Meghan's Brand Moves Forward Independently
This follows Meghan's announcement that her lifestyle brand, As Ever, is concluding its formal collaboration with Netflix. A spokesperson confirmed the brand will proceed "independently," with a Netflix representative noting, "As it was always intended, Meghan will continue growing the brand and take it into its next chapter independently, and we look forward to celebrating how she continues to bring joy to households around the world."
Bryan's advocacy highlights the ongoing public discourse surrounding Meghan Markle, as she continues to navigate post-royal life and business ventures amidst media scrutiny and shifting partnerships.
