Experts reveal how the royal family might respond to Harry and Meghan’s documentary

[ad_1]

Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s documentary hit Netflix this week and has predictably divided royal experts and fans.

The series, titled Harry and Meghan, which has been split into two “volumes”, promises to show “the other side” of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s love story.

In a teaser trailer released ahead of the arrival of the first volume on Thursday (8 December), the duke promised to tell the “whole truth” and suggested there were stories “planted” against Meghan while they were still senior members of the royal family.

Although the first three episodes did not reveal any new allegations against Buckingham Palace, the couple faced criticism for wanting to air the series despite their concern about the press intruding into their lives. Through a spokesperson, the couple said their decision to step down as senior members of the royal family in 2020 had nothing to do with “privacy”.

While this week’s lack of explosive revelations will undoubtedly come as a relief to the royal family, experts have said King Charles III must prioritize repairing the family’s relationship with the Sussex if they wish to see an end to the couple’s “complaint”.

Jo Elvin, journalist, broadcaster and podcast presenter Palace Confidential, told The Independent: “I wouldn’t be surprised if the King quickly started sticking to a new mantra: ‘What? [Queen Elizabeth II] an act?’

“As to how he handles this docu-series thriller, he will publicly want to avoid any comment or action that keeps this series under discussion and getting more suspense by the hour,” she said. But in private, he may need to get over his reported desire to avoid conflict and get everyone talking.

“Whatever the diverse memories in the family, I think finding a way to heal Harry and Meghan’s pain should be a priority, because otherwise he will never run out of energy to complain and explain. A loving mention in his first Christmas speech would be a respectful power move.”

Royal commentator RS Locke said the docuseries would have a bigger impact on the distance between the Sussex family and the Prince and Princess of Wales.

It comes after Harry appeared to defy Prince William’s wish to never air a Panorama interview with their mother again by including a clip of it in the first episode of Harry and Meghan.

(Netflix)

After a report last year found the BBC covered up deceiving journalist Martin Bashir into obtaining the interview, William said it was his “firm opinion” that panorama footage should never see the light of day again. But speaking about the interview in his series, Harry said his mum “spoke honestly about her experience”.

Reports of a feud between Prince Harry and Prince William began early in 2018, and last year, on Oprah [Winfrey] In the interview, Harry reiterated that when he described the relationship as “space,” Locke told The Independent.

“They say life events such as death and birth can bring families together. If the death of the late Queen and the birth of his niece, Lilibet — of whom there is still no confirmation that William and Kate ever met — couldn’t bridge the gap, I’m not sure anything It could happen. But the docuseries have made the space between the spouses even wider.”

Locke said the impact of the docuseries on the Sussex family’s relationship with the King and Queen Camilla is “less clear”.

“They have made efforts to reconnect with Harry, Meghan and their grandchildren over the past year with private visits when the family was in the UK,” she noted. Referring to the third episode of the series, which featured historian Afua Hirsch saying that “racist imagery” was displayed in royal palaces, Locke said that any action Charles took to “punish” the Sussex would be “far-fetched”.

“At the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in June, the King, who is also the head of the Commonwealth, said ‘the time has come’ to acknowledge our past and the painful and lasting impact of slavery,” she said.

Isn’t this what documentaries do by shedding light on the history of the monarchy’s role in the slave trade? This may not be how Charles chose to bring up the conversation, but to punish Harry and Meghan, or his mixed-race descendants by removing their surnames, would be beyond his words.”

However, Locke said she believes Harry and Meghan’s reception at the king’s coronation next spring will depend on the contents of the second volume of the show, which will be released on December 15.

It may also depend on the contents of Harry’s upcoming diary, The Spur, which will be released on January 10, as well as audience reaction to the rest of the series.

[ad_2]