Harry and Meghan, a Netflix documentary series that chronicles Prince Harry’s love story and their departure from the British Royal Family, was recently aired. Part 1 covered Harry and Meghan’s childhood and careers, courtship, and 2017 engagement. Part 2 covered their wedding and the shocking announcement that they would not work as royals. After the series came Harry’s book, Spare, and many interviews, dramas, gossip, and many more incidents and events, including their financial trouble post-Spotify and Netflix’s departure from them and the rumors they are getting divorced. We gathered all the deeply personal details, the body language analysis, and the hidden gems.
This article was originally published on worldtravelling.com and has been republished here with permission.
Prince Harry’s Candid Reflection on Meghan’s Mental Health Struggles
In a stark revelation, Prince Harry has opened up about his initial reactions to Duchess Meghan’s mental health struggles, expressing profound regret. This disclosure comes amidst a swirl of financial woes and divorce rumors that have been plaguing the couple, casting a shadow over their fairytale romance.
As part of an intimate conversation, Prince Harry shared that his initial lack of understanding and empathy towards Meghan’s mental health battle took a toll on their relationship. He admitted that he wished he had been more supportive and informed about the mental health challenges that his wife was facing at the time. This honest reflection highlights the human aspect of their royal lives, often hidden behind the opulent facade.
A Caribbean Hideaway Amidst A Storm of Rumors
The whispers of discord seemed to chase Prince Harry and Meghan Markle relentlessly. Yet, amidst the swirling rumors, the couple sought solace in the serene embrace of the Caribbean. They were spotted in a blissful retreat to Canouan, a quaint island nestled in the heart of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. The picturesque getaway portrayed them strolling hand in hand, a tableau of unity against a backdrop of relentless speculation.
Their joyful demeanor as they reveled in the island’s tranquility was a sight to behold, leaving onlookers and the world at large with a tableau of love that defied the tumultuous whispers seeking to drive a wedge between them. Their children, too, seemed to revel in the peaceful retreat, a stark contrast to the storm of rumors that ceaselessly aimed to batter the royal haven they had strived to maintain.
Diana’s death: “Pa didn’t hug me”
In “Spare,” Prince Harry reflects on the moment he was told about his mother, Princess Diana’s death on August 31, 1997. He recounts how his father informed him and his brother William, who were 12 and 15 at the time, that she did not survive the injuries from the car accident in Paris. Harry writes that the phrases his father used that day remain in his mind like darts on a board. He also remembers that his father didn’t hug him, and he did not cry.
In an interview with Anderson Cooper on “60 Minutes,” Harry explains that he felt numb in the days following his mother’s death and struggled to cry until Diana’s coffin was lowered into the ground. He also describes the silence as he walked behind his mother’s coffin during the funeral procession, as he noticed that there wasn’t a single human voice among the two million people who lined the roads.
Steamy night at a hotel
Harry recounts a private moment from the early days of his relationship with Meghan Markle. He writes about a meeting with Meghan at a hotel in London on the anniversary of his mother, Princess Diana’s death, nearly two months after they started dating. According to Harry, Meghan invited him to the hotel. She instructed him to take the freight elevator to avoid being seen by anyone. He also mentions that she had a friend escort him to her room, adding that he was waiting breathlessly outside her door.
He further adds that they thought of hanging a “Do Not Disturb” sign on the door, “but there wasn’t enough time for that, if you know what I mean. I had to hide under the duvet when we ordered room service the following day.” Meghan suggested he go into the bathroom, but he preferred to hide under the covers while the hotel assistant manager stayed to converse with Meghan.
Body language experts analyze Harry and Meghan’s body language
Harry is ‘like a child’ who’s afraid of losing his wife: According to the body language expert, Prince Harry appears to have a constant fear of losing his wife, Meghan Markle. James observed that Harry had an intense love for Meghan that included high levels of anxiety, and this anxiety was evident in the dynamic of their relationship. She noted that during their interview, Harry appeared childlike and anxious as he gazed at Meghan while she scolded him for being late on their first date and even whispered to the camera about her being late on their second date.
On the other hand, Meghan appeared to be the more confident and dominant partner in the relationship. She described herself as having a career, a life, and a path, and how Harry disrupted that. The expert added that Harry also appeared animated by a lot of anger, disbelief, and grief.
A switching of delivery styles
According to the same body language expert, there seems to be a shift in how Prince Harry and Meghan Markle present themselves during another recent video interview on their documentary series. She noted that Meghan adopted a more traditional, British royal-style posture with her hands folded on her lap as she sat close to her husband. In contrast, Prince Harry adopted a more assertive and dominant stance.
This change in their dynamic is particularly notable as their previous appearances in the past year had seen Meghan taking on a more dominant role. She suggests that this change in dynamic, as seen in this short video clip, is likely a strategic move to position Prince Harry as the star of the show in their new podcast, Archewell, as part of a rumored £30 million deal with Spotify.
Prince Harry appears to be taking on a more assertive role
According to a body language expert, Prince Harry appears to be taking on a more assertive role in a recent video of him and Meghan Markle being interviewed after their documentary series was released. She noted that the couple had a polished, American-style presentation and that Meghan adopted a more reserved and submissive demeanor in the footage.
She observed that there was a new emphasis on portraying Harry as the dominant partner, with Meghan sitting beside him in a demure and admiring posture. The expert further commented that Harry’s body language in the video appears more American, with expansive hand gestures and dynamic delivery.
Harry is in disbelief
According to a body language expert, the footage of Prince Harry recorded from the lounge at Heathrow Airport in March 2020, which appears at the beginning of the documentary, is intended to be emotionally raw and portrays naked emotion. He observed that the footage shows all the non-verbal signals of a man who has just witnessed or experienced a terrible event.
He commented that Harry seems to have high levels of stress or anxiety, signals of mental confusion, and cannot remember the day of the week. He noted that his breathing and accelerated blinking suggest adrenalin-fueled tension; his verbal fillers, pauses, and tongue-poke gesture hint at denial. Overall, Harry looks like a man still in shock. He added that the Prince reveals he has just done his last stint of royal engagements, but his “What happened?” makes it sound more like he has just been the victim of an accident or attack.
Revealed their genuine emotions on camera
A body language expert analyzed the critical moments between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, pointing out the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s “tell-tale signs” that reveal their genuine emotions on camera. She noted that when Harry discussed his first date with Meghan, he showed signs of nervousness and embarrassment. She said that when Harry talked about how they met on Instagram and how he was half an hour late due to traffic, he said, “I was panicking, I was freaking out, I was sweating,” and his body language reflected that, he started to go a little bit red, which is congruent with embarrassment.
He then started to touch his face and nose – signals referred to as pacifying gestures, which people use to give self-assurance when speaking about something that might make them uncomfortable. According to the expert, these gestures suggest that Harry is not entirely comfortable discussing his relationship with Meghan and “has the urge to shy away from it.” She also said that when we think about a memory, the unconscious mind believes we are reliving it. Therefore, it evokes all of the person’s emotions in that memory.
They acted very playful and mischievous
According to a body language expert, when Harry and Meghan were joking about Harry’s real list of qualities he looked for in a girlfriend, they acted very playful and mischievous. He observed that the couple has a great sense of humor around each other, and both of them are willing to demonstrate that in front of the cameras. When Harry spoke about him seeing her with a dog filter on social media, Meghan was quite playful, and they both laughed.
However, as they were joking about the list, Harry said, “let’s not go there,” showing that he is still sensitive to discussing past relationships. He noted that Harry wants to keep that much in the past and focus on the present. Still, he brushed off the conversation in good spirits, doing so in a joking and mischievous way.
Who holds power in the relationship?
The “green line rule” or “green line test” suggests that a couple’s body positioning can indicate who holds power in the relationship, particularly in photographs. Experts in body language were interviewed by magazines to analyze pictures of Harry and Meghan and interpret their relationship based on this principle.
The experts stated, “The person leaning in could be doing so to control or overpower their partner, or they could feel more dependent on their partner. To truly understand a relationship through body language, one must consider all aspects of the body, facial expressions, and more. Harry is either standing upright and separate or leaning away — although Meghan controls him, he’s not really happy about it.”
Meghan’s body language has demonstrated that she feels more dominant
The experts noted that the photos analyzed do not represent the couple’s usual body language when they are together. They observed, “Typically, Meghan has her hands on Harry somewhere, essentially indicating ownership and warding off anyone who might dare to come close to him. Sometimes she leans in, and sometimes he leans in.”
However, as their relationship has progressed, Meghan’s body language has demonstrated that she feels more dominant. She is the puppeteer pulling the strings,” they said. The recurring theme in these photos is that “Harry either standing upright and separate, or even leaning away from her, and looking wary. This shows that, although Meghan is controlling him, he’s not really happy about it. Photos mirror what is happening in Our lives; one snapshot does not explain a relationship.”
Chosen to emphasize this connection
Body language experts stated that when the couple was first in love, they showed more physical affection. The Netflix documentary used photos and videos chosen to emphasize this connection. They also pointed out that the couple’s photo from October 2018 highlights them as newlyweds and new to royal engagements. Meghan is seen behind Harry, not side by side, and the couple is holding hands rather than letting them hang at their sides. She observed that Harry looked slightly more at ease than Meghan in this instance, as he has been on royal duty his entire life. They have also just announced Meghan’s pregnancy.
Meghan’s hand position is likely a natural reaction to protecting her baby.” By the September 2021 photo, “the couple is complete,” now a family of four. The body language expert said, “They are still connected, with Meghan’s shoulder touching Harry’s chest. Solid in their relationship, [so] they don’t need to be holding hands and let their hands fall relaxed at their sides. Meghan looks tired (mom of two), and Harry is smirking a little with the right side of his smile raised slightly.
For years, Harry believed Diana faked her death
Harry also revealed that after his mother’s death, he struggled to grieve due to his belief that she might have faked her own death to escape the constant attention of the press. He explains that he thought she was miserable and had been hounded, harassed, and lied to and that she might have staged an accident as a diversion and ran away.
He admits that he held on to this idea for four years and often convinced himself that she would reappear and shock the world, calling for her sons and answering questions from astonished reporters. He also shares that he discussed this theory with his brother William, who initially entertained the idea but dismissed it as he believed she was gone and not coming back. Harry writes that he knew deep down that the illusion of his mother hiding and returning was not real, but it helped him postpone the bulk of his grief.
Harry’s secret Instagram account revealed
Meghan Markle was active on social media before she became the Duchess of Sussex; she had a personal Instagram account and ran the lifestyle blog The Tig. However, it is lesser known that Prince Harry also had an active social media presence before he met Meghan. According to the upcoming biography of the Sussexes, “Finding Freedom,” Prince Harry reportedly had a private Instagram account with a Deadmau5-themed handle.
Shortly after their first date at Soho House’s Dean Street Townhouse in London, Meghan started following the Instagram account @SpikeyMau5. The account is currently private, and it’s unclear if Harry still uses it.
Still in ‘mourning’ over the death of his mother
Body language expert has analyzed the body language of Prince Harry during the first episode of his and Meghan Markle’s show. According to James, Harry appeared to be still mourning over his mother’s death, Princess Diana, and conveyed a sense of anger and anxiety. She observed that during his conversation about his first date with Meghan, he appeared childlike and nervous and seemed to have an ongoing fear of losing her. James also noted that he was not afraid to express his feelings of disbelief and vulnerability, as seen in a raw selfie video he recorded of himself at Heathrow Airport as he left the UK in March 2020.
As part of their $100 million deal with Netflix, the couple has shared a trove of personal pictures and videos, including the moment Harry proposed to Meghan in 2017. In the first three episodes, Harry makes statements that may be seen as critical of his father, King Charles III, including that he was “literally brought up” by a “second family” in Africa, where he spent three-month stints in his late teens and twenties, as he coped with his mother’s death.
Harry and Meghan commended for calling out hidden misogyny in Jeremy Clarkson’s apology
In a recent social media post, Jeremy Clarkson apologized for his disparaging comments about Meghan Markle and stated that he had reached out to both Harry and Meghan on Christmas morning to apologize.
However, in a statement released by Harry and Meghan’s spokesperson, they refute Clarkson’s claim, stating that he only reached out to Harry and that his apology does not address his long-standing pattern of spreading hate rhetoric, dangerous conspiracy theories, and misogyny in his articles. The statement also accuses that this is not an isolated incident but a series of articles shared in hate.
“I had to give up everything”
The documentary features footage from Meghan’s interview in October 2015. She was asked to choose between Prince Harry and Prince William. After a moment of hesitation, Meghan chose Harry. She noted that the interview was less than one year before the two met. He said, “That just shows your ignorance and how far we have come.”
“This is a beautiful love story. The best part is that this love story is just beginning. She gave up everything she knew and all her freedom to be with me. Then, soon after that, I had to give up everything I knew to join her world.”
“Books about our story have been written by people we don’t know”
Harry and Meghan said they made their documentary for many reasons. Harry claimed that they were encouraged by a friend to begin the project. He said that with all the misinformation out there, “particularly about us and our departure, it seemed like a highly sensible idea.”
Meghan acknowledged that parts of filming were challenging, but she said it was a pleasure to be able to show the public their side of the events. “In the six years that have passed, books about our story have been written by people I don’t know. Isn’t it more logical to hear our story directly?”
Are They Secretly Recording to Show Their Narrative
In a past wave of online buzz, the internet was rife with speculation after Meghan Markle, then 41, was seen sporting what looked like a mic pack. The rumor mill churned with theories that she might have been gathering footage for her Netflix documentary series. One social media user had strongly voiced their disapproval, stating, “It’s unbelievable that she recorded this. She’s just so divisive. I hope Charles informed Harry she wasn’t welcome at the funeral.”
Another tweet had questioned her motives: “Did Meghan use the Queen’s passing as material for her Netflix show?” Another individual had gone as far as declaring it their final straw, saying, “I’ve had enough. Seeing Meghan with a mic was my breaking point. I took a hiatus from commenting on this duo to focus solely on commemorating Queen Elizabeth.”
Being in the royal family
Harry stated that he realized his family was different as a child. “There’s no point in us all sitting down in a classroom, and my grandmother holds a long stick and glasses on her nose and says, ‘Right, this is what it means being in the royal family.’ It doesn’t happen.” Harry shared his laughter-filled childhood, but he also said that he has few memories of his mother, who was killed in a car accident in 1997.
“It was almost as if I had blocked them out internally. Her cheeky laugh is what I will always remember. I remember her always telling me, ‘You can get into trouble, but don’t get caught.’ I’m that cheeky-inside person.”
Encounters with the paparazzi
Harry said that many of his childhood memories involved encounters with the paparazzi. He said, “Rarely do you have a vacation without someone with the camera jumping out from a bush or some such thing. ‘Don’t react.’ This is the best advice I’ve ever heard. It’s not worth it.”
Public pressure was ever present with its fair share of drama, stress, and even tears. It was always evident on my mom’s face. These are the times when I thought, “Hang on a minute. Who am I? Who am I? What am I a part of?”
Diana asked photographers to leave her children alone
“Paparazzi used to harass us to the extent that we were forced to smile and answer questions to the traveling press kit,” Harry stated that this made him feel very uncomfortable. The documentary featured British journalists and royal historians discussing the reasons that the media were able to take unapproved photos of the royal family.
These photographs could be sold for thousands of dollars. Harry stated that his mother did everything she could to protect her sons against the paparazzi. He said that his mother took it upon herself to confront the paparazzi. In the documentary, video footage was shown of Diana asking photographers to leave her children alone. She can be heard asking the photographers to respect her children’s space in a clip taken from their 1995 ski trip.
Keep the relationship secret
Harry stated that his mother was subject to harassment from the media after his parents divorced. He said, “The moment she divorced, she left the institution. Then she was all by herself.” She may have been the most powerful, influential woman in the world, but she was totally exposed to it. He said this made him wonder how his family would impact his romantic life.
Harry told Meghan that he was certain that he wanted to keep the relationship secret for as long as possible after meeting her. “It was not exciting in the way people think it would be. It was easy and relaxed. It was just like any other couple. We got to know each other.” Harry also said Meghan was a reminder of his mother in many ways. “She has the same compassion, empathy, and confidence.”
First vacation together
Many photos in the trailer’s first section depict Harry and Meghan as they were at the beginning of their relationship. Few photos show them on what appears like a vacation – it is known that they have previously enjoyed a Botswana trip. After their first date in London, the couple traveled to Botswana in 2016. Meghan and Harry used the trip to get to know each other. They spent five nights in wilderness camping “alone” and away from the luxury log cabins.
According to Finding Freedom, Harry was “delightfully shocked” at how down-to-earth Meghan was when it came time to “roughing it” for the week. According to reports, the Duchess packed very few clothes and “cleaned her skin with baby wipes and happily wandered into woodlands if needed.” Harry and Meghan bonded over their love for nature on the trip, According to reports. They returned one year later to work with elephant conservation groups.
No emotion
Diana was killed in a car accident in Paris after reportedly being chased by the paparazzi. Harry was twelve years old when she died. He said that he and William had two hats when his mom died. “One was two grieving boys who wanted to grieve, cry and deal with the loss of their mom. Two was the royal hat. No emotion; just get out there and meet people.”
Harry stated that the media started treating him like his mother. “That was when everything that happened to our mom started happening to us. He said that not every story was true, but there was plenty of exaggeration. “He’s banging against the walls, taking drugs, drinking, and out late. He’s also nightclubbing and has a girlfriend here and a girlfriend there,” His Eton classmates recalled.
The practicalities of dating
Harry stated that trips to Africa helped him feel grounded during his rough time. They also made him feel closer to Diana, a long-term advocate for AIDS patients overseas. He invited Meghan to Botswana when he was planning the next time they would meet. They said that this would be their second meeting in person, and they would spend five nights together in a tent. Harry and Meghan both said that although it was awkward at first, they soon found their way to “totally natural and normal.”
They decided they wanted to be together after the successful trip and began talking about the practicalities of dating. Harry stated that she had a two-week rule which was very clever. It meant that they had to be together every two weeks. Meghan said it was sometimes easier for her to fly to London to visit him. She said that everything had to be kept secret. It speeds up your level of getting acquainted when you aren’t in the world of courtship. The couple reported that Harry’s press secretary had informed them that there was a story about their relationship, and it would be published soon. She encouraged the pair to spend one more secret night together.
“Paparazzi installed Livestream cameras pointed directly at my house”
Meghan stated that she felt “tremendous relief” when the news broke. However, she saw the consequences of the paparazzi when she returned to her Toronto home. She claimed that paparazzi knocked at all her neighbors’ doors and even installed Livestream cameras pointed directly at her house.
She said it felt like all the UK media had descended on Toronto. “My house was just surrounded. There were just men waiting in their cars to see if I would do anything. Harry, back in London, stated that he felt “helpless” watching the coverage unfold.
The N-word
Meghan talks about growing up in California as a mixed-race child. “I can recall my mom telling me stories about me going to the grocery store with women asking, ‘Whose kid is that?’ Because I was fair-skinned and my mom darker, they thought, “you must be the nanny.” Meghan recalled the first time she heard her mother call a racial slur after a concert in the Hollywood Bowl parking lot. Meghan stated that she had never heard anyone use the N-word.
Doria, Meghan’s mother, stated that she believed the majority of British media’s dislike for Meghan was due to race. Meghan stated that she didn’t think about race at the time. Harry was reminded of headlines such as “Harry’s new Girl is [almost] Straight Out Of Compton,” which appeared in British tabloids. Harry stated that the palace’s direction was not to say anything. “But people must understand that, as far as many of her family were concerned, all she was going through, they had also been through. It was almost like a right of passage.”
Is he really worth it?
Meghan’s media coverage grew, and she requested extra security for the Suits set. To prevent paparazzi from infiltrating the set, the trailers had to be “caged in.” Meghan claimed she called the police to find out if anything could be done to protect herself from the paparazzi. However, they said, “There’s no way we can do that because of who you’re dating with.” After receiving a threat of death, she could finally have heightened security. Former security guard for Meghan, Steve Davies, stated that this was the most stressful situation in media. “I mean, I have worked with A-list celebrities and high-net-worth families before. This was a game-changer.
Davies stated that Meghan was taken to the set by a driver trained in “evasive driving.” All her mail was screened, and some were sent to Harry’s security detail in England to be further analyzed. “My friends and those who cared about me and loved me when all this happened were, ‘ Is he really worth it? We know you are happy, and we also know you love him. But is it worth it? Look at what’s going on in your life,'” Meghan stated.
“She’s an American actress. This won’t last”
Meghan stated that she was unfamiliar with many royal customs when she began dating Harry. She said, “It’s funny if you look back at it now because now I know so many things, and I’m so glad that I didn’t know when I first started dating Harry because I could just authentically express myself without having to be so prepared.” Queen Elizabeth II was the first royal member Meghan claimed to have met. She said, “It’s surreal. There was no big moment of, ‘And now you’re going to meet my grandmother’. I had no idea I would meet her until a few moments ago.”
Harry stated that Meghan was “extremely impressed” by his family, despite her initial fears. He said his family was surprised that the ginger could find such a beautiful and intelligent woman. “But the fact I was dating an American actress probably clouded their judgment more than any other thing in the beginning. Oh, she’s an American actress. This won’t last.”
Passion for activism
Meghan stated that she had spent a lot of time balancing her acting career and her passion for activism before meeting Harry. Harry said this was a very attractive aspect of Meghan’s personality, from a royal perspective and personally.
He said, “From my point of view, I fell in love with her because I felt that she was the person I wanted to spend my entire life with. When it came down to Meghan, that was, I guess, like finding a needle within a haystack.”
Harry’s physical attack by brother william
In his upcoming book, Spare, Prince Harry alleges that his brother, the Prince of Wales, physically attacked him during a confrontation at Harry’s London residence in 2019. The altercation reportedly occurred after William called Meghan Markle, Harry’s wife, “difficult,” “abrasive,” and “rude,” which Harry claims was a repetition of the media’s negative portrayal of Meghan.
The argument is said to have escalated until William grabbed Harry by the collar, damaging his necklace and hitting him to the ground, leaving visible injuries on Harry’s back. The incident is just one of several controversial revelations expected to be published in Spare when it is released globally next week, causing potential turmoil for the royal family.
Prince Harry’s time in rehab
Formerly known as the “party prince,” Prince Harry was ordered by his father, King Charles, to spend a day at the “Featherstone Lodge Rehabilitation Centre in Peckham,” According to Harry’s biography and as hinted in the documentary. At the time, Harry was a teenager and had reportedly experimented with cannabis on several occasions the previous summer.
A senior official stated that Harry did not have a severe drug problem but rather attended the rehabilitation center to learn about the potential risks of using cannabis. The official further explained that the then Prince of Wales thought it would be a shocking yet educational experience for Harry to attend the center. Many heroin users had told the Prince of Wales that they started using drugs by experimenting with cannabis.
Is Meghan Markle planning to release her own memoir?
An “explosive” 60 Minutes interview with Prince Harry and Anderson Cooper is set to air soon, in which Harry again accuses the palace of leaking and planting stories about him and Meghan while refusing to issue a statement in their defense. Harry states that “there becomes a point when silence is betrayal.”
Harry’s own biography, Spare, which he describes as a “landmark publication full of insight, revelation, self-examination, and hard-won wisdom,” is set to be released this year. There are also rumors that Meghan Markle is planning to release a memoir of her own. If the palace was hoping for a less tumultuous year, it appears that 2023 may not bring that desired outcome.
Harry and Meghan announced their engagement
Harry proposed to Meghan in October 2017. Harry stated, “I wanted it to happen earlier, but I waited for permission from my grandmother. I couldn’t do it outside the UK. While she was preparing the chicken, I did open a bottle of champagne, and it kind of gave away the game.” They kept their engagement secret for several weeks but celebrated quietly with friends.
On November 27, 2017, Harry and Meghan announced their engagement. Meghan described the interview and announcement as an “orchestrated reality program.” She claimed they were given pre-recorded answers and were not allowed to tell their real love story. Meghan said she believed the media storm would settle once their relationship became more serious. “There is this promise that once you get married, it will get better. It’ll get easier once they get used to it,” she stated. “But the truth is, no matter my efforts, no matter how skilled I was, they would still find a way of destroying me, no matter how hard I tried.”
Fabricated quotes
Meghan stated that she believed the British media wanted to stir controversy about her mother’s family because they were Black. “And suddenly you had my mom, who is quiet and classy in there, then you had the opposite side of my family, which is just acting differently,” she said, referring to her father’s family. Thomas had two children before Doria and Meghan. Samantha Markle was Meghan’s half-sister.
Meghan stated, “My half-sister, whom I haven’t seen in over a decade, and that was only for about a day and a half, suddenly it felt like she had been everywhere.” According to the documentary, Samantha Markle claims that she and Meghan had a close relationship up until 2018. She also says that the media has fabricated quotes that were attributed to her.
Ashleigh shouldn’t be invited to the wedding
Despite Meghan’s and Samantha’s lackluster relationship, Meghan was close to Ashleigh Hale, Samantha’s daughter. Ashleigh claimed that her grandparents raised her and spent long periods alone without seeing Samantha. After learning that Samantha had a daughter, Meghan decided to contact her. It started with long emails and texts back and forth, then it moved to calls and texts. Ashleigh stated that they started talking on a level at least once a week after a while. “I believe we both desired the same thing,” Meghan stated. “I wanted a sibling, and she was like my little sister.”
Ashleigh stated, “It felt that no matter what I said, you know, she didn’t change her perspective and seemed to grow angrier. And we stopped talking. Some people are just hard to reason with.” The royal family decided that Ashleigh shouldn’t be invited to the wedding as wedding planning progressed. Ashleigh stated that she understood Meghan’s feelings, but it was still painful. “It was hard to know that my biological mother caused this loss in our relationship.”
“It was one of the most embarrassing decisions of my entire life”
2017 Christmas Lunch: Princess Michael of Kent wore blackamoor brooch to Queen Elizabeth II’s annual Christmas dinner. The brooch depicting an African figure was “exotic,” and she quickly received criticism since it was worn to the event that Meghan participated in. Harry stated that sometimes in this family, you are part of the problem and not part of the solution. There is a lot of unconscious bias. However, it can be corrected once you have identified it within yourself. “It’s education, it’s awareness. It’s an ongoing work in progress for everyone, even me.”
Harry also spoke out about the controversy surrounding his 2005 decision to wear a Nazi outfit to a party. “It was one of the most embarrassing decisions of my entire life. I felt so ashamed afterward. He said that all he wanted was to make things right. He spoke of his experiences with a Holocaust survivor and a Rabbi, which he described as having ‘a profound effect’ on him. I could have ignored it and made the same mistakes again in my lifetime, but I learned from it.”
“I killed 25 people in Afghanistan”
In his new memoir “Spare,” Prince Harry writes about his experience serving in the British army and his role in killing 25 people during combat. He explains that in the age of advanced technology, everything he did was recorded and time-stamped, allowing him to accurately keep track of the number of enemy combatants he had killed.
Harry emphasizes the importance of accountability in the military and writes that it was one of the key lessons he learned during his time in the army. He believes it is important to be honest about one’s actions and not shy away from their consequences.
Harry ‘snapped’ at Meghan during a fight
In “Spare,” Harry writes about a fight with Meghan Markle that led to the couple seeking therapy. According to an excerpt obtained by a US newspaper, Harry became “disproportionately, sloppily angry” during the argument and spoke to Meghan harshly and cruelly. He wrote that the words he spoke caused everything in the room to stop, and Meghan walked out of the room in response.
When Harry eventually found her alone in their bedroom, Meghan told him she would not tolerate a partner or co-parent who yelled at her. The couple recognized that Harry’s outburst stemmed from deeper issues. Harry revealed that he had previously tried therapy but had not found the right person to work with. Meghan encouraged him to try again.
Text message fight between Meghan and Kate
Prince Harry’s latest claims in his memoir, “Spare,” have added fuel to the fire regarding his previous accusations against the British royal family. In the book, he has shared his version of events leading up to his wedding with Meghan Markle, including an alleged text message exchange between Markle and Kate Middleton.
According to Harry, a disagreement arose over the fit of a flower girl dress for Princess Charlotte, with Middleton insisting that all dresses needed to be remade, while Markle argued that alterations were sufficient. The alleged text messages in the book depict a tense conversation between the two, with Middleton refusing to take Charlotte to be fitted by the tailor and Markle trying to find a solution for the ill-fitting dress.
A plot twist
Harry and Meghan met for the first time in July 2016. Meghan stated that she had chosen to travel the summer before returning to film another season of Suits. “I was determined to be single and have fun girl time.” One of her summer travels saw a photo of Meghan, and a friend posted it with a Snapchat filter. Harry saw the photo and asked his friend about Meghan.
Meghan’s friend ended up emailing her after she said, “I know that you stated you were single, and a friend asked about you, and maybe you’d love to meet him.” Meghan asked who the friend was. Her friend answered: “Prince Haz.” Meghan wanted to see Harry’s Instagram feed. She said, “I went through it; it was just beautiful photography. All these environmental shots, and this was all while he was spending time in Africa.” She said that the two were “constantly connected” via text messages. Meghan stated, “I had a job, my life, and then I came across H. Talk about a plot twist.”
“I was concerned that Harry had an ego”
The two of them were in touch but did not meet up in person until after Meghan visited London for Wimbledon. Harry and Meghan both claimed that Harry was late to their first date. Harry claimed he was sweating, but Meghan said she was concerned that Harry had an ego and that any girl would wait for him for half an hour. Meghan realized that this wasn’t true. She said that they were “childlike together.”
They planned to have dinner together the day after their date. Meghan was due to leave London on Monday. Meghan stated, “There was only one photo. We wanted to capture that feeling of sitting in a small restaurant and saying, ‘Oh my gods!’ We’re going to give it a try.” Harry said that the night was very special. He recalled, “That was when I felt it just hit me.”
“I found the right one for me”
Harry told his friends that he believed he had found the right one. Harry’s friend Ignacio Nacho Figueras stated that you could immediately see that these eyes were those of someone who had fallen in love. Harry stated that Meghan’s love for him reminded him in some ways of Princess Diana.
He said that there is a temptation for many in the family to marry someone who fits the mold. It is important to decide whether you make decisions with your heart or your head. My mom made most of her choices from her heart if she didn’t make them all. “I am my mother’s child.”
Diana’s boy
Harry stated that he knew they needed a large wedding. He said, “[As] Diana’s boy, there was an expectation that we would have a public ceremony.” It was like, “Mission complete with William. Now let’s check if this goes to the distance with Harry.” And then, we can go, “Job done.” Meghan said that she wasn’t sure how she managed to stay calm on the day of their nuptials.
Thomas Markle, Meghan’s father, decided he wouldn’t be attending the wedding. Meghan asked then-Prince Charles to lead her down the aisle. She said that Harry’s father is charming and that she had lost her dad in the process. “He was my father-in-law and a significant person to me. I asked him to lead me down the aisle, and he agreed. It was incredible.” Harry and Meghan both said that the chaos of a public wedding was quickly forgotten once Meghan walked down the aisle. Harry stated, “the world was watching us, but when we were actually at the altar, it was just us.”
Breaking down boundaries
Kingdom Choir, a gospel choir, was a major highlight of the day. Harry stated that there wasn’t much resistance to the idea. “Everyone was like, ‘Gospel choir, wonderful idea. That’s great.'” Harry said that their father helped them find the performers.
Serena Williams, a close friend of Harry, stated that she enjoyed the addition of the choir. She said, “It was amazing to have her culture represented at that wedding. It was courageous, breaking down boundaries and not trying to.”
A possible shift in how the royal family was depicted
Many pointed out that marriage was a possible shift in how the royal family was depicted. James Holt, executive director of the Archewell Foundation for the couple, stated that Meghan’s story should be “written in” if it were a novel.
He said that the royal family needed a “boost of energy, modernization that would appeal to a new generation” and that Meghan could be that force.
“We were living in a cottage on palace grounds”
Harry and Meghan both said that their time in Nottingham Cottage on Kensington Palace’s grounds wasn’t as glamorous as they thought. Harry stated, “As far people were concerned, we were living in palaces. We were. In a cottage on palace grounds.”
Meghan said, “It was just one chapter in our lives where no one could believe what it was like behind the scenes.” They shared their stories with Oprah Winfrey, who came to tea and joked that nobody would believe what their living quarters looked like.
First outing with the Queen
Soon after the wedding, Meghan went on her first official outing with the Queen, which she described as a success. Meghan stated that she treated the Queen as her husband’s grandmother, knowing there must be a different sense of propriety in public.
“When we got in the car between engagements, she had a blanket that she placed over my knees, and I thought I recognize, respect, and see you as the Queen. But at this moment, it feels like family.
A turning point
Harry and Meghan traveled to Australia in October 2018 for their first official royal tour. Harry stated, “Looking back now, I’m amazed that we were able to accomplish what we did.” Meghan, who was pregnant on tour, said that her early pregnancy added an additional layer to an already “rigorous schedule.” Because Meghan was showing signs of pregnancy, the couple decided to disclose Meghan’s pregnancy abroad. Harry and Meghan seemed to be gaining popularity after their return from the tour.
According to friends of the couple, the couple’s new popularity was “a turning point.” They claimed their positive press coverage led to more negativity from the royal family members. Harry stated that when someone marries and who should be a support act, they are taking the spotlight or doing the job better, it upsets people.
People tried to make them irrelevant or put them in a box
After the tour, Meghan was featured on the front cover of a newspaper shortly after an event attended by Queen Elizabeth and other senior royals. After Meghan voiced her dismay at being chosen for media coverage over other royals, Harry told Meghan that his mother had also struggled with this issue. In that interview, she discussed the pressures of appearing more popular than “born royals.” James Holt said that when people saw Harry and Meghan’s popularity, they wanted to make them irrelevant or put them in a box.
Soon, tabloid stories began to circulate scathing comments about Meghan’s actions, from breastfeeding to eating avocados. The documentary revealed that many of the things Meghan was being accused of were things Kate Middleton had received praise for in the past. Harry stated, “It’s absurd, and there were probably 25 examples.”
Suicidal thoughts
Harry compared negative media coverage to how the press treated his mother, Princess Diana. “Back in the day, my mum was in the back seat of the car in floods with tears between engagements, and my father’s saying, ‘Almost there,’ and 30 seconds to wipe them away, slap some makeup on, and then the doors open, and smile, it’s all fine.”
Abigail Spencer, a friend of Meghan who worked on Suits, said Meghan was “disappearing within herself” due to the constant negative media coverage. Meghan admitted that she was having suicidal thoughts. She said, “It was almost like all of this would stop if you were not here.”
“Royal family members worked against each other”
Harry said that communications teams from different royal family members would work against each other, offering stories about one person as long as there were no negative stories about the other. He said that he and William had previously agreed to stop this practice. However, he was shocked to discover that William’s employees had offered stories about Harry to counter negative press about William.
Harry stated, “I would rather be destroyed in the media than play along with this trade or this game.” It was heartbreaking to see my brother’s office copying the exact same thing we promised each other we would never, ever do.
Everything controlled by the royal family
Meghan described the feeling as though they were trapped in a shrinking bubble with everything controlled by the royal family. She revealed that she couldn’t text her friends a photo and couldn’t send them one. Abigail stated that Meghan was to be viewed as a person, not a “public figure.”
Meghan’s friends decided to throw her an intimate baby shower in New York City. It was criticized for its high costs. Meghan stated that the critics were “so wrong. These strong, independent women are successful and choose to spend their own money. It’s not government money. They throw a party to celebrate a friend they love. You are trying to ruin a beautiful moment.”
Disturbing posts on social media
Meghan was hesitant about continuing this tradition, as most royal mothers debuted their babies on the Lindo Wing at St. Mary’s Hospital in London within hours of giving birth. She said she was worried about going into labor because she was older and didn’t know if she would need a C-section. “I had a long-standing relationship with my doctor, and I trusted him with my pregnancy. Meghan asked her doctor if she could take the photo call at London’s Portland Hospital. Because it would be too difficult to block off the street, her request was denied.
Instead of taking photos, Harry and Meghan decided to announce their baby boy, Archie, at The Palace in the days after his birth. This was a decision that the British press called selfishly. Harry told Meghan that he was shocked at the abuse he received, especially Meghan. He also shared disturbing posts on social media about their son. “Someone posted a photo of a couple and a chimp. The caption at the top said, ‘Royal Baby leaves the hospital.’ Doria said that privacy had been removed from the family. She said it was almost as if the institution had taken her child away.
Not many people have ever asked me if I’m okay
Harry, Meghan, and Archie traveled to South Africa in October 2019 for their first royal tour together as a three-member family. The couple filmed a palace-approved documentary about their African tour while they were there. Tom Bradby, an ITV journalist, asked Meghan about her mental and physical health since joining the royals.
Meghan stated that any woman, especially when pregnant, is vulnerable. This is on top of trying to be a mom or a newlywed. “Thank you for asking. Not many people have ever asked me if I’m okay.” The #WeLoveYouMeghan trending hashtag was born out of Meghan’s candid remarks. It seemed to be a hit with women, mothers, and people of color.
“It was extremely painful”
After Meghan’s wedding, she stated that her relationship with her dad became more difficult. She said her father was interviewed in many newspapers and channels, mostly about her life. It was extremely painful. This drama is being watched by the entire world. He began to criticize the royal family. The family found it very embarrassing.
They wanted to solve the problem, and I agreed to do so. After asking Queen Elizabeth for her advice, Meghan stated that she wrote a letter to express her feelings to her dad. She also said she went to great lengths to ensure the letter reached her father discretely. Despite Meghan’s efforts to keep the letter private, it was published quickly in the Daily Mail. The couple sued Daily Mail under the direction of their lawyer. The court ruled in Meghan’s favor in early 2021.
Protect our mental health
The couple decided to spend Christmas in Canada instead of the traditional royal ritual of sharing it with the Queen. “I loved being there. It was so peaceful,” Meghan stated. “You could even breathe for a moment.”
Harry stated that the getaway gave them the time and space to think about the next steps in their relationship with the royals. Harry and his wife learned that the paparazzi had followed them to Vancouver Island. They agreed that something needed changing and sought to establish a relationship that would “protect us, our mental health, and our well-being.”
“That was the clue”
Harry shared with his father in January 2020 that he and Meghan had a plan. They would move to Canada while continuing their work through the Commonwealth to support Queen Elizabeth II. Harry pointed out that they were open to funding their Canadian work independently. He stated they wanted to eliminate the presumption of public interest in which the media controlled all aspects of their lives. They argued that if you have even 1% of public money funding any aspect of your life, it is possible to claim public interest. Because you have public funds, we can invade your privacy and access everything.
Charles asked Harry and Meghan to submit plans for their move to Canada. Harry, however, said he was reluctant to do so because their plans to move to South Africa the previous year had been revealed. Harry claimed that he eventually agreed to email Charles the plans. Later, they made public their plans to move to Canada. His dad told him, “Put it in writing.” Meghan stated that he did, and it appeared on the front page of the newspapers within five days. Harry said his father was responsible for the leak, as the stories suggested they would give up their titles. He said, “That was the clue.”
The couple’s future
Soon after the statement was published, Meghan returned to Canada to be with Archie. The royal family offered to meet Harry after she left. Meghan stated, “Imagine a conversation. A roundtable discussion about your future. When the stakes are high, and the mother and wife aren’t invited to the table.”
Harry claimed that the meeting was meant to be a discussion. But he soon learned that it wasn’t. It was frightening to hear my brother shout at my father and me make outrageous statements about me. My grandmother, however, sat there and took it all in. The meeting was over without any concrete decisions about the couple’s future.
“They had lied to me”
Harry said the most challenging part of the meeting was its impact on his relationship with Prince William. He said, “The saddest part of it was the wedge that was created between my brother and me so that he’s now supporting the institution’s side. Partially of that, I get. This is his inheritance. To some degree, it’s already instilled in him that he has to ensure the survival and continuation of the institution.
Later that day, a tabloid published a story about William bullying Meghan and Harry. He said, “Once my meeting was over, I was informed about a joint statement in my and my brother’s names that squashed the story about him bullying us out of the family.” It was unbelievable. I had never been asked permission to sign such a statement. I called [Meghan] to tell her they had lied to me to protect my brother. But they have not been willing to tell us the truth for the past three years. Harry and Meghan both claimed that this was when they decided to quit being working royals.
“Meghan needs to die”
The couple’s exit from the royal family was quickly dubbed “Megxit,” even though Harry claimed that Meghan wasn’t the catalyst. He said, “How predictable it is that the woman is to blame for the decision of the couple. It was actually my decision. She never asked me to leave. It was misogyny at its best.”
Harry claimed that British journalists were responsible for spreading misinformation about Meghan via Twitter campaigns. Many tweets he saw were racist, calling Meghan the n-word or comparing her to a monkey. She said, “People need to understand that when you plant hateful seeds, it can become anything.” After seeing a tweet that said, “Meghan needs to die,” she revealed how she was becoming more fearful for her safety and her family’s lives.
“It looked cold, but it also felt cold”
Harry and Meghan returned to the UK in March 2020 to complete their final week of royal duties. Cleaning out Frogmore Cottage, the place they lived after Nottingham Cottage, allowed them to “reflect on our love story.” The week was described by Meghan as “bittersweet,” while Harry called it “really sad.” After revealing in Part 1, Meghan said she wore many colors that week. They shared that they were initially concerned about how the public would react during their last engagements. However, they were pleased to find that the response was mostly positive.
Harry said that the first time he had seen the family since he and Meghan announced their plans for a resigning was at a Westminster Abbey public event. He said, “It’s almost like watching a soap opera with everyone else viewing you as entertainment. I felt very distant from my family. This was because so much of their operation is about how it looks rather than how it feels. It looked cold, but it also felt cold. After they had completed their last royal duties, Meghan admitted that she felt broken. She said that she tried hard, but it was not enough.
“You worry about what might happen next”
After their departure, Meghan claimed she worried their security would be taken away, but Harry assured her otherwise. Harry stated that Meghan’s history, heritage, the well-documented hate campaign against us, and suspicious packages being delivered to the palaces, specifically with my name or her name on them, were all factors.
They wouldn’t do that. But it happened – they lost their security. The fear that the border would close due to the coronavirus epidemic grew during this time. According to the couple, fear grew due to the loss of their security personnel and the fact that the media knew their exact location. Harry stated that there comes a time when you worry about what might happen next. Therefore, you must do what any father and husband would do: get out of there.
Inside their home
Many of the black-and-white snaps seem to show Harry and Meghan relaxing at their home. One photo shows them sharing a longing kiss in the kitchen. Harry is leaning in, and Meghan sits on top of the worktop. Another frame shows Meghan holding her phone in one hand and her head in the other.
The blanket draped over the chair appears to have been taken from their home by a $1,260 Hermes throw. The blanket featured in Meghan’s August 2021 video was shot at Harry and Meghan’s Montecito house.
The only shot in the trailer that features other royals
The trailer shows Harry saying, “No one can see what’s happening behind closed doors.” While Meghan is seen looking distraught in the photo. The only image of any other royals, which shows Meghan, Prince William, and Kate, is displayed next. Queen Consort Camilla can also be seen.
This photo was taken at Westminster Abbey’s 2019 Commonwealth Day service. It was taken when Meghan was pregnant by Archie, just one year before they retired as senior working royals.
Box bearing the Queen’s name
Another candid shot shows Harry & Meghan heading toward a set of doors. Outside, a car is waiting. Although it is not known where the snap was taken, if you look carefully, you will see what appears to have been a box in the right-hand bottom corner with the words “Her Majesty.”
The picture appears to have been taken when Harry and Meghan said goodbye to their UK household staff by treating them to lunch at London’s prestigious Goring Hotel. It is only a stone’s throw away from Buckingham Palace.
Harry and Meghan’s private wedding celebration
The trailer features the first image from Harry and Meghan’s 2018 private wedding celebration. The religious portion of the day was televised, and it became a public celebration. However, the lunch and evening events were held behind closed doors, and guests had to follow strict confidentiality rules. Only their closest friends and most trusted were invited. Harry’s oldest friends were omitted. The newlyweds are seen dancing on the dance floor, holding hands while they party the night away.
The party is enjoying itself, with guests around them drinking and showing off their moves. The background is filled with huge floral arrangements and what appears to be fairy lights. Large by-folding doors open wide, suggesting the party continued onto Frogmore House’s grounds. The couple shared their first Christmas card photo together. It was a picture of them outside watching the fireworks display.
Mike and Zara’s fleeting appearance
One hidden detail that may have gone unnoticed in the wedding photo is the presence of Harry’s cousin, Zara Tindall, and her husband, Mike. Both recently appeared on the show I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here.
In the photo, they can be seen on the dance floor behind Harry and Meghan, with Mike seemingly dancing to the music.
Harry plays the guitar
Another photo shows Harry and Meghan relaxing: Harry plays guitar while Meghan puts her hand into his. This suggests that Harry could play the instrument. However, it has not been confirmed.
Although it has been suggested that he can play the instrument, he once refused the opportunity to sing on a recording with Jon Bon Jovi, saying he preferred to leave the singing to the pros.