Meghan Markle explains why Netflix show was not filmed on her sprawling Montecito estate
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle live on a sprawling estate in Montecito with their children Prince Archie, five, and Princess Lilibet, three.
Meghan Markle has publicly addressed a topic she has been frequently asked since the release of her Netflix show “With Love, Meghan” almost two months ago. The series, which aired on March 4, showed The Duchess of Sussex, 43, in her element as she cooked and hosted for some of her celebrity friends, including actresses Abigail Spencer and Mindy Kaling.
While the series, which has been renewed for a second season, was filmed in Montecito - where the duchess lives - it was revealed around the launch date that the home that features in the programme did not belong to Meghan. Rather than filming at the sprawling Montecito mansion she shares with husband Prince Harry and their two children Prince Archie, five, and Princess Lilibet, three, crews instead filmed at an $8 million farmhouse, owned by local philanthropists Tom and Sherrie Cipolla. This led to some criticism towards the duchess, however the mum-of-two this week has publicly explained why she decided not to open her own doors to Netflix crews.
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Speaking at the TIME100 Summit in New York City on Wednesday, the duchess revealed that she didn’t want to film at her own home - where the family have lived since quitting royal life in 2020 - for the sake of her children.
During her conversation with Time’s CEO Jessica Sibley, the mum-of-two said: “When people say, ‘Why didn’t you [film in] your house?’. Well, I have kids coming home for their nap, and 80 people in the kitchen isn’t really the childhood memory I’d want for them to have.
“We were really fortunate to find something close by.”
Meghan’s children Archie and Lilibet did not appear in the Netflix series, with Meghan and Harry preferring to keep them out of the spotlight.
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However, Harry, 40, did make a brief appearance in his wife’s show in the final episode which saw Meghan host a brunch for friends and family.
The duke could be heard complimenting his wife’s work as he greeted her affectionately.
It is not yet known whether he will appear again in season two of the series.
