How Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are following in the footsteps of royal rebel Princess Diana – revealed in new book Finding Freedom
A new unauthorised book by Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand makes clear that, just as Diana was removed from the royal family and faced attempts to curb her spirit, the American star and her husband (plus baby Archie) aren’t going quietly
Before her death in 1997, the queen of hearts spoke candidly about life inside “the firm”, the monarchy that controlled her life for years. Like her younger son’s wife, Diana also found freedom, but not without a fight.
As Markle turns 39 on August 4, here’s five stories from the book – an unauthorised account by authors Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand with no involvement from the Sussexes – that show how Meghan’s life mirrors Diana’s.
Family rifts
Prince Harry hinted at a rift between himself and his brother, William, during the TV documentary Harry & Meghan: An African Journey which aired last year. Now, the newly released biography details how William apparently tried to warn Harry about Meghan and how the younger royal and his wife felt unprotected and isolated by the royal family. The revelations echo sentiments shared by those close to Diana, who over the years have described how she felt isolated and unable to trust anyone in the family.
No sisterly bond
In the 80s, Diana and Sarah Ferguson, or Fergie as she was popularly known, were often pitted against each other. Their relationship was a yo-yo: best friends one minute, rivals the next. Fast-forward to 2016, when Meghan and Harry first started dating, and you’d assume special efforts would be made to help welcome the outsider. Not so, according to the biography. The book details the awkward and polite relationship between Meghan and Kate Middleton. It explains how the two just never hit it off, leaving Meghan disappointed by the lack of warmth on the part of her sister in law.
Taming the spirit