In a plot twist straight out of a Hollywood script, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle owe their latest Netflix triumph to none other than their six-year-old son, Archie – the pint-sized influencer who turned pandemic boredom into a global charity anthem and has critics wondering if the Sussexes’ next big break will come from the kids’ iPad recommendations.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have quietly stepped into the producer’s chair for Masaka Kids – A Rhythm Within, a heart-pounding short documentary that dropped on Netflix this week and is already being hailed as the streaming giant’s feel-good sleeper hit of the holiday season. But here’s the kicker: the whole thing kicked off because little Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor couldn’t get enough of a group of Ugandan street kids grooving their hearts out on YouTube.

It was 2020, the height of lockdown drudgery, when Archie – then just a wide-eyed toddler – stumbled upon videos from Masaka Kids Africana, a troupe of orphaned and vulnerable children in Uganda who’ve turned unimaginable trauma into electrifying dance routines. Famine, war, displacement: these kids have stared down the worst life can throw at them, only to respond with synchronized hip shakes, infectious smiles, and songs that could melt the iciest Scrooge heart. Archie hit play, hit repeat, and before long, the Montecito mansion was echoing with the beats of East African rhythms.

“They would watch the videos regularly with Archie at home,” a Sussex spokesman revealed to The Telegraph. “So, they were already admirers of the organisation before the film project came to them in 2023.” What started as family screen time snowballed into a full-blown production gig. Harry and Meghan signed on as two of the 11 executive producers, channeling their passion – and Archie’s obsession – into a 30-minute film that doesn’t just document the Masaka Kids’ story; it celebrates it like a victory lap.

The documentary follows the troupe’s journey from dusty Kampala streets to viral stardom, showcasing how dance became their lifeline. We see the kids rehearsing under the stars, belting out originals about resilience and joy, and yes, even nailing those gravity-defying flips that had Archie glued to the sofa. Directed with raw intimacy, A Rhythm Within peels back the glamour of their 100-million-plus YouTube views to reveal the grit: empty bellies turned into full hearts, lost families rebuilt through rhythm. It’s the kind of storytelling that leaves you ugly-crying into your popcorn, then immediately donating to their GoFundMe.

And donate the Sussexes did – big time. Last month, through their Archewell Foundation, Harry and Meghan dropped $50,000 (£37,377) into the Masaka Kids’ coffers, a gesture that feels less like celebrity philanthropy and more like proud parents footing the bill for their kid’s favorite band. “This isn’t just a film; it’s a movement sparked by a child’s curiosity,” one production insider gushed. “Archie didn’t know it at the time, but he was basically A&R for Netflix’s next big thing.”

The premiere in the UK has been nothing short of electric. Early screenings sold out faster than Taylor Swift tickets, and viewer reactions are pouring in like confetti. On IMDb, one teary-eyed fan slapped it with a perfect 10/10: “It made me regain faith in humanity and the power of caring – doing anything one can to help those less fortunate than ourselves. The kids are amazing – and as the gentleman with his wife who runs the centre, they are correct – there are ministers, entertainers, etc, all in the group. Kudos to all.” Another called it “the antidote to 2025’s doom-scrolling,” praising how it turns “hopelessness into hip-hop hope.”

Critics, too, are smitten – a rarity for any Sussex project. Variety dubbed it “a burst of unfiltered joy in a world that needs it,” while The Guardian noted: “If every Netflix doc had this much soul, we’d all be better off.” Even the notoriously skeptical Daily Telegraph admitted the film “proves that sometimes, the best stories come from the unlikeliest scouts – like a royal toddler with impeccable taste.”

Of course, timing is everything, and this wholesome win lands just as Meghan’s latest Netflix venture, the third installment of her lifestyle series With Love, Meghan, has been taking some lumps. Released last week, the episodes – featuring everything from artisanal pear syrup recipes to chats with “random friends” over pointless crafts – have drawn barbs for feeling a tad too polished, a smidge too performative. Daily Mail scribe Annabel Fenwick Elliot skewered it as “syrupy hypocrisy and our hostesses’ deep lack of self-awareness,” rendering the hosts “so unlikeable” that viewers might need a palate cleanser. The Times’ Hilary Rose piled on, calling it “unfathomable” with its “four pointless crafts, three random ‘friends’, two unseen kids, one English prince and a duchess in a pear tree, or at least making pear syrup.” The dialogue? “Like the English language has been fed through Google Translate and found wanting.” Ouch. On Rotten Tomatoes, it’s sitting at a brutal 0% – though Meghan’s die-hards are flooding the user reviews with five-star defenses.

But if With Love, Meghan is the side-eye special, Masaka Kids is the redemption arc nobody saw coming. Harry, ever the advocate for mental health and youth resilience, has been vocal in private previews about how the project mirrors his own Archewell mission: turning pain into purpose. “These children remind us that joy isn’t a luxury – it’s a rebellion,” he’s said, echoing the film’s core message. Meghan, meanwhile, has been spotted sharing behind-the-scenes clips on her personal Instagram, captioning one: “Inspired by our little guy’s big heart. Watch, share, and let’s dance through the darkness together.”

For Archie, the ripple effects are just beginning. Sources close to the family whisper that he’s already demanding a sequel – or at least a Masaka Kids family dance-off in the living room. At six, he’s too young for an official producer credit, but let’s be real: without his lockdown discoveries, this gem might never have seen the light of day. Is the next Harry & Meghan docuseries going to credit “Additional Inspiration: Archie’s YouTube Algorithm”? Don’t bet against it.

As Netflix buzz builds toward a potential Emmy nod – short docs have been dark horses before – the Sussexes are proving once more that their brand of royal exile is all about amplifying the voiceless. From Montecito to Masaka, it’s a rhythm that’s hard to resist. And if Archie’s got more viral finds up his sleeve? Hollywood, buckle up – the toddler takeover is just getting started.