London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Tuesday, Jun 16, 2026

UK's Prince Harry and Meghan Markle sign exclusive podcast deal with Spotify, prompting glee & eyerolls

UK's Prince Harry and Meghan Markle sign exclusive podcast deal with Spotify, prompting glee & eyerolls

The UK’s Prince Harry and the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, have become the latest celebrities to sign an exclusive multi-year podcast deal with Spotify.

Their new venture Archewell Audio will undergo a full launch next year, with the couple first presenting a ‘holiday special’ later this month, closer to Christmas.

In a statement on Tuesday, Prince Harry and the Duchess of Sussex claimed they “love” podcasting because it allows people “to connect to one another without distraction.”

“With the challenges of 2020, there has never been a more important time to do so, because when we hear each other, and hear each other’s stories, we are reminded of how interconnected we all are,” the pair added.

Spotify’s Chief Content Officer Dawn Ostroff heaped praise on the couple in her own statement, calling the California residents “citizens of the world” who are “seeking to elevate underrepresented voices” as part of their show.

Archewell Audio already has a page ready on the Spotify platform, with a two-minute trailer which gives listeners a taste of what to expect from the production company.

In the trailer, after the two briefly discussed who should speak before the other – with Harry proposing “ladies first” – the Duchess of Sussex says they will be talking to “some amazing people."

Prince Harry then declares that, though “so many people have been through so much pain this year, experiencing loss” and uncertainty, “2020 has connected us in ways we could never imagined through endless acts of compassion and kindness.”

Spotify’s new venture from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex – who also signed a high-value Netflix deal this year – is just the latest in a long list of high-profile podcast acquisitions during 2020, including Joe Rogan’s ‘The Joe Rogan Experience’, former US First Lady Michelle Obama’s ‘The Michelle Obama Podcast’, and a “criminal-justice podcast” from reality television star Kim Kardashian.

The announcement prompted mixed reactions on social media, as some expressed glee at the news, while others rolled their eyes.


“I think my blood pressure can’t take this much excitement in two days...I love them,” commented one person, while another called the royal couple “much-needed positive & uplifting voices.”



Others expressed less excitement for the new venture, threatening to cancel their Spotify subscriptions and claiming they would rather watch paint dry.



Another simply mused that while Markle is “ok,” Prince Harry “talks funny.”


Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
UK Supreme Court Revises Legal Definition of Deprivation of Liberty
King’s Birthday Honours Recognise Contributions Across Science, Culture and Public Service
UK Ministry of Defence Reports Interdiction of Russian Shadow Fleet Vessel
UK and US Launch Joint Regulatory Programme for Medicines and Healthcare Products
Solicitor General Refers Murder Sentence to Court of Appeal Under Unduly Lenient Scheme
UK Launches £1.6 Million Mobile Museum Initiative to Expand Cultural Access
Judicial Pay Structure Undergoes Government Review Following Senior Recommendations
Government Confirms Nearly 180 New Youth Hubs Across the United Kingdom
UK Government Expands Careers Support Through Partnership with LinkedIn
Digital News Report Highlights Growing Global Concern Over AI and Information Overload
UK Chancellor Reaffirms Fiscal Discipline and Borrowing Reduction Strategy
UK Government Invests £219 Million in Sustainable Aviation Fuel Development
Rolls-Royce Small Modular Reactors Secures Major Swedish Export Contract
Government Confirms Locations for Nearly 180 Youth Hubs Across Great Britain
UK Government Partners with LinkedIn to Expand Employment Support Services
Reuters Institute Report Flags Rising Public Anxiety Over News and Information Overload
UK Government Commits £219 Million to Expand Sustainable Aviation Fuel Industry
Chancellor Convenes Market Engagement Group to Assess UK Economic Outlook and Productivity Risks
Rolls-Royce Wins Multibillion-Pound Swedish Contract for Small Modular Nuclear Reactors
Government to Ban Social Media Access for Under-Sixteens Across the United Kingdom
Government Approves Fast-Tracked Broadcast Merger Reshaping UK's Media Landscape
Resignation of Defence Secretary John Healey Triggers Debate Over UK Military Strategy
Britain Intensifies Diplomatic Efforts to Support US-Iran Ceasefire
Bank of England Faces Tough Interest Rate Choices After Economic Contraction
Belfast Sees Second Day of Anti-Migrant Riots as Police Deploy Water Cannons
UK Economy Shrinks in April as Energy Price Shocks Weigh on Growth
UK to Ban Social Media Access for Children Under 16 From 2027
UK Parliament Opens Week of Fast-Tracked Security and Infrastructure Legislation
Northern Ireland Projects £21 Million Boost From Major Cultural and Sporting Events
UK and Japan Sign Technology Security Pact to Strengthen AI and Supply Chain Cooperation
UK Welcomes US-Iran Peace Breakthrough Aimed at Restoring Strait of Hormuz Shipping
British Forces Intercept Russian Shadow Fleet Oil Tanker in English Channel Sanctions Operation
UK to Ban Social Media for Under-16s Under Landmark Online Safety Expansion
Anti-Immigrant Riots Spread Across Belfast, Raising Security Concerns
Ministry of Defence Opens Europe's Largest Drone Testing Facility in Swindon
Kemi Badenoch Calls for Deregulation to Restore City's Global Competitiveness
UK Housing Market Posts Sharpest June Price Decline in Fourteen Years
NHS Waiting Lists Rise to 7.22 Million as Diagnostic Delays Reach New Highs
Makerfield By-Election Raises Prospect of Labour Leadership Challenge
Bank of England Expected to Hold Interest Rates at 3.75% Despite Growing Policy Divisions
Royal Marines Seize Sanctioned Russian Oil Tanker in English Channel
Prime Minister Keir Starmer Set to Ban Social Media and AI Chatbots for Under-16s
United Kingdom Markets Rally After US-Iran Deal Reopens Strait of Hormuz
Defence Secretary John Healey Resigns Over Military Spending Dispute, Triggering Cabinet Crisis
Royal Navy Takes Part in Trooping the Colour for the First Time in 350 Years
Think Tank Warns Labour's European Union Reset Could Carry Significant Economic Costs
UK Semiconductor Centre and Japan's Rapidus Forge Advanced Chip Manufacturing Partnership
UK and Japan Launch Offshore Wind Compact Backed by £9 Billion in Investment
Starmer and Trump Discuss Iran Peace Efforts and Reopening of the Strait of Hormuz
United Kingdom and Japan Sign £18 Billion Investment Partnership Focused on Clean Energy and Advanced Technology
×