It's been a few days since Meghan Markle's new reality show, With Love, Meghan, dropped on Netflix, and already the show has been everything we expected - and more. We've had celebrity cameos, unique glimpses into Meghan's family life and helpful cooking advice, including a very controversial pasta recipe.
Throughout the show, we're treated to glimpses of the beautiful filming location, a rustic, luxurious farmhouse set in the Montecito countryside where the sun always seems to be shining. But it’s been reported that the show isn’t actually set in Meghan’s house, a $14 million Montecito mansion where she has lived with Prince Harry since 2020.
Where is the filming location for With Love, Meghan?
Instead, it’s been reported that the idyllic estate featured in the show is two miles away from the couple’s actual home. The house in Meghan’s show is in a gated community and owned by philanthropists Tom and Sherrie Cipolla. It’s said to have four bedrooms and four bathrooms, as well as avocado trees and lemon groves in its grounds, which are accompanied by beautiful mountain views.
A big chunk of the show takes place in the home’s breathtaking kitchen, which, according to reports, features a £15,000 Thermador range cooker, with copper pans retailing between £200 to £600. In the voiceover of the trailer, Meghan says ‘I’m going to share some little tips and tricks... and how you incorporate these practices every day. We’re not in the pursuit of perfection... we’re in the pursuit of joy.’ Prince Harry makes a brief appearance, hugging Meghan on a sunny outdoor patio, and we also see a cameo from the couple’s beloved dog, a beagle called Guy.
Why did Netflix choose to film at a rented property? One theory is that it maintains the Duke and Duchess's privacy, and minimises disruption on their family’s daily life. Harry and Meghan are notoriously private about their children, Archie, 5, and Lilibet, 3. On their official Christmas card last year, Harry and Meghan shared a picture of the children walking towards them with their arms outstretched, although their faces remain out of sight in the photo.
Meghan released the trailer shortly after she relaunched a personal Instagram account. The first post shows her in a white dress on the beach in Montecito. She runs across the beach before writing ‘2025’ in the sand. Her second post was a teaser for the show, which celebrates 'the joy of cooking, gardening and friendship', Meghan wrote: 'I have been so excited to share this with you! I hope you love the show as much as I loved making it. Wishing you all a fantastic new year! Thanks to our amazing crew and team @netflix. Beyond grateful for the support – and fun!'
With Love, Meghan, which is produced by Meghan and Harry's production company Archewell Productions, includes eight 30-minute episodes. It is available to stream on Netflix on 15 January.