The release of a bombshell trailer for Prince Harry and Meghan’s blockbuster docuseries on Netflix appeared to be viciously timed to “attack” Prince William and ruin his US trip, a royal watcher said.
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams said while the theory could not be proved, he suspected the timing of the release to coincide with Prince William’s so-called “Super Bowl” moment was no coincidence.
The trailer for the Netflix documentary series was released on Thursday, during the Prince and Princess of Wales’ three-day trip to Boston for the Earthshot Prize awards ceremony.
“This can’t be proven, of course, Netflix could have done what they wished,” Mr Fitzwilliams told The National.
“But the facts are that we have to go with our perceptions of it. I would say [the timing of the trailer release] just seems so brutal.
“These royal trips are so carefully planned. It’s been perfectly true that the Sussexes have never co-operated, at least not that I can remember, with synchronising diaries with the rest of the royal family. Not since they stepped down as senior working royals.
“But this is no coincidence. The message here is clear.”
Royal watcher Kristen Meinzer said such deliberate timing was unlikely.
“Outlets like Netflix do not just decide to release content last minute because it will help their stars to sabotage their family members,” she said.
“As a former TV producer, I can say that months of planning go into show scheduling. Also, I highly doubt Harry and Meghan have any desire to undermine Will and Kate's environmental efforts — or hurt them in any other way.
“As with [Prince William and Kate], ecology and sustainability rank quite high on the Sussexes' priority list. And the Sussexes have made clear: they just want to tell their own story.”
Nevertheless, the documentary is likely to “widen the rift tremendously” between the brothers, said Mr Fitzwilliams.
The trailer features “extraordinary images”, including Meghan looking depressed, or appearing to be weeping, interspersed with joyous shots of the couple's wedding, he said.
In one frame Meghan is shown holding her head in her hands as Prince Harry says: “No one sees what's happening behind closed doors,” before the image flips to a shot of Catherine, Princess of Wales, glaring during a 2019 service for Commonwealth Day at Westminster Abbey.
“[That] image from that Commonwealth Day fiasco, which was hardly a generous choice of Kate — specially timed, one might think,” said Mr Fitzwilliams.
“It is not meant to [make Princess Catherine look good] and it was chosen for that reason. This isn’t coincidence.
“It is an attack and it is revenge. Revenge is horrible and public revenge is even more horrible.
“The Sussexes owe everything to being members of the royal family, all their work. They wouldn’t have any work at all that would be notable.
“Having said that, the problem is they control the narrative and it is very difficult to do anything about it. Some recollections may vary. The dignified shock response is all the Palace can do.”
Prince William and Prince Harry through the years — in pictures
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Prince William and Prince Harry join Queen Elizabeth II's funeral procession towards St George's Chapel in September 2022 in Windsor. Getty Images -
The royal brothers attend a vigil in honour of the queen at Westminster Hall, central London. Getty Images -
Prince William, his wife Catherine, Princess of Wales, Prince Harry, and his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, at Westminster Hall as the queen's coffin is carried in. Getty Images -
The princes and their wives on the Long Walk at Windsor Castle, heading to meet mourners who had gathered and left tributes to Queen Elizabeth. Getty Images -
Prince William and Prince Harry unveil a statue they commissioned of their mother Princess Diana in the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace, in July 2021. Getty Images -
The princes at the ceremonial procession during the funeral of Prince Philip at Windsor Castle in April 2021. Getty Images -
The princes are joined by their wives for a Commonwealth Day service in March 2020 in London. Getty Images -
(L-R) Prince William, Sir David Attenborough, Prince Charles — now king — and Prince Harry attend the world premiere of Our Planet at London's Natural History Museum in April 2019. Getty Images -
The princes and their wives leave a Christmas Day service at the Church of St Mary Magdalene, Sandringham, in December 2018. Getty Images -
Prince William and Prince Harry attend the opening of the Greenhouse Sports Centre in 2018 in London. Getty Images -
Prince William and Prince Harry watch the RAF 100th anniversary flypast from the balcony of Buckingham Palace alongside the queen, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge. Getty Images -
Prince William, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and Prince Harry attend an Anzac Day service at Westminster Abbey in 2018. Getty Images -
Prince Harry with his best man, Prince William, as they wait for the start of his wedding ceremony to Meghan in 2018. Getty Images -
The princes race against each other at a London Marathon training day at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in 2017. Getty Images -
The princes try out light sabres during a tour of the Star Wars sets at Pinewood studio, London, in 2016. Getty Images -
Prince Harry, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, and Prince William raise their wands on the set used to depict Diagon Alley in the Harry Potter films. Getty Images -
The princes take part in the late queen's diamond jubilee celebrations at Buckingham Palace in 2012. Getty Images -
Prince Harry, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, and Prince William wave from the royal barge Spirit of Chartwell in 2012. Getty Images -
Prince William takes the hand of his bride Kate, followed by Prince Harry and Pippa Middleton as they walk down the aisle of Westminster Abbey in 2011. Getty Images -
The princes chat before the wedding in 2011. Getty Images -
The princes pose with David Beckham at an FA reception in Johannesburg, South Africa. Getty Images -
The princes on a visit to a classroom lit by oil lamps in Semongkong, Lesotho, in 2010. Getty Images -
The princes celebrate a try during the 2007 Rugby World Cup final between England and South Africa in 2007. Getty Images -
The princes pose for an official photograph for the wedding of Prince Charles and Camilla in 2005. Getty Images -
The princes follow the coffin of their grandmother and Princess Diana's mother, Frances Shand Kydd, in 2004. Getty Images -
Queen Elizabeth waves to the crowd from the balcony of Buckingham Palace as Prince Harry and Prince William look on after attending the Trooping of the Colour ceremony in 2003. Getty Images -
Prince Charles and his sons William and Harry appear at a photo call in the Swiss village of Klosters at the start of his annual skiing holiday in 2002. Getty Images -
Princes William and Harry appear with the Queen Mother during celebrations to mark her 101st birthday in 2001. Getty Images -
Prince Philip, Prince William, Earl Spencer, Prince Harry and Prince Charles follow the coffin of Princess Diana in September 1997. Getty Images -
Prince William and Prince Harry pose with Princess Diana and Prince Charles on Prince William's first day at Eton College in 1995. Getty Images -
Princess Diana with the young princes at the piano in Kensington Palace in 1985. Getty Images -
Prince Charles and Princess Diana with their sons aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia in Venice in 1985. Getty Images
The trailer, in addition to the latest racism row involving a Buckingham Palace aide who was forced to resign after repeatedly asking a British black woman where she was from, have unquestionably “overshadowed” Prince William and his wife Catherine's “very important trip”.
Mr Fitzwilliams praised Buckingham Palace for its swift and “appropriate” condemnation of the comments made by Lady Susan Hussey, given the transcript of the conversation.
“Having said that, the row is still continuing,” he said.
“This could not have been more high profile nor more damaging.”
He said Prince William and Catherine’s trip should have dominated the headlines.
Prince William and Kate tour Boston — in pictures
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The Prince and Princess of Wales arrive at Boston Logan International Airport, AP -
The royal couple are greeted by Lt Governor Karyn Polito, centre, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker, back, and first lady Lauren Baker, back left, as they arrive at Boston Logan International Airport. AP -
The Prince and Princess of Wales arrived in Boston on a rainy day before the Earthshot awards. AFP -
Ms Wu and her family chat with the British royal couple. AFP -
The Prince and Princess of Wales are shown photos of Queen Elizabeth II's visit to Boston in 1976. AP -
The royal couple join governor-elect Maura Healey, centre, and Ms Wu, right, in pushing a green button to illuminate buildings in Boston with green light. AP -
The royal couple speak with Ms Healey during a welcoming event at City Hall Plaza in Boston. EPA -
Massachusetts governor-elect Maura Healey looks on as Britain's Prince William is handed a basketball by his wife Kate at a Boston Celtics game. AP -
Prince William, centre, and wife Kate, right, are greeted by Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum before the start of the Celtics-Heat NBA game in Boston, Massachusetts. EPA -
The Prince and Princess of Wales look on as Malcolm Brogdon of the Boston Celtics shoots the ball during the game. AP -
Prince William, Kate and Emilia Fazzalari, wife of Boston Celtics majority owner Wyc Grousbeck at the Boston Celtics game. AP -
The Prince and Princess of Wales discuss the players' skills at the Boston Celtics game. EPA -
Fans take pictures of Prince William during halftime. EPA -
The royal couple sit with Ms Wu, left, and Ms Healy, second left. EPA -
Ms Wu, Ms Healey and the Prince and Princess of Wales watch the game. AP -
Fans take photographs with the royal couple during the game. AP -
Former Boston Celtics player Satch Sanders speaks with Prince William. AP -
The Prince and Princess of Wales speak with teenage climate activist Ollie Perrault. EPA -
Prince William visits Greentown Labs in Somerville. Reuters
“Meeting President Biden today is a very good example of the unique soft power you have, especially with the future king and queen. Also with the Earthshot prize, worth millions, and for a pivotal reason,” he said.
“It’s extremely difficult with the Netflix release. It’s completely overshadowed the tour so far.
“If you meet the President of the United States, if you launch a prize worth millions with a good cause [it should be a good story] but that isn’t scandal. That isn’t new material.
“The Sussexes were sharing new material and they knew very well that would detract from the conventional, or anything conventional, even if Earthshot is new.
“In the short term the Palace simply can’t win on this basis.”
