Prince Harry and Meghan Sussex will step into the 2026 Sundance spotlight as executive producers of Cookie Queens, a documentary that follows four young Girl Scouts during cookie season. The project draws interest in part because of Meghan’s own Girl Scout background, while expanding the couple’s growing slate at Archewell Productions. It also brings fresh attention to their focus on youth stories at a moment when interest in their creative output continues to rise.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will executive produce Cookie Queens, a 2026 Sundance documentary that follows four Girl Scouts as they navigate the challenges and excitement of cookie season. Directed by Alysa Nahmias and produced with Beautiful Stories and AJNA Films, the film premieres in the festival’s Family Matinee section. Meghan, a former Girl Scout, said she felt an immediate connection to the project after viewing early footage, praising its creative perspective and its blend of nostalgia and modern insight. Nahmias added that the Sussexes’ enthusiasm was clear from their first conversation, noting Meghan’s personal link to the Girl Scout community. Cookie Queens is an acquisition title at Sundance, with Submarine and WME handling sales.” – Deadline
Meghan’s Girl Scout Roots Add Personal Insight
Meghan’s connection to the Girl Scouts adds clear context to her interest in Cookie Queens. Childhood photos she has shared show her in uniform, holding cookie boxes and standing with her troop, offering a documented view of her early involvement in service and group leadership.
Meghan has said her mother, Doria Ragland, served as her troop leader. It reflects the role of adult support seen throughout the documentary. That history has also shaped how others viewed Meghan long before this project.
In 2018, an ABC 20/20 segment featured young Girl Scouts reflecting on Meghan’s wedding to Prince Harry. The girls discussed how their childhood activism influenced them. Wearing fascinators to mark the Windsor Castle ceremony, they spoke about representation and confidence. One Girl Scout said Meghan “made a change when she was young,” which encouraged them to pursue their own goals. The segment showed how her Girl Scout background resonated with younger audiences as an early model of leadership.
These young members of the Girl Scouts discussed with 20/20 about Meghan Markle's royal wedding to Prince Harry and her impact on them: "She made a change when she was young and I think that is amazing." https://t.co/0xISx3w0HQ pic.twitter.com/gcqKpOP6fZ
— 20/20 (@ABC2020) May 22, 2018
This framing helps explain Meghan’s response to the documentary’s early footage while keeping the focus where it belongs: on the girls at the center of Cookie Queens and the support systems that shape their experiences.
Youth Empowerment Continues to Shape Archewell’s Vision
Archewell’s film and philanthropic efforts align with themes explored in Cookie Queens. Meghan’s past remarks about girls’ leadership, her digital safety work, and the couple’s projects centered on young people show a consistent direction. Nahmias noted that Meghan understood the emotional weight carried by each girl in the story, which helped guide their collaboration. This clarity strengthens Archewell’s identity as a producer that invests in character-driven stories shaped by real stakes and real growth.
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Final Thoughts
Cookie Queens brings together nostalgia, purpose, and fresh creative energy. It resonates with elements of Meghan’s own childhood while centering the experiences of today’s Girl Scouts. The Sundance release marks another step in Archewell’s evolution and points to a year where their work gains new visibility. The documentary celebrates the grit and spirit of Girl Scout life, and it arrives with partners who understand those values from lived experience.
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