The Harry & Meghan Netflix series finally drops

Set to release on December 8, the fly-on-the-wall documentary follows Harry, 38, and Meghan, 41, as their strained relationship with his family unravelled.

It is billed as the couple lifting the lid on what happens “behind closed doors” but risks damaging both the royal family and the couple themselves.

Harry & Meghan will be released in two volumes, with the first streaming on December 8, and the second arriving on December 15.

The series will feature interviews with Harry and Meghan that detail how their romance began and the challenges they’ve faced as a couple, as well as commentary from historians and other experts on the royal family.

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Harry & Meghan is helmed by award-winning director Liz Garbus, who previously directed the Oscar-nominated documentary What Happened, Miss Simone.

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The couple have sought to highlight their activism on climate, mental health and early childhood education. The Earthshot programme is modelled on former President John F. Kennedy’s “moon shot” initiative – as is Biden’s own “cancer moon shot” effort, intended to speed research into cutting-edge treatments.

The royal trip – the first to the US for the couple in eight years – was quickly overshadowed by the Sussexes, who decided to drop their first Netflix trailer during the Prince and Princess of Wales’ US tour.

In fact, after William and Kate made their way back to Britain, Harry and Meghan returned to New York City on December 6, to receive the Ripple of Hope Award from Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights organisation.

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According to the non-profit, the Ripple of Hope Awards has “honoured exemplary leaders across government, business, advocacy and entertainment who have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to social change and worked to protect and advance equity, justice and human rights”.

The Buckingham Palace photography debacle

After the first trailer for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s upcoming docuseries Harry & Meghan dropped on December 1, the publication reported that one of the images of the couple shown in the minute-long clip was snapped at the palace in March 2020. By then, Harry and Meghan had already stepped back from their roles as senior members of the royal household.

At the time, Harry and Meghan’s decision to bring a photographer with them to Buckingham Palace was the subject of a written palace complaint, the publication added.

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According to the regulations outlined by the Royal Collection Trust, there is “strictly” no photography or filming allowed inside staterooms at Buckingham Palace. Additionally, any filming or photography within the palace for commercial purposes, meaning it is producing content for a market audience with the intent of making an income, requires permission.

A key aide at Archewell quit

Prince Harry and Meghan are to take over the running of their Archewell company after senior aide Mandana Dayani announced she was stepping down from her role.

A spokesman for the duke and duchess said they will now take “full lead” of their Archewell media and charitable foundation and Dayani’s role will not be replaced.

It is believed that Dayani, 40, has been at the helm of the couple’s media and charitable empire for less than 18 months. She ran the day-to-day operations. Additionally, Dayani’s departure came after the trailer promoting the couple’s Netflix docuseries was released.

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Needless to say, and judging by its controversial trailers, Netflix’s Harry & Meghan is only going to make matters worse – both with the royal family and the British public.

“The Sussexes plainly despise the royal family. So take their titles,” a British newspaper boldly stated, suggesting they be stripped of their royal designations.

The least favourite royals in Britain

Not surprisingly, a recent British poll suggested the couple are now the least popular senior royals apart from the disgraced Prince Andrew.

The YouGov poll released last month indicated that William and his wife Catherine – also known as the prince and princess of Wales – were now the most popular members of the royal family.

A total of 81 per cent of people questioned had a positive view of William and 75 per cent of Catherine, per News24.

Only 39 per cent of people viewed Harry favourably while the figure for Meghan was 28 per cent, reported Channels TV. Only the disgraced Prince Andrew polled worse.