Latest: Tears, hugs and accusations as Harry and Meghan Netflix docuseries released
King Charles III faces a decision over whether to cut off Prince Harry and Meghan, as a former aide who claims to be have been bullied by the Duchess of Sussex publicly rejected the couple’s “lies”.
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams said hopes for a reconciliation are fading between Prince Harry, his wife Meghan and the royal family.
“I think it’s a very difficult end to the year for the royal family,” he told The National.
“The king’s first Christmas message will be bookended by the two Netflix documentaries, which appear to be very antagonistic. And one must assume that Spare, which is an acid title, would be ungenerous towards the royals.”
Hints about the revelations to come may leave the king with a choice to make in the new year, Mr Fitzwilliams said.
“It may be that King Charles has a decision to make as to precisely what, if any relations [he has with Meghan and Harry] — what about the coronation, will they be asked? Will they be cut off completely?”
His comments came as a former Buckingham Palace aide who claims they were bullied by the Duchess of Sussex called on the palace to reject the allegations in the docuseries and book.
The person, who signed a confidentiality agreement, told The Times: “The only way to end it once, for good, is for us to be allowed to speak, and for the palace to firmly reject their lies.
“It’s emotionally draining. It feels like there’s no end to it.
“[Meghan] knows we can’t financially protect ourselves by going to court, so she keeps pushing.
“It’s all a game for her. And she is loving it.”
The person called on the palace to “step up” by lifting all the non-disclosure agreements, and said they should “publicly respond to [the Sussexes’] attacks”.
However, Mr Fitzwilliams said it will be difficult for the palace to do anything in response to the allegations.
Responding point by point would be "disastrous" and taking away their royal titles would not be easy.
“What can they royals do? It’s almost impossible for the royals to do anything. If you do point by point, it’s disastrous.
Harry & Meghan documentary - in pictures
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The Harry & Meghan trailer uses famous photos of the couple. All photos: Netflix -
Previously unseen personal images taken by the couple also feature in the documentary -
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex in a still from the Harry & Meghan documentary trailer -
The official promotional artwork for Harry and Meghan
“You can’t take titles away as it would be an act of Parliament. You could put out a statement. [Queen Elizabeth II] said some recollections may vary and that was very impressive. It was all they could do.
“Charles has only been there for three months. He hasn’t been crowned yet. It must end, I would have thought, in anticipating it’s going to be awful.”
Prince Harry and Meghan accepted an award on Tuesday in New York from the Robert F Kennedy Human Rights organisation, honouring their work to promote racial justice and mental health awareness.
Kerry Kennedy, daughter of Robert F Kennedy, and president of the organisation, said she was "proud" to be honouring the couple at the gala.
"They've stood up, they've talked about racial justice and they've talked about mental illness in a way that was incredibly brave," she told US outlet Extra.
"For Meghan to get out there on national television and normalise discussion of mental health, at this point, is incredibly important and very brave."
Harry and Meghan at the Ripple of Hope awards gala - in pictures
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Prince Harry and his wife Meghan arrive for the 2022 Ripple of Hope Award Gala at the New York Hilton Midtown Manhattan Hotel on December 6. AFP -
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex dazzled in a white off-the-shoulder dress. AFP -
The couple was recognised alongside other honourees including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. AFP -
Actor Alec Baldwin arrives for hosting duties. AFP -
Baldwin's wife Hilaria also attended the gala. AFP -
Television personality Gayle King arrives at the gala. AFP -
Actor Richard Kind at the event. AFP -
CNN anchor at the 2022 Robert F Kennedy Human Rights Ripple of Hope Award Gala. AFP -
Hilaria and Alec Baldwin with Kerry Kennedy, centre. AFP -
From left, the Duchess of Sussex, Duke of Sussex, Kennedy, Frank Baker and Michael Polsky. AP -
The royals at the event. AFP -
From left, Mariah Kennedy Cuomo, Cara Kennedy-Cuomo, Kerry Kennedy, and Michaela Kennedy-Cuomo. AP -
Keegan-Michael Key and his wife Elle at the event. AP
The event was held days before the launch of the couple’s tell-all Netflix docuseries, which airs on Thursday.
The second trailer for the “Netflix Global Event” was screened on Monday, with Prince Harry speaking of a “dirty game” involving the leaking and planting of stories by the royal family.
He also referenced “the pain and suffering of women marrying into this institution,” and a “feeding frenzy”.
The six-episode docuseries will also “share the other side of their high-profile love story”, Netflix said.
The couple is shown receiving rapturous applause while conducting royal duties, announcing their engagement and their wedding in 2018, as a news clip voice-over by broadcaster Piers Morgan says: “She's becoming a royal rock star."
It cuts to Meghan saying “and then” before snapping her fingers, with Harry adding: “Everything changed.”
Volume one of the series will go out on Thursday — exactly three months after the death of the queen, Harry's grandmother. The second volume will be released on December 15.
Prince Harry and Meghan Duchess of Sussex through the years - in pictures
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Doria Ragland, Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, attend the Ms Foundation Women of Vision Awards in New York City. Getty -
Prince Harry and his wife Meghan attend a basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Memphis Grizzlies in Los Angeles in April. Getty -
The royal couple speak onstage at the Robert F Kennedy Human Rights Ripple of Hope Gala in New York in December 2022. Getty -
Prince Harry and Meghan watch as the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II is placed into the hearse following the state funeral service at Westminster Abbey in central London in September 2022. AP -
Prince Harry and Meghan pay their respects at the Palace of Westminster. Getty -
Prince Harry, Meghan and Kate, Princess of Wales, attend a service for the reception of Queen Elizabeth's coffin at Westminster Hall. AFP -
The Princess of Wales, Prince William, Prince Harry and Meghan meet members of the public outside Windsor Castle. Getty -
Prince Harry and Meghan leave after a service of thanksgiving for the queen. Getty -
Prince Harry and Meghan at the National September 11 Memorial and Museum in New York in September 2021. AP -
Prince Harry and Meghan on the cover of Time magazine's 100 most influential people in the world edition, in September 2021. Reuters -
Prince Harry and Meghan are interviewed by Oprah Winfrey in March 2021. Reuters -
Prince Harry and Meghan shared this image on social media in February 2021 to announce they were expecting their second child. AFP -
Prince Harry and Meghan visit Canada House, London, in January 2020. Getty -
Prince Harry and Meghan visit Auwal Mosque on Heritage Day during their royal tour of South Africa in September 2019. Getty -
Prince Harry, Meghan and their son Archie Mountbatten-Windsor in South Africa in September 2019. Getty -
Prince Harry and Meghan meet Beyonce Knowles-Carter and Jay-Z at the European Premiere of Disney's The Lion King at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square, London, in July 2019. Getty -
Prince Harry and Meghan pose for a photo with the New York Yankees before their baseball game against the Boston Red Sox at London Stadium in June 2019. Getty -
Prince Harry and Meghan pose with their newborn son Archie in St George's Hall at Windsor Castle in May 2019. Getty -
Meghan, joined by her mother Ms Ragland, shows her new son to Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip at Windsor Castle in May 2019. AP -
Prince Harry and Meghan officially open Number 7, a Feeding Birkenhead citizen’s supermarket and community cafe in Merseyside in January 2019. Getty -
Prince William, the Princess of Wales, Meghan and Prince Harry attend a Christmas Day church service at the Church of St Mary Magdalene on the Sandringham estate in December 2018. Getty -
Prince William, Prince Harry, Meghan and the Duchess of Cambridge attend a service marking the centenary of the First World War armistice at Westminster Abbey in November 2018. Getty -
Prince Harry and Meghan visit Redwoods Tree Walk in October 2018 in Rotorua, New Zealand. Getty -
Prince Harry and Meghan visit an exhibition of Tongan handicrafts at the Fa'onelua Convention Centre in October 2018 in Nuku'alofa, Tonga. Getty -
Prince Harry and Meghan visit the University of the South Pacific in October 2018 in Suva, Fiji. Getty -
Prince Harry and Meghan address the public during a Community Event at Victoria Park in October 2018 in Dubbo, Australia. Getty -
Prince Harry and Meghan meet a koala during a visit to Taronga Zoo in October 2018 in Sydney, Australia. Getty -
Prince Harry and Meghan arrive at the University of Chichester's Engineering and Digital Technology Park during an official visit to West Sussex in October 2018. Getty -
The queen, Meghan, Prince Harry, Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge watch the RAF 100th anniversary fly-past from the balcony of Buckingham Palace in July 2018. Getty -
Prince Harry and Meghan on their wedding day in May 2018. Getty -
Prince Harry places a wedding ring on his new wife's finger. Getty -
Meghan and Prince Harry head to their evening wedding reception at Frogmore House. Getty -
Prince Harry and Meghan walk through the corridors of the Palace of Holyroodhouse on their way to a reception for young people at the Palace in February 2018 in Edinburgh, Scotland. Getty -
Prince Harry and his then-fiancee Meghan visit Nottingham for their first official public engagement together in December 2017. Getty
