Meghan and Harry’s Netflix show takes a dive as rivals Victoria and David Beckham’s very candid docuseries hits No. 1

It’s enough to spoil the Duchess’s latest batch of strawberry jam.

New figures released by Netflix and obtained by DailyMail.com show that not only has viewers’ interest in Meghan and Harry fallen off a cliff, but the couple has truly been overshadowed by the popularity of their former friends, David and Victoria Beckham.

Engagement figures for 2023 released last week show that the Beckhams’ documentary of the same name reached number one in global viewing figures with a whopping 43.9 million views between July and December last year.

During that same period, Harry & Meghan’s Limited Series Volumes I and II debuted with just 1.9 million views and 12.6 million total views for the entire year.

When the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s docuseries first aired in December 2022, it was an instant hit, giving Netflix its biggest debut with 81.6 million hours watched in its first four days. But after an initial frenzy, the numbers began to steadily decline as millions of viewers lost interest

“Beckham” was a show that uplifted viewers through Beckham’s family life, relationship and work ethic. Fans raved about the couple’s ‘resilience’ and marveled at Beckham’s self-effacing grit and ambition

When the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s docuseries first aired in December 2022, it was an instant hit, giving Netflix its biggest debut with 81.6 million hours watched in its first four days. But after an initial frenzy, the numbers began to steadily decline as millions of viewers lost interest and the series lost traction long before the sixth episode aired.

The show has now fallen to 211 on the streaming platform’s global chart, while ‘Beckham’ is number 1 with 3.5x viewership and 208.5 million hours watched in the first two months alone.

The disparity may be partly due to the fact that fans who tuned into Harry and Meghan’s docuseries hoping for insight and intimacy instead grew tired of their relentless, “woe is me” tone. Viewers complained about the couple’s smugness and the fact that despite all their enviable privileges, they seemed to do nothing but regret their fate.

In stark contrast, “Beckham” was a show that uplifted viewers through Beckham’s family life, relationship and work ethic. Fans raved about the couple’s ‘resilience’ and marveled at Beckham’s self-effacing grit and ambition.

These were a few viewers who could leave behind, while Harry and Meghan could leave a few viewers behind.

David Beckham’s documentary has amassed a record 3.8 million viewers, Netflix’s largest UK audience this year

Netflix has reportedly paid £88 million ($100 million) for Harry and Meghan’s bombshell docuseries as part of a multi-year deal with the streaming giant

Engagement figures for 2023, released last week, show the Beckhams’ documentary of the same name ranked number one worldwide

Speculation has grown in recent months that Harry, 39, and Meghan, 42, could lose the $100 million deal. inked with Netflix in 2020.

Aside from their high-profile docuseries, the couple’s critically acclaimed Netflix deal has so far produced just two shows that, judging by the latest numbers, have struggled to generate any interest.

‘Heart of Invictus’, released in August 2023 and about Prince Harry’s games for wounded warriors flew over the finish line with just 300,000 views in 2023.

“Live to Lead,” released in December 2022, about inspiring world leaders and featuring interviews with Ruth Bader Ginsberg and Gloria Steinem, was viewed only 800,000 times.

And when it comes to value for money, the Sussexes’ $100 million deal is a long way from the Beckhams, whose 43.9 million views cost Netflix a relatively modest $20 million.

Coincidentally, that’s the size of the Spotify deal that Harry and Meghan lost when it fell apart in 2023 with only 12 episodes of Meghan’s “Archetypes” podcast to show for it.

The row is said to have intensified when the Sussexes allegedly accused the Beckhams of leaking stories about them to the press – with royal biographers claiming Meghan ‘didn’t like the footballer’s friendship with Prince William’.

Victoria produced a bespoke white coat and dress for Meghan in 2020, which she wore during her final appearance at Westminster Abbey in March that year (pictured)

Here, FEMAIL explains how the relationship fell apart – from criticism over wedding invitations and disagreements over designer clothes to fear of failure.

Bill Simmons, Spotify’s head of Podcast Innovation and Monetization, described the couple as “con artists” at the time, saying: “I wish I had been involved in the ‘Meghan and Harry leaving Spotify’ negotiations.” “The damn Grifters.” That’s the podcast we should have launched with them.”

Now sources are speculating that their Netflix deal is about to go in the same direction, with Meghan’s cooking and lifestyle show and Harry’s documentary on polo being described by some as ‘filler’, while others ask what they have left to share now that their The relationship with the rest of the royal family is all but over.

Harry and Meghan’s one-time close friendship with Victoria and David Beckham is similar soured. The former Spice Girl turned clothing designer and her husband was a guest at Sussex’s wedding in May 2019.

Meghan often wore Victoria’s designs as the older woman opened her black book of British stylists to her when she first settled in the countryside.

Meghan’s strawberry jam was launched in April. Pictured is a basket sent to Kelly McKee Zajfen

According to biographer Tom Bower, David, 49, and Victoria, 50, later offered the couple shelter in their Los Angeles home as they looked for a place in the United States.

But according to Bower, a phone call from Harry to the former Manchester United star left Beckham ‘infuriated’ and effectively ended the once cordial friendship.

According to Bower, the royals were concerned that close friends were leaking stories about them to the press, and Meghan particularly suspected Victoria. Harry called and repeated this accusation to Beckham and the rest, and the friendship is history.

Now to Rubbing salt in the wounds of the Beckhams’ rising popularity in light of Sussex’s declineBeckham has likely spent more time with King Charles III than Harry this year, as the former England captain has been announced as the latest ambassador to the King’s Foundation.

The King and the former footballer are now reportedly ‘bee friends’ who have exchanged pots of honey from their respective beehives in Highgrove and Oxfordshire, as well as beekeeping tips.