Royal enthusiasts may finally be getting answers to the questions surrounding Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s strained relationship with the British royal family in the new book, Finding Freedom: Harry and Meghan and the Making of a Modern Royal Family.
While the book penned by royal reporters Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand doesn’t hit stands until August 11, excerpts from the highly anticipated title were released to The Times in July. As a result, a spokesperson for Harry, 35, and Meghan, 38, released a statement denying any involvement.
“The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were not interviewed and did not contribute to Finding Freedom,” the statement to Us Weekly read. “This book is based on the authors’ own experiences as members of the royal press corps and their own independent reporting.”
Scobie and Durand have also cleared up speculation that the couple was interviewed for the book, noting they have spoken to more than 100 sources, including the couple’s inner circle, past and present palace staff and more.
“The book doesn’t claim to have any interviews with Harry and Meghan. And nor do we,” Scobie told The Times. “I think that you can tell from the reporting, my time around the couple is enough for me to know my subjects.”
The authors have spent time with Harry and Meghan, however. Scobie was one of the three journalists at the Suits alum’s penultimate engagement in March before the twosome officially left their position as senior royals working for Queen Elizabeth II.
“Back at Buckingham Palace, the ACU students now en-route to Westminster Abbey and Harry quietly slipping through the door to say hello, the reality – and the emotions – finally set in as I give Meghan a goodbye hug,” Scobie recalled. “She’s flying back to Canada on the last commercial flight of the day, eager to be back in Vancouver Island by the morning before Archie wakes up.”
Harry and Meghan announced their plans to step back from their senior royal duties in January, less than two years after they wed in May 2018. That March, they attended their last royal engagements before moving to Los Angeles with son Archie.
While Prince William has yet to publicly comment on Finding Freedom, a source told Us that he isn’t happy about the book.
“William thinks the book is their calculated way of controlling the narrative and that they took advantage of their entertainment contacts so they’d be painted in a favorable light,” the source said.
Another insider noted, “Even before the book came out, the bad blood between William and Harry was apparent. But it’s taken a whole new turn.”
Scroll through for the biggest revelations from the book:
According to an excerpt published by People magazine, the palace wasn’t happy when Meghan was spotted wearing an “H” initial necklace in December 2016. "She was advised that wearing such a necklace only served to encourage the photographers to keep pursuing such images — and new headlines," the book states, claiming that “the surreal experience of having someone from her boyfriend's office tell her what kind of jewelry to wear or not to smile at a photographer was too much.”
Meghan reportedly told friends that she felt like she couldn’t win after the disheartening conversation.
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According to the authors, Harry had a secret Instagram account, @SpikeyMau5, inspired by one of his favorite DJs Deadmau5 while he was dating Meghan. He reportedly used a mouse-shaped helmet as his profile picture.
It turns out the prince is also a fan of emojis.
“His messages were often short and full of emojis, in particular the ghost emoji, which he often used instead of a smiley face,” the book reads. “For what reason? Nobody knows. But Meghan found his texting etiquette funny and adorable, just like the prince.”
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There have been several conflicting reports about the queen’s approval of the tiara Meghan wore at her wedding to Harry. Scobie and Durand alleged that the Queen Elizabeth’s official dressmaker, Angela Kelly, was the one who had issues with Meghan’s selection of the Queen Mary Diamond Bandeau Tiara while the queen reportedly didn’t hesitate.
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According to Finding Freedom, Harry "had an image of getting married and spending time with William and Kate, the two couples together, their children best friends” before his falling out with William.
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According to the book, Harry dropped the L-Word first within three months of their relationship, “but Meghan immediately replied, ‘I love you, too.’”
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Harry and Meghan were reportedly engaged for three months before their November 2017 announcement.
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Scobie and Durand alleged that a senior royal once referred to Meghan as “Harry’s showgirl.” One adviser was reportedly overheard telling another colleague that “there’s just something about [Meghan] I don’t trust.” The book alleged a third staffer said the former actress “comes with a lot of baggage.”
Tim Rooke/Shutterstock (9715996eh) Meghan Duchess of Sussex and Queen Elizabeth II open the new Mersey Gateway Bridge Queen Elizabeth II and visit Cheshire, UK - 14 Jun
Meghan’s relationship with Duchess Kate got off to a rocky start as they “struggled to move past the distant politeness of when they first met,” the book claims. While the sisters-in-law were “not at war with each other,” per Finding Freedom, there was awkwardness between the women.
“The truth was Meghan and Kate just didn’t know each other that well … Though it was not necessarily her responsibility, Kate did little to bridge the divide,” the book reads, noting the duchess had little in common “other than the fact that they lived at Kensington Palace.” The book also claims Kate once left Meghan to shop alone during an outing to the same street in London.
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Per Finding Freedom, Harry was “pissed off” when Prince William reached out to make sure that his brother “wasn’t blindsided by lust” when he first started seeing Meghan. William reportedly told Harry to “take as much time as you need to get to know this girl,” which didn’t sit well with the younger prince.
“Some felt it was an overreaction,” the book states. “But then, this sums them up as people — William, the calm and rational one, and Harry, who can’t help but take things far too personally.”
After their heated confrontation, the brothers spent less and less time together, per the book. By the summer of 2017, Harry’s visits with William, Kate and their kids “had come to a virtual halt.” The tension and desire to get space from his brother was also supposedly why Harry and Meghan moved to Frogmore Cottage in Windsor.
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Meghan’s father opted not to attend her May 2018 nuptials to Harry after he was caught staging photos with the paparazzi.
“He’s vulnerable,” Meghan reportedly told a friend about the situation. “He’s been baited. A lot of the tabloid journalists have been coaxing him and paying him. I don’t know if he really even had a chance.”
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Meghan was reportedly willing to do “whatever it takes” to make their roles within the royal family work, but Harry was done. “I don't need to have that movie moment where we get out of a car and wave to a hundred photographers before going into a building,” Scobie and Durand claim the prince once told a friend. “It should just be about the work happening inside. Let’s focus on what really matters.”
The authors wrote that Meghan “opened the door” for Harry to leave, noting their family members didn’t take their requests seriously.
“I gave up my entire life for this family,” Meghan tearfully told a friend in March, per Finding Freedom. “I was willing to do whatever it takes. But here we are. It’s very sad.”
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It was hard to ignore William and Kate’s less than warm welcome to Harry and Meghan at the Commonwealth Service in March.
“While Harry and Meghan both greeted William and Kate with smiles, the Cambridges showed little response. It was the first time the two couples had seen each other since January. ‘Harry,’ William nodded, ignoring Meghan,” the book claims. “For the minutes before the Queen’s arrival, William and Kate sat with their backs to the couple, only turning around to chat with Prince Edward and [his wife] Sophie, next to the Sussexes. Although Meghan tried to make eye contact with Kate, the duchess barely acknowledged her.”
According to Scobie and Durand, the decision for the two couples not to enter with Queen Elizabeth at the event was made “without their consultation.” The Duke and Duchess of Sussex has reportedly felt it was “intentional” that their names were missing from the program.
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from Celebrity News – Us Weekly https://ift.tt/39vfV2P
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