Lifetime Commissions Wedding Special Harry and Meghan: Royal Rebels

Lifetime has ordered Harry and Meghan: Royal Rebels, marking U.K.-based Emporium Productions’ first-ever commission from A+E Networks in the U.S.

The special counts down the most surprising rules of British royal weddings and notes which traditions Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are updating or downright breaking for their upcoming wedding. Harry and Meghan: Royal Rebels will feature interviews with royal experts, exclusive insider stories from close friends and former palace staff, and archived footage and photos.

Lifetime is premiering the one-hour special immediately following the debut of its original feature, Harry & Meghan: A Royal Romance, on May 13. The documentary will also air globally on Lifetime, including in the U.K. Silverlining acted as broker to secure the commission from Lifetime. Emporium went into production on the special in March.

Bethan Corney, the managing director of Silverlining, said, “Timing was a crucial factor; from our regular dialogues with global buyers and commissioners we knew there was an appetite for content around a potential royal wedding and so we hand-picked a producer who we knew could conceive a strong and sellable idea—and also deliver on it. Emporium is exactly the kind of producer that Silverlining enjoys working with; imaginative, opportunistic and talented!

“Silverlining’s unique position as a broker, run by ex-channel commissioners, means we can be on the front-foot, driving an origination around a big global event, rather than waiting for one to be commissioned.”

Emma Read, the managing director of Emporium Productions, commented, “It’s been fantastic to work with Silverlining again. We have a great collaborative relationship and their industry knowledge and reach opens new doors to commissioners around the world, enabling Emporium to build our growing international business.”