The true story? Couple’s claims challenged
The first three episodes of the Harry & Meghan Netflix documentary purported to tell the “full truth” of their story, their interactions with the Royal family and experiences of public life.
However, some of their claims have been challenged, while aides and others who worked with them, yesterday noted, once again, that “recollections may vary”.
Racist art
The third episode suggests that royal palaces are filled with racist art and imagery, then shows some examples – none of which are in royal palaces.
Afua Hirsch, a historian, tells viewers that murals and statues in palaces or stately homes “glorify the institution of slavery”.
As she is speaking, two photographs of the Picture Gallery at Buckingham Palace are shown, without any racist imagery, then two paintings and three statues are shown without reference to the fact that they are not from Buckingham Palace or any other royal residence.
‘Orchestrated reality show’
The Duchess claims their engagement interview with Mishal Husain, the BBC journalist, in 2017 was “rehearsed” and nothing more than an “orchestrated reality show”, adding: “We weren’t allowed to tell our story”.
Ms Husain responds: “My recollection is definitely very much, asked to do an interview, and do said interview.”
Wedding invite
The Duchess suggests the Kensington Palace communications team advised her not to invite her niece, Ashleigh Hale, 37, daughter of estranged half-sister Samantha Markle, to her wedding.
Those familiar with the discussions at the time suggest that it was Meghan’s decision, not theirs. One source said they would “never have told anyone who they could or could not invite to their own wedding”. Victoria Ward