EXCLUSIVE: The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were warned by an expert.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have a new project in the works (Image: Getty)

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were warned over a huge “risk” regarding their new Netflix project. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are reportedly executive-producing a new drama series for Netflix, which will be “polo-themed”.

It comes two years after Prince Harry’s polo documentary failed to perform well in ratings. Harry and Meghan’s new series will be set in the “high-flying equestrian town” of Wellington, Florida.

Now, a PR expert warned that the Sussex couple’s new project needs to be honest about what it promotes, or it risks sparking viewer fury.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex Colombia Visit - Day 1
The Sussexes’ new project will reportedly be polo-themed (Image: Getty)

Renae Smith, founder and director of The Atticism, told the Daily Express: “The key is honesty. Audiences are very comfortable watching wealth and privilege when it’s presented as exactly that.

“What they don’t respond well to is being told it’s relatable or accessible when it clearly isn’t.

“That’s where I think the risk sits with this concept. The idea of ‘widening the scope’ of an elitist sport sounds good on paper (I guess) and I assume that’s how they’ve pitched it, but in reality, polo is definitely an elite sport – let’s not joke ourselves.

“Trying to position it as something for everyone will come across as out of touch very quickly. People don’t need it to be relatable; they just need it to be interesting.”

The new drama will be co-produced by Archewell Productions, the Sussexes’ media production company, and Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage’s Fake Empire, according to Deadline.

It will be written by Teacup’s Francisca X. Hu, who will also serve as an exec-producer alongside the Sussex couple and and head of scripted content Tracy Ryerson, and Fake Empire’s Schwartz and Savage, according to Deadline.

Ms Smith added: “If I were advising them, I would be asking a more fundamental question, which is why keep flogging this space, and why now.

“Not every brand needs to keep producing content. Sometimes stepping back and rebuilding relevance elsewhere is the smarter move.”