A new biography of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle is set to be released on August 11, and will shed light on some of the biggest news stories surrounding the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
The Sunday Times have been granted early access to the book, which is being described by many outlets as a ‘bombshell,’ and have revealed that contrary to popular belief, Harry was planning on leaving the royal family before meeting Meghan. For every media outlet that raked Markle over the coals, you can send your ‘I’m sorry’ fruit baskets to Los Angeles.
Finding Freedom: Harry and Meghan and the Making of a Modern Royal Family, which admittedly is a bit of a bombshell title in itself, was written by
Harper’s Bazaar Royal Editor-At-Large
Omid Scobie and TV producer and writer Carolyn Durand. Scobie’s name is likely familiar to royal watchers, as the journalist has had a front row seat for many of the royal engagements put on by the Duke and Duchess, including Meghan’s
final event at Buckingham palace before the pair stepped down from their roles as working members of the royal family. As noted by
Page Six, Harry and Meghan did not contribute directly to the book but have not denied its contents. So yeah, preorder your copy now.In the three new excerpts shared by
The Times, the couple’s first meeting and courtship all the way up to their very public separation from the Royal Family is told in detail. Saying that the pair’s decision to step away from their roles as full-time members of the royal family did not go as planned would be an understatement, with Scobie and Durand writing that Harry and Meghan had hoped to stay on part-time and were deeply hurt by the royal family’s reaction to their decision and lack of inclusion in family events. But while the media’s narrative centred around Meghan pushing for the couple to leave royal life, it was actually Harry who made the call.“Fundamentally, Harry wanted out,”
a source close to the couple said. “Deep down, he was always struggling within that world. She’s opened the door for him on that.”The separation was difficult on many levels, but in
Finding Freedom, the authors write that it was the decision to strip Harry of his honorary military appointments that was most hurtful to the Prince. “That’s been a tough pill to swallow, and one that has been most painful to Meghan witness him go through,”
a source close to the couple said. “It’s the one that made Harry emotional.”“It was so unnecessary,”
Meghan later told a friend. “And it’s not just taking something away from him; it’s also that entire military veteran community. You can see how much he means to them, too. So why? The powers [of the institution] are unfortunately greater than me.”In the new biography, Scobie and Durand also
write about the fallout between Prince William and Prince Harry, which began when Harry and Meghan started dating. Offering words of caution to his younger brother, Prince William said “Don’t feel you need to rush this. Take as much time as you need to get to know this girl.” It was the final two words of William's advice, and his referral to Meghan as ‘this girl,’ that pushed his brother away, making Harry feel as though his sibling was reacting in a snobbish manner and not out of genuine concern.Other high-ranking members of the royal family staff also whispered about Harry’s new relationship with Meghan, referring to her as ‘Harry’s showgirl’ and someone who comes with ‘a lot of baggage.’ It’s an ironic remark considering what it means to be dating the sixth in line to the British throne.A rift even more famous than the one between Prince William and Prince Harry is that between the duchesses. The relationship between Meghan and Kate is explored in
Finding Freedom and Scobie and Durand reveal that, contrary to the headlines pitting the women against one another, the actual story is much less salacious. Meghan and Kate simply don’t have much in common, and although Meghan had hoped Kate would reach out to her more during her time at the palace and be a friendly ear who could help her navigate her new royal life, that simply didn’t happen.[video_embed id='2002119']RELATED: New book sheds light on royal rift[/video_embed]
