Why Prince Harry Stays Off Camera in Meghan Markle’s Season 2 of With Love, Meghan

Meghan Markle returns to the screen for season 2 of With Love, Meghan on Netflix — and this time, Prince Harry stays completely off camera.

Premiering Aug. 26, the second installment of the Duchess of Sussex’s lifestyle series follows her as she cooks, crafts, and creates across eight episodes with close friends including José Andrés, Jamie Kern Lima, Heather Dorak and Daniel Martin. Notably, Harry does not appear on camera even for a single moment — though his presence is felt through affectionate mentions and a few behind-the-scenes photos.

Off camera, however, he remained a supportive presence — a choice that may have been deliberate as Meghan stepped into solo host mode.

“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,” a crew member previously told PEOPLE.

Meghan, 44, also didn’t film the show at the Montecito, California, home she shares with Harry, 40, and their children, Prince Archie, 6 and Princess Lilibet, 4, and instead chose to film at a nearby rental that echoes that own space.

In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, the Duchess of Sussex explained why the cameras didn’t roll at her house. 

“I wanted to protect that safe haven. We’re a close-knit family, and I love those moments — putting Lili down for a nap, having lunch together, having sacred time together at the end of the day,” Meghan said.

“Our kitchen is where Mama just cooks for the family, and with a crew of 80-plus people, that’s a lot of people to have in your house!” she added.

Prince Harry made just one cameo in season one of With Love, which premiered on Netflix on March 4, and joined her at the intimate brunch party for friends and family that was featured in the final episode.

For the final episode of season two, Meghan decides to celebrate her hardworking crew with a special party.

“For two seasons, it’s been an amazing, incredible crew,” she said in a speech at the gathering. “I hope you guys know that I see how hard you’re all working, and José, we talk about our love of family meal at a restaurant and how the team makes it together, eats it together, works together and that’s what we’ve done, so thank you so much. We’re so grateful. Cheers to all. Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

While Harry wasn’t physically in season 2 of With Love, Meghan spoke about him plenty of times throughout, revealing the seafood that he doesn’t like to eat, the exact moment she fell for him, the cute souvenir she designed for his 40th birthday and much more.

The Duchess of Sussex also looked back at their royal wedding in the sixth episode of the second season, where she reunited with the couple’s wedding reception chef Clare Smyth.

Smyth catered the the couple’s evening reception and afterparty when they tied the knot in May 2018, and her episode closed with a photo of her with Harry and Meghan that was clearly snapped behind the scenes of the series.

“Surprise visit!” the image was captioned.

When Smyth and Meghan shared the screen, they reminisced about the menu the triple Michelin-starred chef catered, including fried chicken, with Smyth said she had to learn how to make!

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“It’s not really something I typically do, so we had to try and create a recipe for fried chicken,” she said about the dish. “And we did, and we kept it. We still do it for only an off-menu item.”

“Oh my gosh, I love that we have created something off menu and that our off-menu item is the fried chicken at Core,” the Duchess of Sussex said about the lasting impact, referencing Smyth’s London restaurant. “You know we’re done, that’s it. If that’s my claim to fame, I’m thrilled,” she joked.