King Charles teams up with Netflix for new documentary starring Idris Elba – after Prince Harry and Meghan’s £80billion mega-deal ‘flopped’
His son’s offerings for the streaming giant have almost universally flopped.
But that hasn’t stopped Netflix signing up another member of the Royal Family – none other than the King himself.
The firm today announced a ‘major new partnership’ between King Charles and Hollywood star Idris Elba for a new documentary film exploring the impact of The King’s Trust as it celebrates its 50th anniversary.
As a young man, Idris Elba was the beneficiary of a grant from the Trust, then known as The Prince’s Trust, which the actor openly says changed his life and enabled him to study acting.
Idris will accompany The King as he offers ‘rare access and insights’ into his support for the Trust – which he set up in 1976 with his modest naval pension to change the lives of disadvantaged young people – over the past five decades.
At its heart will be the ‘compelling’ stories of some of the one million young people the charity has gone on to help around the world.
The documentary begins filming next week and will launch on Netflix in Autumn 2026.
It is produced by 22 Summers, a production company founded by Idris Elba and Diene Petterle.
A ‘major new documentary partnership’ between King Charles and Hollywood star Idris Elba has been announced. Pictured together at a King’s Trust event in July last year
Britain’s King Charles and Idris Elba attend an event for The King’s Trust to discuss youth opportunity, at St James’s Palace
The director is the BAFTA award-winning Ashley Francis-Roy and boasts executive producers including Eva Omaghom, who previously worked for the king for many years including as his ‘diversity tzar’.
The production team will include young people supported by the Trust to build experience in film and television.
Elba said: ‘The King’s Trust gave me an opportunity that changed my life. At a time when I didn’t have the resources to pursue my ambitions, they offered real, practical support – including financial help – that helped me take those first steps to advance my career.
‘Today, through the Elba Hope Foundation, I’m focused on creating those same opportunities for young people who are full of potential but lacking access. Around the world, millions are still waiting for that one door to open.
‘This documentary is about shining a light on what’s possible when it does — and why the work of The King’s Trust remains so important.’
The King will not give an interview to the documentary crew but will, it is understood, be filmed ‘in conversation’ with other participants.
Harry and Meghan are pictured in their Netflix documentary, released in December 2022
Harry and Meghan’s fortunes have plummeted, with documentaries on the Invictus Games and Polo sinking without a trace. Pictured at the Royal Salute Polo Challenge to benefit Sentebale in April 2024
Meghan’s own lifestyle and cookery show, With Love, Meghan (pictured), has done somewhat better but received a critical panning
A Palace aide said: ‘The King is pleased for The Trust to have this wonderful opportunity to showcase their work to a global audience, sharing the compelling stories of some of the more than one million young people it has helped in Britain and internationally over the past 50 years.’
Harry and Meghan signed their own deal with Netflix back in 2020 when they acrimoniously left the royal family in pursuit of their fortunes in the US.
They hit the ground running with a tell-all documentary, Harry and Meghan, about their brief lives together as working royals which included several controversial attacks on the Royal Family.
But since then their fortunes have plummeted, with documentaries on the Invictus Games and Polo sinking without a trace.
Meghan’s own lifestyle and cookery show, With Love, Meghan, has done somewhat better but received a critical panning – and was noted for its lack of high profile guests, as was her recent podcast series.
Jonathan Townsend, UK Chief Executive of The King’s Trust added of the King’s new project: ‘At its heart, this is a documentary about the power of believing in young people.
King Charles III (left) and Idris Elba attending an event for The King’s Trust to discuss youth opportunity
The King and Queen put on a stylish display as they stepped out for Royal Ascot on Friday
The King was full of affection on Friday as he kissed the hand of his niece Princess Eugenie
Now the King is set to be Netflix’s new documentary star. Pictured in 2014
‘It’s about an idea, driven by a young Prince who was determined to make a positive difference, that when young people are supported to succeed, we all succeed.
‘Almost 50 years on, the momentum behind this idea has seen more than 1.3 million young people supported in over 20 countries around the world, including more than a million in the UK alone, through the work of The King’s Trust.
‘Nobody understands the impact of this work better than those who have experienced the support we offer first hand.
‘As a long-term supporter and former beneficiary of The Trust himself, Idris will undoubtedly bring a unique perspective to this groundbreaking documentary as he peels back the layers of our story and shows how our life-changing work is as relevant today as it has ever been.’
