Meghan Markle’s Netflix cooking show With Love, Meghan has sparked plenty of conversation since its debut last week.
But behind the scenes, the Duchess of Sussex, 43, reportedly went out of her way to treat the crew with kindness and generosity.
A crew member from the show has spoken out about Meghan’s work ethic, hospitality and the way she cared for those on set – providing a stark contrast to past allegations of bullying.
Crew member calls Meghan Markle a ‘great hostess’ after Netflix cooking show
An anonymous crew member recently revealed to PEOPLE that Meghan ensured a positive atmosphere throughout filming by frequently providing treats and surprises for the team.
“Whether it was a coffee cart in the morning or there was one day where the forecast called for it to be particularly hot, and she had a shaved ice truck for us at lunch,” he revealed. “One day, she had a bespoke ice cream cart with local homemade ice cream. She had an acai truck for us, too. Every week, she did something like that for us. It was really lovely.”
According to the crew member, Meghan also took a personal interest in her team members. She would ask about their personal lives, cocktail preferences and chat with them between takes.
“She was a great hostess,” the crew member gushed. “Between takes, if something was ready to eat, she’d cut it into bite-sized pieces and serve it to us.”
The positive atmosphere reportedly made filming a “unique and refreshing experience,” where everyone felt included and appreciated.
Meghan’s kind gestures didn’t end when the cameras stopped rolling.
To show appreciation for the team, she gifted each crew member a premium Our Place pan – which retails for over $100 – along with a monogrammed spoon inscribed with ‘Thank you, crew’.
Prince Harry on set of Meghan’s cooking show with Archie and Lilibet
Elsewhere, the crew member also detailed insights into Prince Harry’s time on set with Meghan as well as their two children Prince Archie, five, and Princess Lilibet, three.
The crew member said: “Whenever Harry visited set, he was always super polite and friendly. But it was clear he wanted this to be Meghan’s moment to shine.”
Speaking about Archie and Lilibet, the crew member added that Meghan was “super attentive and doting on them” and the team would give the youngsters “headphones so they could listen to audio”.
Netflix renews With Love, Meghan for a second season after poor reviews
Despite mixed reviews from critics and audiences, Netflix has already renewed With Love, Meghan for a second season.
Shortly after the March 4 premiere, Meghan confirmed the news on Instagram.
“If you’re loving season 1, just wait until you see the fun we cooked up on Season 2!” Meghan wrote. “Thanks for joining the party, and an endless thanks to the amazing team and crew who helped bring it all to life!”
Netflix’s decision to renew the series suggests that, despite criticism, the show has drawn enough interest to warrant another season. This is a big win for Meghan as she continues to make her name in the lifestyle space.
Alongside her Netflix venture, Meghan has also been working on her new lifestyle brand, As Ever.
The first products teased include pancake mix, raspberry spread and limited-edition wildflower honey.
While these items are not yet available for sale, the brand aims to reflect Meghan’s passion for cooking and home entertaining, which is at the core of her Netflix series.
Meghan Markle ‘bullying’ allegations
Meghan has faced persistent allegations of being difficult to work with, including claims of bullying staff during her time as a royal.
Back in 2018, Jason Knauf, Harry and Meghan Markle’s former press secretary, made a complaint about the duchess’ behaviour, alleging there were claims of bullying.
He claimed that Meghan’s behaviour had made two palace aides quit, and “undermined” the confidence of a third.
JB Gill has extended his support to Wynne Evans after he was sacked from the Strictly Live tour. The opera singer was accused of “inappropriate” behaviour towards TV presenter Janette Manrara.
The 53-year-old is reportedly taking BBC to a tribunal after being asked to leave his radio show amid the latest scandal.
Several stars have stood by Wynne ever since he found himself in the centre of the new controversy. JB also hopes Wynne will be able to “bounce back” from this.
JB Gill breaks his silence about Wynne Evan’s axing
The TV host has shared concerns for his co-star as he’s going through a “tough time”. Refraining from commenting on the controversy, the Strictly star said he hopes Wynne makes a comeback.
He told the Sun: “When you’re part of a cast like that, it’s always difficult when you see someone go and obviously the circumstances kind of speak for themselves and I can’t comment on that. But it is sad when you’re part of a big group.”
When asked if Wynne will be able to “bounce back”, the Strictly star said: “I hope so, I’ve not been in direct contact with him, but I think he’s going through a bit of a tough time at the minute.”
He continued: “Obviously I’m wishing him well and hoping he’ll be able to come back”
Wynne has remained low-key ever since he was accused of mistreating his female colleagues. He returned to social media this week (February 11) to congratulate his co-star, Tasha Ghouri, on her Strictly victory.
Meanwhile, reports citing sources claim Wynne feels “badly let down” by some of his co-stars. The singer is disappointed about his close ones not speaking up to defend him.
‘Inappropriate behaviour’ scandal
Wynne was caught on camera making lewd remarks about Janette, which led to his axing from the Strictly tour.
Although the singer apologised, sources have claimed that his “in-joke” about having a threesome wasn’t aimed at his co-star.
A source claimed: “Wynne knows the meaning behind his comment and, to his frustration, so do many of the pro dancers and celebrities who were on the tour with him. He is heartbroken by how this all played out and is upset that no one has spoken out to defend him publicly.”
However, this isn’t the first for Wynne, as he was previously accused of “groping” his Strictly partner Katya Jones’ waist, which she said was only a “silly joke.”
In the days following the latest Strictly scandal, Wynne was faced with two more allegations. He is said to have made “inappropriate” comments about his female colleagues on two different occasions. However, it was never investigated.
Read more: Wynne Evans’ All At Sea blasted as BBC continues to air scandal-hit star’s series
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The allegations prompted Buckingham Palace to launch an investigation. The findings remained private. Meghan has always denied any accusations of bullying behaviour.
With Season 2 of Meghan’s Netflix show now confirmed, her next challenge will be overcoming the initial criticism and proving her cooking and lifestyle brand can resonate with audiences.
For now, she appears to have won over the people behind the scenes – which, as many in the industry know, is no small feat.
So, what do you think of Meghan’s Netflix show? Let us know by leaving a comment on our Facebook page @RoyalInsiderOfficial.