Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Make Major Streaming Milestone With New Film Deal

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have reportedly reached a new streaming milestone after their latest documentary project was acquired by Paramount+, raising questions about how the deal fits alongside the Sussexes’ continuing relationship with Netflix.

According to a new report, Paramount+ has secured the rights to Cookie Queens, a documentary executive-produced by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex through their production work, giving the project a new home following its theatrical release.

The reported acquisition has attracted particular attention because Harry and Meghan previously announced a new “multi-year, first-look deal” with Netflix, giving the streaming service priority access to projects developed through their Archewell production company.

The Sussexes previously had a lucrative agreement with Netflix, reportedly worth around $100 million. Their partnership produced several projects, including their headline-making documentary series and Meghan’s lifestyle programme, With Love, Meghan.

Earlier this year, however, the couple reportedly moved away from their previous arrangement as Meghan sought greater control over her lifestyle brand, As Ever. They subsequently announced the new first-look agreement rather than completely ending their relationship with Netflix.

At the time, Harry and Meghan presented the arrangement as evidence that their relationship with the streaming giant was continuing, despite widespread speculation that the two sides could be preparing to go their separate ways.

However, the Daily Mail now reports that Paramount+ has acquired Cookie Queens, creating questions over whether Netflix passed on the documentary before the competing streaming platform ultimately secured its rights.

There is currently no confirmation explaining exactly why Cookie Queens went to Paramount+ rather than Netflix. A first-look arrangement does not necessarily mean every Archewell-associated production must ultimately be released by Netflix.

The report has nevertheless highlighted Harry and Meghan’s existing connection with Paramount Pictures chief executive Brian Robbins, who previously hosted the Duke and Duchess when they attended the premiere of a Bob Marley biopic in Jamaica in 2024.

Their appearance at the Kingston premiere generated considerable attention at the time because Harry and Meghan had no involvement in the production of the film, leading to questions about their presence and relationship with senior Paramount figures.

The reported streaming acquisition follows a difficult theatrical performance for Cookie Queens in the United States. According to figures cited in the report, the documentary earned approximately £242,000 during its opening weekend despite appearing across 446 cinemas.

That worked out at just over £540 per screening, while the documentary reportedly entered IMDb’s Box Office Mojo rankings in 13th position rather than breaking into the weekend’s top ten releases.

Adding an unusual twist, Cookie Queens was reportedly beaten in the rankings by CatVideoFest 2026, a theatrical compilation featuring popular cat videos from across the internet, further highlighting the documentary’s challenging performance during its cinema release.

Despite those box-office figures, the Paramount+ acquisition gives the Harry and Meghan-backed documentary another opportunity to reach viewers through streaming. It also marks an interesting development in the Sussexes’ entertainment strategy, although there is currently no evidence that the deal means their separate first-look relationship with Netflix has ended.