In a clash that has reignited long-standing rumors of a feud, Meghan Markle’s highly anticipated Netflix cooking show, With Love, Meghan, is set to debut amid stiff competition from a new documentary by her former friend, Victoria Beckham. The timing of these two major projects—both slated for release on Netflix in early 2025—has sparked widespread speculation about the strained relationship between the two women, once considered close allies. As Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, steps into the lifestyle arena with her culinary venture, Victoria’s documentary about her 30-year career in entertainment and fashion threatens to overshadow her efforts, leaving fans and critics buzzing about this battle for the Netflix spotlight.

Meghan Markle, 43, announced her new series, With Love, Meghan, earlier this year, marking her latest venture into lifestyle programming. The show, which premiered on March 4, 2025, after a delay due to devastating wildfires in Los Angeles, aims to “reimagine the genre of lifestyle programming,” blending cooking, gardening, crafting, and hosting tips with candid conversations. Featuring celebrity guests like Mindy Kaling, Roy Choi, Alice Waters, and Meghan’s longtime makeup artist Daniel Martin, the series offers a glimpse into her Montecito life with Prince Harry. The trailer, shared by Meghan on her newly created Instagram account in January 2025, showcases her baking bread with polo wife Delfina Blaquier, crafting with friends, and sharing recipes like honey lemon layer cake with raspberry and homemade dog treats. “I have been so excited to share this with you!” Meghan captioned the post, expressing her hope that viewers would love the show as much as she loved making it.

The series is a significant move for Meghan, who has been working to establish herself as a lifestyle mogul since stepping back from royal duties in 2020. It complements her new brand, American Riviera Orchard, which launched in 2024 with products like jams and tableware. However, the release of With Love, Meghan has been met with mixed reactions. While some praise its warm, personal tone—The New York Times called it “a billboard for things to come”—others have questioned its appeal. A social listening agency reported to Newsweek in March 2025 that the show faced significant online backlash shortly after its premiere, with some viewers comparing it unfavorably to Brooklyn Beckham’s short-lived cooking ventures. Critics have also debated Meghan’s authenticity, with one celebrity chef reportedly receiving a legal warning after publicly denouncing her cooking skills, though the show’s director, Michael Steed, defended her, saying, “Her cooking is pretty spot-on. She’s not a chef, but she knows her way around a kitchen.”

Just as Meghan’s project hit the streaming platform, Victoria Beckham, 53, announced her own Netflix documentary, set to release in a similar timeframe. The documentary, which follows the success of her husband David Beckham’s 2023 docuseries, chronicles Victoria’s 30-year journey in the entertainment and fashion industries. David, 49, revealed on the Today show that convincing Victoria to participate was “not the easiest thing,” but he wanted the world to see her relentless work ethic. “She’s been working for our brand for the past 18 years, and she works incredibly hard—something not everyone sees,” he shared. The documentary promises an intimate look at Victoria’s career, from her days as a Spice Girl to her evolution into a fashion mogul, and includes personal moments like her and David dancing to “Islands in the Stream,” a scene that became a highlight of David’s own documentary.

The timing of Victoria’s documentary has reignited speculation about a rift between the Beckhams and the Sussexes, a narrative that has persisted for years. The two families were once close—Victoria reportedly gifted Meghan a coat, dress, boots, and a £6,000 handbag early in her relationship with Prince Harry, and the Beckhams attended the couple’s 2018 wedding. However, tensions reportedly arose when the Beckhams were not invited to the evening reception, and their relationship with the Sussexes has since cooled. Adding fuel to the fire, Brooklyn Beckham, David and Victoria’s eldest son, confirmed on Watch What Happens Live in early 2025 that his family now maintains a closer relationship with King Charles and Prince William. “I see Prince William more often—he’s the most amazing guy,” Brooklyn said, a statement that many interpreted as a subtle jab at Harry and Meghan.

Royal expert Ingrid Seward has suggested that Meghan is “furious” about the timing of Victoria’s documentary, which has reportedly overshadowed her own project. “Meghan likes to be in control, and this feels like a deliberate move to steal her thunder,” Seward told the Hindustan Times in November 2024, before either project premiered. The competition is particularly significant given the Sussexes’ $100 million Netflix deal, signed in 2020, which hangs in the balance after the lukewarm reception of their recent docuseries, Polo. A Netflix insider told the Daily Mail in December 2024 that With Love, Meghan could be a “make-or-break” moment for the couple, with some suggesting the streaming giant might not renew their contract if the show fails to deliver. Meanwhile, Victoria’s documentary has generated significant buzz, with Netflix reportedly fast-tracking its release to capitalize on the success of David’s series, which drew millions of viewers.

The clash has drawn comparisons to the broader trajectories of Meghan and Victoria, two women who have navigated public scrutiny while carving out their own identities. Meghan, who transitioned from an actress on Suits to a royal and now a lifestyle entrepreneur, has faced criticism for leveraging her royal connections for commercial gain. Charlotte Griffiths, a Mail on Sunday editor, told GB News in 2024, “Who would tune in to a program about Meghan Markle cooking if it wasn’t for the fact she’d married into the Royal Family?” Victoria, on the other hand, has been praised for her business acumen and resilience, building a fashion empire despite initial skepticism about her post-Spice Girls career. David Beckham’s documentary highlighted her contributions, and her own series is expected to further cement her legacy.

Fans have taken to social media to debate the rivalry, with some joking that David Beckham should launch his own lifestyle show after he shared a heartwarming video of himself making pancakes for Shrove Tuesday in March 2025. “David Beckham is giving Meghan a run for her money in the kitchen!” one viewer posted on Instagram, reflecting a sentiment that the Beckhams’ authenticity resonates more with audiences. Others, however, have defended Meghan, arguing that her show offers a fresh perspective on friendship and creativity. “It’s a celebration of joy in the everyday,” one fan wrote on X, echoing Netflix’s description of the series.

As both projects vie for attention, the underlying tension between Meghan and Victoria remains a focal point. Some speculate that the Beckhams’ closer ties to the royal family—particularly Prince William—may have deepened the divide, with Meghan reportedly feeling “iced out” by the Beckhams’ shift in allegiance. Others see the competition as a natural outcome of two high-profile women launching major projects on the same platform. Regardless, the spotlight battle has only heightened interest in both With Love, Meghan and Victoria Beckham’s documentary, with viewers eager to see which project will ultimately capture the cultural moment.