Prince Harry says he is “incredibly proud” of Meghan Markle, as he discusses his wife’s business ventures for the first time.

With the Duchess of Sussex having recently launched a swathe of new projects – including her Netflix series and a lifestyle brand – Harry told People magazine he is backing her amid criticism of the quality of her efforts.

“I am so happy for my wife and fully support absolutely everything she’s done and continues to do,” the Duke of Sussex said.

It is the first time Harry has spoken publicly about his wife’s ventures.

Meghan launched her new lifestyle brand As Ever in March, with its debut product line selling out in less than an hour.

The same month, she premiered her new Netflix series With Love, Meghan. Harry makes only a brief appearance in the show.

“You did a really great job. I love it,” he said has he leans in to kiss Meghan during a celebratory brunch in the final episode.

Alongside her brand and series, Meghan has also debuted a new podcast on Lemonada Media titled Confessions of a Female Founder. It premiered on April 8.

The audio series focuses on the challenges women face in entrepreneurship.

Harry’s support for Meghan’s ventures comes as he awaits a court decision in his ongoing battle to have his British security arrangements restored.

After stepping back from royal duties in 2020, Harry and Meghan lost access to state-funded official protection – a move the duke is challenging through a legal appeal.

Speaking to People outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London on April 9, Harry said the issue of security “has always mattered the most”.

He maintains the decision to strip the couple of protection was part of a wider effort to control them following their departure from the royal family.

He said the realisation that security was being used “as leverage” was “difficult to swallow” and marked a turning point in his relationship with the monarchy.

“One must not forget the human dimension to this case: There is a person sitting behind me whose safety, whose security and whose life is at stake,” Harry’s lawyer Shaheed Fatima told a court last week.

The duke – who now lives in California with Meghan and their children Archie, five, and Lilibet, three – has argued that his father the King Charles could intervene to restore protection for the Sussex family. The 76-year-old monarch has so far declined to do so.

Buckingham Palace has consistently denied the security decision is anything to do with the King, or Harry’s late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II.

The judges involved in Harry’s appeal have reserved their decision. A ruling is likely to be weeks away.

-with AAP