Plans attributed to Meghan Markle for a reality-style vow renewal with Prince Harry have drawn sharp criticism, with sources revealing the concept has been branded “tasteless and crass.”
The couple – who exchanged vows at Windsor’s St George’s Chapel in May 2018 — relocated to California following their departure from royal life in 2020 and have since built a portfolio of media and entertainment projects. They have two children: Archie, seven, and Lilibet, four.
With the couple’s eighth anniversary imminent, reports of a potential vow renewal — and its alleged ties to an unannounced reality television project — have gathered momentum.
One insider familiar with the discussions reportedly said: “There is a growing feeling that this idea risks blurring the line between authenticity and performance. A vow renewal is typically an intimate reaffirmation, but positioning it as the centrepiece of a reality-style project makes it feel more like a calculated production than a personal moment.”
What is Meghan Markle said to be hoping to achieve?
A second source told RadarOnline: “Critics are already describing it as tone-deaf — the suggestion that something so private could be packaged in a format reminiscent of reality television has struck some as overly commercial and lacking in sensitivity.”
Those close to the situation suggest the Duchess views the concept as a strategic opportunity.
A source reportedly said: “Meghan sees enormous narrative potential in a moment like this — it is not just about renewing vows, but about shaping how her story is told.
“From her perspective, it could anchor a broader series that offers controlled insight into her family life while reinforcing key themes of resilience and unity.”
What inspired the alleged vow renewal idea?
According to RadarOnline’s sources, the concept draws inspiration from Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi’s 2023 vow renewal – a high-profile event officiated by Kris Jenner with a live performance from Brandi Carlile.
At the ceremony, DeGeneres told her wife: “I love you, I adore you, and I would not be on this earth without you. You save me every day.”
The way the DeGeneres ceremony combined personal emotion with broad public appeal is understood to have caught Markle’s attention.
One source concluded: “Seeing how that ceremony played out — both as a genuine expression of commitment and as a widely shared piece of ‘content’ — appears to have reinforced the idea that personal milestones can double as powerful storytelling tools.”