Former actress Meghan Markle is inviting people to join her “at home” with her upcoming cooking and lifestyle series “With Love, Meghan” — but there’s a small catch … the home isn’t hers.
Instead of showcasing her $23.5m (US$14.65m) Los Angeles mansion, the 43-year old filmed the series at an $12.8m farmhouse a few kilometres away, owned by local philanthropists Tom and Sherrie Cipolla, according to The Post.
The choice of location has raised eyebrows, with critics calling it yet another tone-deaf move by the former working royal.
While the Netflix series promises viewers a casual “at home with Meghan” vibe, the high-end cookware and luxury finishes suggest something far from the ordinary.
One insider told The Post that Markle had initially sought out the farmhouse aesthetic thinking it would help bring an “average rustic-look vibe” to viewers instead of filming at her extravagant Montecito mansion.
Meghan Markle has debuted the new trailer for her upcoming Netflix series, “With Love, Meghan”. Pictures via Netflix
Despite the series being described as Meghan “at home,” she actually didn’t shoot it inside her own abode. Picture: Netflix
But it turns out to have had the opposite effect.
The Cipolla farmhouse, situated on five acres of avocado and lemon groves features four bedrooms, four bathrooms, and grand 420 sqm interior with an open-floor plan.
And while the home is valued at US$8m today, the Cipollas paid US$4.7m for it in 2017, according to Realtor.
Its centrepiece is the kitchen, where Markle showcases her cooking and entertaining skills on a $19,000 Thermador range, flanked by $750 copper pans and $80 chopping boards.
The exterior of the home used for filming features in the trailer. Picture: Netflix
Realtor records indicate that philanthropists Tom and Sherrie Cipolla purchased the property in 2017. Picture: Realtor
The Caesartone countertops alone are worth thousands, and the cabinetry is punctuated with black walnut cutting boards priced at $75 each.
And while some critics may slam the move, this isn’t actually Markle’s first brush with borrowed luxury.
In their 2022 Netflix documentary series “Harry & Meghan,” the couple filmed interviews in a US$30m estate near their property, opting not to showcase their own sprawling Montecito home, which boasts nine bedrooms, 16 bathrooms and expansive gardens.
“If this [Netflix series] was filmed at her own mansion, at least it would have come off more authentic,” the insider told The Post.
Markle shows guests her cooking skills in the upcoming show. Pictures via Netflix
The “With Love, Meghan” trailer, released last week, gives fans a sneak peek into her world of cooking, party planning and gardening.
“I’ve always loved taking something pretty ordinary and elevating it,” Meghan says in the trailer, as she bakes British-inspired desserts like Victoria sponge and Eton Mess in the Cipolla kitchen.
She promises to share “personal tips and tricks” and embrace “playfulness over perfection,” adding that the goal is to show “how easy it can be to create beauty, even in the unexpected.”
The show also features celebrity guests like Mindy Kaling, Abigail Spencer and Prince Harry, with scenes of flower arranging, cocktail mixing and even harvesting honey from local beehives.
The home where they are filming has four bedrooms as well as a separate barn on the lot. Picture: Realtor
Pictures via Netflix
However, it’s the opulence on display — like Meghan’s $500 Vitamix blender or the co-ordinated Le Creuset cookware sets priced at $225 per piece — that has viewers questioning how relatable the series will be.
The decision to film at the Cipolla estate has added fuel to criticism of the Sussexes’ “relatability problem.”
The couple’s own mansion, purchased in 2020, features manicured gardens, sweeping views, and enough space to accommodate multiple filming setups. Yet, Meghan and Harry continue to shield much of their private life from public view.
The choice of the Cipolla farmhouse underscores what some see as a growing disconnect between Meghan’s brand and her audience. Richard Mineards, a Montecito neighbour, recently accused the Duchess of not contributing to the local community.
Meghan and Harry live in a A$23m mansion that they purchased in 2020. Picture: Google Maps
“I personally don’t think that Meghan is an asset to our community,” Mineards said in a German documentary. “She doesn’t really go out or get involved.”
Coupled with the high-profile failures of her Spotify podcast Archetypes and the axing of her Netflix series Pearl, some question whether Markle’s pivot to lifestyle content is the right move.
The upcoming Netflix series is part of the couple’s reported US$100m deal with the streaming giant.
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