Will Meghan finally get an Oscars invitation – after ditching acting for good? Duchess’s Netflix deal could see her make ‘power move’ show on the red carpet, says expert
As Hollywood royalty prepares to glam up and take to the red carpet for the 97th Academy Awards on Sunday, some may be wondering if UK royalty will be joining them in the Dolby Theatre.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, who now reside in sunny Montecito, surround themselves with some of Tinseltown’s finest stars including Ellen DeGeneres and Portia Di Rossi, Mindy Kaling and Jessica Alba, to name a few.
However, an invitation to Hollywood’s biggest event of the year has not yet been extended to Meghan, 43, despite her background in acting (with her most notable role as Rachel Zane in drama Suits) – but could that be about to change as she gears up to become Netflix‘s lifestyle-guru-in-chief.
The Duchess’s glossy new series, With Love, Meghan, is set to air just two days after the ceremony takes place, on 4 March – and will even feature some of her Hollywood friends including Kaling as guest stars.
Speaking to FEMAIL, PR expert and founder of RM Publicity Rebecca May explained it would make sense for the Duchess to attend this year’s ceremony, given the projects she has on the horizon.
Rebecca said: ‘If [the Sussexes] were planning on attending any year, this is the year!
‘Naturally, speculation is swirling again this time round, given the timing of Meghan’s Netflix show and a perfect opportunity to put her back in the spotlight to promote the new show, “With Love, Meghan” in a global way.’
If Markle were to attend alone, ‘it would be a career power move,’ according to May, as it would ‘signal her individual and independent desire to establish a career path in Hollywood.’
Speculation is mounting that the Duchess of Sussex (pictured at a charity gala in LA last summer) may attend this year’s Academy Awards
However, if they decide to attend as a couple, it could signal something else entirely.
‘Attending together could indicate their unity and collaboration in both personal and potentially future professional partnerships,’ the expert shared.
‘Prince Harry may wish to attend to support his wife.’
Last year’s Oscars prompted speculation Meghan would attend the glitzy ceremony after her friend, British-Ghanaian photographer Misan Harriman was nominated for his short film, The After.
However, Sussex fans were left disappointed when the royal couple didn’t turn out on the red carpet for the ceremony.
Nonetheless, Meghan and Harry have surprised fans with some glamorous red carpet appearances since moving stateside – including the ESPY Awards in LA last July – hosted by close friend Serena Williams.
During the ceremony, Prince Harry accepted the Pat Tillman Award for Service, which was awarded to him for creating the Invictus Games, an international sports competition for wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women.
Meghan has not yet received an invitation to Hollywood’s biggest night of the year, despite a successful acting career (pictured as Rachel Zane in Suits)
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have attended several glitzy red carpet events since moving stateside (pictured at the Women of Vision Awards in 2023) but never the Oscars
They also attended the Women of Vision Awards in New York City in May 2023, where Markle was a guest of honor.
They’ve also won a handful of awards at ceremonies that they haven’t attended in person, such as the 2022 People’s Choice Awards, where Markle’s now-defunct Spotify podcast, Archetypes, won the Pop Podcast of 2022 award.
Attending the Oscars awards would be the first awards ceremony they’ve appeared at in 2025.
‘Attending the Oscars would be a strategic statement not only to promote her new show, “With Love, Meghan,” but also an opportunity to network with Hollywood power players, from directors to producers,’ May told FEMAIL.
‘Meghan may want to use this chance to redefine her narrative and a way to elevate herself into a Hollywood force.’
But according to May, their attendance could be a ‘double-edged sword.’
It could be a great move, or one that ends with some backlash.
‘On the one hand, it offers amazing visibility and a chance to network with Hollywood industry leaders while promoting Meghan’s Netflix show,’ she explained.
‘However, given recent controversies and public scrutiny, this may ignite more negative media attention and distract from the night or the winners,’ May continued.
‘They therefore need to navigate wisely and be strategic with their messaging and communications on the night if they do attend to avoid potential criticism.’
Speculation over the Sussexes’ potential attendance has piqued after the Duchess released a teaser clip of With Love, Meghan, on her Instagram account.
The teaser shows the Duchess bonding with ‘new friend’ and chef Roy Choi over their shared love of ‘karaoke and dancing’ in Koreatown while preparing a hearty meal of Korean fried chicken in a glamorous kitchen set.
The clip begins with Meghan telling Choi: ‘The best thing about Koreatown is that you could go to all ages clubs and karaoke bars…’
‘I was part of dance crews, all that stuff,’ he replies.
She then reminisces over different dances ‘that were such a big deal’ like the ‘Roger Rabbit’ and the ‘Kid-N-Play’.
‘Oh, it was just so much fun,’ Meghan continued, while she and Choi work together in the kitchen of a million-dollar estate in Montecito, California.
The Korean-American chef, who shot to fame as the creator of the gourmet Korean-Mexican taco truck Kogi, then remarks: ‘Man, you and I are so similar.
‘We should have met a long time ago.’
Meghan then asks her guest whether he listens to music while cooking.
‘I listen to a lot of lyrical jazz, hip-hop,’ he tells the Duchess of Sussex, before adding: ‘Sometimes speed metal, death metal.’
‘No, you don’t,’ Meghan responds, looking shocked. ‘What’s speed metal?’
When he tells her ‘it’s just like dark [metal], she reacts: ‘That doesn’t sound like the joy of cooking.’
But she admits ‘we’re all multi-faceted folks’ when Choi tells her: ‘We all have different sides to who are.’
The pair share a laugh when Choi quips speed metal ‘is good for when you’re butchering’.
