Harry, Meghan and new storm over Queen’s ‘recollections may vary’
Yet another bombshell from Harry and Meghan’s favourite author
HARRY and Meghan believe the Queen has failed to act over their accusations of racism, an updated biography of the couple has claimed.
According to the new edition of Finding Freedom, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex took exception to a carefully worded statement from the monarch in the wake of their explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey.
The statement expressed concern for the couple but insisted that ‘some recollections may vary’. It followed a series of highly damaging claims from the couple, including the allegation that a member of the Royal Family expressed ‘concern’ about their unborn child’s skin colour.
Days later, Prince William told reporters that the royals were ‘very much not a racist family’ and admitted he was yet to speak to his estranged brother following the Oprah interview.
Now an updated edition of Finding Freedom – a glowing portrait of the Sussexes by Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand, first published last summer – claims the couple were far from happy at the Palace’s official response.
An excerpt due to be published in
People magazine in the US tomorrow states that the couple believe senior royals have not taken ‘accountability’ – preventing a major thaw in relations.
The extract reads: ‘Those three words, “recollections may vary”, did not go unnoticed by the couple, who a close source said were “not surprised” that full ownership was not taken. “Months later and little accountability has been taken,” a pal of Meghan’s added. “How can you move forward without that?” ’
Although the Sussexes have insisted they did not co-operate directly with the book’s authors, the level of detail – and claims by both the writers and publisher, Harper Collins, that they had access to the couple’s close circle of friends and associates – has led some to claim that indirect help was provided.
The book’s authors have said, however, that Finding Freedom is ‘independent and unauthorised’ and that the couple did not speak to them about it. The new version is set to be published on August 31 – the anniversary of Princess Diana’s death. It contains an updated epilogue covering the Oprah interview, the death of Prince Philip, and the Sussexes’ plans for the future.
In an interview with People magazine, co-author Mr Scobie appears to suggest that Harry is not keen to ‘move on’ unless there is ‘accountability’ from ‘a number of individuals involved’ – including members of staff from ‘the institution’ as well as some relatives themselves.
Describing the situation as ‘com
‘Prioritise their mental health’
plicated’, Mr Scobie said: ‘There are people within the family who [the Sussexes] are much closer to today than they were a year ago.
‘But in terms of Harry’s relationship with his father and brother, that progress has been very little. I think he is quite willing to own his part in everything, but I have been told that he is waiting to see some of that on the other side – and as of now there hasn’t been that.’
Mr Scobie adds that the Californiabased couple have learned to ‘prioritise their mental health’ and distance themselves from ‘toxicity’. He also claims they plan to enter a new ‘era of visibility’ this autumn, with a more ‘intentionally public’ life.
‘They’re a couple who do very well in those moments of human interaction,’ Mr Scobie said. ‘They need to be on the ground... they say that the proof is in the pudding, and what we are about to see is that pudding.’
The new edition of Finding Freedom claims Harry bought a one-way ticket when returning to Britain for his grandfather’s funeral. It says Harry spoke to his brother three times in all during the trip, as well as briefly chatting to his father, Prince Charles, after the memorial service. He also enjoyed ‘precious moments’ with the Queen.
The authors conclude that the trip ‘broke the ice’ and that the door to a rapprochement is now ‘slightly ajar’. Stating that Harry and Meghan have no regrets about their actions, despite the toll on their family, the book concludes: ‘What started [as a] fairytale romance became a story that reinvented the genre – a selfmade, independent woman playing an equal role alongside her knight.’
Buckingham Palace did not comment on the book’s content last year. A spokesman declined to comment last night on the latest claims.