‘British press was mostly unfair to Harry and Meghan’

January 8, 2020 announced the dawn of a new age when Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, announced – on Instagram – that they have decided to step back as senior members of the Royal Family. It was followed by another announcement that the couple would “no longer be working members of Britain’s royal family”. The couple then moved to the US, sending the British press into a tizzy. British author and journalist Omid Scobie, who co-wrote the book Finding Freedom: Harry and Meghan and the Making of A Modern Family, with Carolyn Durrand, feels the British press was “mostly unfair to the couple”.

“Through a lot of the coverage that we have seen in tabloids in the UK, they were not really being treated as humans,” he says, adding, “Carolyn and I noticed that certain sections of the press in the UK were reporting a very different narrative from the one we were seeing happen behind the scenes. This was even before Harry and Meghan got married.”

The former actor’s background was scrutinised by the press and the fact that she was a divorcee reportedly ruffled some feathers. In the book, they write how her first husband, Trevor Engelson, grew uncomfortable after her show Suits became a hit, propelling her to stardom.

“It felt that there were a lot of differences others were choosing not to talk about or go into, so what we wanted to do was to create a book that not only told the story of how the couple came together but also correct a lot of tabloid gossip,” Scobie adds.

The book also delves into the alleged discomfort within the British aristocracy after the couple announced their relationship. The very fact that the Royal Family would now have a member of a mixed race, it claims, unmasked the racial bigotry among many. “Along with their marriage there came a lot of criticism. It is true, there are many who are still uncomfortable with change and difference,” he says.

However, the author emphasises, “Harry and Meghan’s marriage signified to the world a new chapter of the Royal Family. For the first time, we had a couple who were not of the same racial background.” He adds that this was a significant incident as they make for a very relatable couple. “Today, when we look out on the streets of the UK, most couples are of mixed background,” Scobie reasons.