Documentary or declaration of war? The British monarchy awaits with apprehension and a touch of ennui the world premiere this Thursday of the series dedicated to Harry and Meghan, whose first excerpts have already revived tensions between the “sussexes” and the rest of the British royal family.
“Nobody knows the whole story. We know the whole story,” Harry launches, dramatically, in a clip released Monday by Netflix, announcing the December 8 release of the first three episodes of the soberly titled series. harry and meghan. The other three will be released on December 15.
Criticism of the press, accusations of racism, denunciation of the suffering generated by the “signature”: three months after the death of Elizabeth II, the big-budget series reopens the wounds of the discord between the Sussexes and the rest of the royal family , which Harry and Meghan left in 2020, in particular due to harassment by the British. tabloids
wind of freshness
Yet the 2018 marriage between King Charles III’s youngest son and the American Métis actress had been seen as a breath of fresh air for an aging monarchy. “And then everything changed” depicts the couple in the trailer.
Harry points to the “family hierarchy”, a lawyer close to the couple, denounces Jenny Afia “a war against Meghan, to adapt to other people’s agendas”. “It’s about hate, it’s about race,” insists a friend.
Harry, 38, denounces “leaks” and stories published in the press, lamenting “the pain and suffering of women who marry inside the institution” as he scrolls through images of his mother Diana, killed in a car crash in 1997 while being chased by paparazzi.
“I was terrified, I didn’t want history to repeat itself,” he adds.
Contacted by AFP, Buckingham did not comment, but according to palace sources quoted this weekend by the tabloid The Daily MailCarlos and the queen consort Camila are “a bit tired” by these incessant attacks.
Racist controversy in Buckingham
The documentary’s revelations could “be worse than the Royals expect.” “It’s going to be explosive,” he told the newspaper. Mirror a source on Netflix.
Now settled in California, Harry and Meghan had already given a shocking interview on American television last year, accusing a member of the royal family of racism who would have questioned the skin color of their son Archie before he was born. The royal family is not “absolutely not racist” Prince William, now heir to the Crown, had had to defend himself.
Since then, the break has been consummated between the two brothers and their wives. Those who were once nicknamed “the Fantastic Four” made an effort after the death of Elizabeth II: they met in public in Windsor, but without speaking.
The very fragile hope of a reconciliation was rained down by the first trailer for the series released last week, in the middle of a visit to the United States by William and Kate, a trip also marred by a racist controversy in Buckingham.
“War declaration”
In this very neat clip, black-and-white photos of Harry and Meghan follow one another to dramatic music. A single shot shows William and Kate looking particularly hostile, right after a picture of Meghan visibly crying.
“Sabotage”, “Declaration of war”, “Harry, why do you hate your family so much?” headlined the British tabloids, who see William and Kate as the perfect couple, with an impeccable sense of duty, when they compare Harry and Meghan with the Kardashians capitalizing on the big unpacking of their personal lives.
Since leaving the royal family, Harry and Meghan have signed lucrative deals, estimated at more than $100 million, with Netflix and Spotify. Harry is also due to publish his titled memoir in January. alternate.
Denouncing the couple’s “obsessive self-pity” and their “blatant contempt” for the royal family, The Sun newspaper believes they should be stripped of all their honorary titles.
They are the least popular royals in the UK after Prince Andrew, while William and Kate have 81% and 75% support respectively, according to a recent YouGov poll.
Source: BFM TV
