Harry and Meghan’s Netflix trailer ‘DELIBERATELY timed to take away from Cambridges’ US tour’

The release of the trailer for Harry and Meghan’s Netflix docuseries has been ‘deliberately designed’ to ‘take away’ from the Cambridges’ landmark US tour, a royal expert has claimed.

The explosive trailer for the £88 million series dropped today, with the couple sharing an intensely personal reel of never before seen photos including several of the duchess crying. 

It comes as Prince William and Princess Kate are two days into a three-day tour of the US and Buckingham Palace is embroiled in a race row back home after an aide made ‘unacceptable and deeply regrettable comments’ to domestic abuse charity founder Ngozi Fulani. 

Calling the Sussexes ‘unpredictable’, Mr Fitzwilliams said that the trailer’s release was ‘obviously timed to take away from the Wales’ trip to Boston’, adding that Meghan and Harry ‘like control their narrative’.

‘The timing draws attention away from William and Catherine’s visit to Boston, which is highly prestigious,’ he said. ‘William is launching the Earthshot Prize and meeting Biden, which is very very prestigious.’

Meanwhile, the Sussex’s friend Omid Scobie gleefully tweeted: ‘If tomorrow is Prince William’s Super Bowl, then here’s your Halftime Show…’ 

Mr Fitzwilliams said their trip had already been ‘overshadowed’ by the race row that saw the late Queen’s chief lady-in-waiting – and also Prince William’s godmother Lady Susan Hussey – resign after being accused of racially insulting Sistah Space founder Ngozi Fulani and refusing to believe she was British. 

Saying that the timing of trailer release was ‘certainly unhelpful’, he continued: ‘If you look at it, it would appear there’s a lot for the Palace to be concerned on. What will they reveal?

‘There’s one [photo] where Meghan looks distressed, what is the context behind that? What will they reveal about the way they believe they were treated by the Royal Family?’

The Royal Family will be braced for further negative headlines when the Sussexes’ Netflix show airs, reportedly next Thursday.   

Mr Fitzwilliams said: ‘There’s a lot I think to be concerned about. If you look at the timeline, they get the Ripple of Hope Award, then they get the Netflix docuseries and then the first release of Harry’s memoir Spare.

‘You’ve got three concerns for the Royal Household coming up.

‘One wishes they would not do this but there’s no way of stopping them. It seems they have never timed things so they don’t clash with members of the Royal Family. 

‘It obviously looks deplorable but there is nothing they can do about it.’

Mr Fitzwilliams added that it is a ‘very unhappy situation for the Royal Family at the moment’, and the ‘potentially very destructive’ docuseries will ‘likely deepen’ the already ‘big rift’ between the family.

Meanwhile, royal expert Robert Jobson said: ‘I think everyone knew it was going to happen at some stage, it was inevitable.

‘They picked the optimum moment to get the maximum publicity.’

In latest royal developments:

The Sussexes’ one-minute-12-second clip opens with a producer asking ‘why do you want to make this documentary?’ before a reel of photos flash up of Harry and Meghan throughout their relationship, along with one image of the Prince and Princess of Wales. 

In a hint of fresh attacks on the Royal Family, Harry is heard saying, ‘no one sees what goes on behind closed doors’ just before a photograph showing Meghan holding her head in her hands while talking on the phone. 

In another photo, Meghan is seen sitting next to Harry on a sofa, with the duchess holding both hands up to her face while her Prince Harry has his head tilted backwards.   

The other black and white snaps give a deeply personal insight into the couple’s life together, and include Meghan cradling her baby bump, Harry playing the guitar, and the couple dancing at their wedding in May 2018. 

The trailer finally cuts to his wife, who says: ‘When the stakes are this high, doesn’t it make sense to hear our story from us?’

The Sussexes have reportedly been paid $100million (£88million) for the fly-on-the-wall Netflix series, which has left the Royal Family braced for more damaging accusations from the couple. 

The timing is awkward for the Prince and Princess of Wales as Buckingham Palace is embroied in a race row back home after ‘racist’ comments were made by Lady Susan Hussey at an event hosted by Queen Consort Camilla. 

Sistah Space founder Ngozi Fulani said she felt ‘interrogated’ by the royal aide about what country she came from, despite being born in the UK and stating multiple times that she was British. Officials said they were taking the incident ‘extremely seriously’. 

As the Sussexes unveiled their glitzy publicity push, William and Kate’s troubles deepened today as one of the UK’s leading lawyers claimed that Lady Susan Hussey quizzed him about his heritage at the same function. 

Nazir Afzal, 60, Chancellor of the University of Manchester and ex-chief prosecutor of the CPS under Sir Keir Starmer, reacted to the row by declaring: ‘Racism is never far away’.

Harry and Meghan announced their deal with Netflix just six months after setting up home in California in March 2020, saying they wanted to provide ‘hope and inspiration’ by teaming up with the streaming goliath.

The Duke and Duchess said their company, unnamed at the time but now known as Archewell Productions, would make documentaries, feature films, scripted shows and children’s programming.

It’s previously been reported that the Duke and Duchess were ‘at odds’ with the production staff on their Netflix docuseries as the ‘panicked’ couple wanted to make ‘such extensive edits’ that the team believe the project could be ‘shelved indefinitely’ following the death of the Queen.

In a statement, the Sussexes said: ‘Our focus will be on creating content that informs but also gives hope. 

‘As new parents, making inspirational family programming is also important to us.’

They added that Netflix’s ‘unprecedented reach will help us share impactful content that unlocks action.’

Ted Sarandos, Netflix’s chief content officer and co-chief exec, said at the time: ‘We’re incredibly proud they have chosen Netflix as their creative home and are excited about telling stories with them that can help build resilience and increase understanding for audiences everywhere.’

After putting ink to paper on the deal, the Sussexes were said to have welcomed cameras into their luxury Montecito mansion for a fly-on-the-wall type documentary, Page Six reported.

While it’s unclear on exactly how much of their home life the couple were prepared to share, they certainly did let Netflix cameras trail them on public appearances in 2021 and 2022. 

When Harry and Meghan jetted to the Global Citizen Live event in New York in late September 2021, a camera crew accompanied them. 

And just over six months later in the Hague, in April this year, the Duke and Duchess were filmed at the Invictus Games, hugging Team United Kingdom competitor Lisa Johnston and meeting competitors and chatting to the crowds.

An organiser at the event said the Netflix team arrived in six people carriers with caseloads of equipment.

The film crew were given maroon bibs to differentiate them from the dozens of photographers covering the Games and were given exclusive access to the couple as they met with athletes.

However, when it came to the Queen’s Jubilee in June, a few months prior to the 96-year-old monarch’s death on September 8, the couple were firmly told they would not be able to film while attending the celebrations. 

Indeed, Meghan and Harry took a low key role in the national holiday, missing out on key moments on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, the invitation to which was only extended to senior roles.

Even before it’s release, the show has made waves on both sides of the Atlantic and it is expected to cause fresh turmoil for the Royal Family.

The first of Harry’s memoirs, named ‘Spare’ are set to be released in January.

Royal experts have claimed in recent weeks that these two bombshell projects will further set back any prospect of a meaningful reconciliation between the couple and King Charles and Prince William. 

This summer, Meghan hinted that the documentary  could focus on their ‘love story’.

Speaking in an interview with The Cut, the Duchess said her five-year-long romance with Prince Harry is one of the ‘pieces of her life’ that she has not yet fully shared with the public.

The Duchess continued: ‘The piece of my life I haven’t been able to share, that people haven’t been able to see, is our love story.’ 

But after the Queen’s death the Sussexes were said to have wanted to ‘downplay much of what they have said about Charles III, Queen Consort Camilla, and the Prince and Princess of Wales’ in their documentary series, according to a previous report.

One Hollywood industry source said they were doubting whether to hold the series following the Queen’s death.

They said: ‘A lot of conversations are happening. 

‘I hear that Harry and Meghan want the series to be held until next year, they want to stall.

‘I wonder if the show could even be dead in the water at this point, do Harry and Meghan just want to shelve this thing?,’ they added.

A Netflix insider also claimed: ‘Netflix has been keen to have the show ready to stream for December. There’s a lot of pressure on (Netflix CEO) Ted Sarandos, who has the relationship with Harry and Meghan, to get this show finished.’

However the source added that the streaming platform was ‘standing by the filmmakers’ who want to keep the content in the project, and that it will still be ‘going forward.’ 

Insiders reportedly told US website Page Six earlier this year that the couple were ‘having second thoughts’ on the project. 

‘But it’s their story, from their own mouths,’ one Netflix source told the website last month.

Another said: ‘They’ve made significant requests to walk back content they themselves have provided’.

And Prince Harry faced claims that he was trying to get Netflix to postpone his controversial fly-on-the-wall documentary until after Christmas so it was released at around the same time as his bombshell memoir. 

Hollywood news website Deadline previously said that ‘rattled’ Netflix bosses ‘blinked first’ and decided to push back the original December release date after the US company came under heavy criticism over its bombshell fifth series of royal drama The Crown.

‘Harry and Meghan are panicked about trying to tone down even the most basic language. 

Meghan even appeared as though she was distancing herself and Harry from their upcoming and controversial Netflix documentary around a month after Her Majesty’s death on September 8. 

The Duchess of Sussex suggested that its direction is now in the hands of Left-leaning filmmaker Liz Garbus ‘even if it means it may not be the way we would have told it’.

She said in a magazine interview: ‘It’s nice to be able to trust someone with our story — a seasoned director whose work I’ve long admired — even if it means it may not be the way we would have told it. But that’s not why we’re telling it. We’re trusting our story to someone else, and that means it will go through their lens.

‘It’s interesting. My husband has never worked in this industry before. 

‘For me, having worked on Suits, it’s so amazing to be around so much creative energy and to see how people work together and share their own points of view. That’s been really fun.’  

Garbus, who was also due to work on the Duchess’ series Pearl before it was scrapped by Netflix, is a documentarian and filmmaker and also helmed the last season of The Handmaid’s Tale, which earned her an Emmy nomination in 2021.

The TV drama is an adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s novel, which became an instant feminist classic following the story of a woman named Offred, who is forced to live as ‘handmaid’ producing children against her will in a totalitarian North America.

Garbus has been involved in a host of other TV and film projects about oppressed women, notably including Girlhood, which follows two female inmates – victims of horrific violence and tragedy – who are serving time in a juvenile detention centre.

She has also had control over a documentary about the life and legend of singer, pianist and civil rights activist Nina Simone as well as a film called Shouting Fire: Stories from the Edge of Free Speech.

Meanwhile the director’s Instagram page is openly political, with recent posts urging for women’s abortion rights and comments about ‘brilliant’ Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams.

Biographer Tom Bower previously said the Sussexes’ Netflix series would be helpful publicity for Harry’s book.

‘Viewers and readers can expect scathing comments about their treatment by Harry’s family. 

‘Wallowing in self-pity, the Sussexes will portray themselves as victims of uncaring charlatans,’ he said.

In a previous statement announcing the deal, Penguin said the book it would cover Harry’s ‘lifetime in the public eye from childhood to the present day, including his dedication to service, the military duty that twice took him to the frontlines of Afghanistan, and the joy he has found in being a husband and father’.

The contents of Harry’s book are likely to be kept top secret and palace aides have revealed that no members of the Royal Family have been offered the chance to see any of it before it becomes public. When the publishing deal was announced in July 2021, only the Queen was given advance warning.

It comes after The Mail on Sunday reported that Harry launched a last-minute bid to tone down his bombshell autobiography amid fears his final draft ‘might not go down too well’ in the wake of the Queen’s death.

The memoirs had been signed off ready for an expected autumn release, but the Duke – who is writing the book as part of a near £40million three-title deal – has asked to make some significant alterations.

His request may be seen as a sign that he is ready to take a more conciliatory approach to the rest of the Royal Family, but could cause problems for his publishers.

‘Harry has thrown a spanner in the works,’ a source said. ‘He is keen for refinements in the light of the Queen’s death, her funeral and his father Charles taking the throne.

‘There may be things in the book which might not look so good if they come out so soon after these events. He wants sections changed now. It’s not a total rewrite by any means. He desperately wants to make changes. But it might be too late.’

Publishing sources suggested that the Duke might have limited ‘wriggle room’ given he was handed a seven-figure advance.

Publishers Penguin Random House had already demanded a rewrite after the first draft was deemed ‘too touchy-feely’ and placed too much focus on mental health issues, The Mail on Sunday reported.

All we know about Harry and Meghan’s Netflix show: £88 million project airing next week will feature fly-on-the-wall footage of their home life and public outings – but they claim: ‘It’s our story through someone else’s lens’

By Jo Tweedy for MailOnline  

It was a picture perfect moment in The Hague – Meghan and Harry warmly embracing Invictus Games competitor Lisa Johnston, who was draped in a Union Jack, after the former army medic and amputee had just competed in an event at the Games the Prince founded in 2013. 

In the background of the photographs, it’s clear to see the moment being caught on film; one of several times since the Duke and Duchess of Sussex signed a rumoured £88million deal with Netflix that a camera from the streaming service has been by their sides on a public outing. 

The TV giant, say industry sources, is set to unleash the fly-on-the-wall documentary on the royals’ lives and work next week on 8th December. 

This is despite reports that the couple had tried to push it back to 2023 – unnerved by both Series 5 of The Crown sparking controversy on both sides of the Pond, and the release of Harry’s tell-all memoir on the way in January. 

Royal experts have claimed in recent weeks that these two bombshell projects will further set back any prospect of a meaningful reconciliation between the couple, who live in a $14.65million Montecito mansion with their two children, Archie, three, and Lilibet, one, with King Charles and Prince William. 

And, in an interview with Variety in October, Meghan made it clear their story has been told ‘through someone else’s lens’. 

Here, FEMAIL looks at everything we know about the Netflix project so far…

SIGNING THE NETFLIX DEAL: A £88 MILLION GOLDEN HELLO 

Just six months after the couple set up home in California in March 2020, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced a shiny new deal with Netflix, saying they wanted to provide ‘hope and inspiration’ by teaming up with the streaming goliath.

The Duke and Duchess said their company, unnamed at the time but now known as Archewell Productions, would make documentaries, feature films, scripted shows and children’s programming.

In a statement, the Sussexes said: ‘Our focus will be on creating content that informs but also gives hope. As new parents, making inspirational family programming is also important to us.’

They added that Netflix’s ‘unprecedented reach will help us share impactful content that unlocks action.’

Ted Sarandos, Netflix’s chief content officer and co-chief exec, said at the time: ‘We’re incredibly proud they have chosen Netflix as their creative home and are excited about telling stories with them that can help build resilience and increase understanding for audiences everywhere.’

CAMERAS BEGIN TRAILING THE COUPLE – BUT NOT TO THE QUEEN‘S JUBILEE 

After putting ink to paper on the deal, the Sussexes were said to have welcomed cameras into their luxury Montecito mansion for a reality-type documentary, Page Six reported.

While it’s unclear on exactly how much of their home life the couple were prepared to share, they certainly did let Netflix cameras trail them on public appearances in 2021 and 2022. 

When Harry and Meghan jetted to the Global Citizen Live event in New York in late September 2021, a camera crew accompanied them. 

And just over six months later in the Hague, in April this year, the Duke and Duchess were filmed at the Invictus Games, hugging Team United Kingdom competitor Lisa Johnston and meeting competitors and chatting to the crowds. 

One of the organisers at the event said the Netflix team arrived in six people carriers with caseloads of equipment.

The film crew were given maroon bibs to help them stand out from the dozens of photographers covering the games and given exclusive access to the couple with behind close door meeting with the athletes.

However, iwhen it came to the Queen’s Jubilee in June – just a few months before the late Monarch died on September 8th, the couple were firmly told they wouldn’t be able to film while attending the celebrations. 

Indeed, Meghan and Harry took a low key role in the national event, missing out on key moments on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, which only senior roles were allowed to attend. 

‘TRUSTED’ LIZ GARBUS COMES ON BOARD – AFTER REPORTS OF A CLASH WITH PREVIOUS DIRECTOR GARRETT BRADLEY

After first signing their deal, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex turned to Garrett Bradley, director of the critically acclaimed Netflix series about tennis prodigy Naomi Osaka – but they reportedly clashed over the direction of the show, it was claimed earlier this month. 

A TV insider told the New York Post how the collaboration unravelled: ‘Garrett wanted Harry and Meghan to film at home and they were not comfortable doing that. There were a few sticky moments between them, and Garrett left the project. 

‘Harry and Meghan’s own production company captured as much footage as they could before Liz Garbus was hired.’

Garbus, who was also due to work on the Duchess’ series Pearl before it was scrapped by Netflix, is a Left-leaning documentarian and filmmaker and also helmed the last season of The Handmaid’s Tale, which earned her an Emmy nomination in 2021. 

The TV drama is an adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s novel, which became an instant feminist classic following the story of a woman named Offred, who is forced to live as ‘handmaid’ producing children against her will in a totalitarian North America.

Garbus has been involved in a host of other TV and film projects about oppressed women, notably including Girlhood, which follows two female inmates – victims of horrific violence and tragedy – who are serving time in a juvenile detention centre.

She has also had control over a documentary about the life and legend of singer, pianist and civil rights activist Nina Simone as well as a film called Shouting Fire: Stories from the Edge of Free Speech.

Meanwhile the director’s Instagram page is openly political, with recent posts urging for women’s abortion rights and comments about ‘brilliant’ Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams.

But a Netflix source added that the streaming platform was ‘standing by the filmmakers’ who want to keep the content in the project, and that it will still be ‘going forward’.

In October, Megan told Variety Magazine that she was delighted to be working with Garbus, saying she was ‘a seasoned director whose work I’ve long admired’.

The royal added: ‘It’s so amazing to be around so much creative energy and to see how people work together and share their own points of view. That’s been really fun.’ 

DISTANCE? MEGHAN NOW SAYS ‘IT’S OUR STORY THROUGH SOMEONE ELSE’S LENS’  

There have been mixed reports in the US about when the Netflix documentary about the couple’s lives will now air, but the general consensus is that there will now be no postponement and ‘the show will go on’ in December. 

There have been mixed reports in the US, with Deadline insisting the show will be delayed until the new year citing bosses being ‘rattled’ and ‘blinking first’ because of the backlash over Season 5 of The Crown. 

The show has made waves on both sides of the Atlantic and it is expected to cause fresh turmoil for the Royal Family. Harry also has his memoirs, named ‘Spare’, on the way. 

Certainly Meghan herself seems to be distancing herself from just how involved the couple have been. In her interview with Variety magazine, she said: ‘It’s nice to be able to trust someone with our story — a seasoned director whose work I’ve long admired — even if it means it may not be the way we would have told it.’

However, she appeared to add a disclaimer, saying: ‘But that’s not why we’re telling it. We’re trusting our story to someone else, and that means it will go through their lens.’  

 Previously, one Hollywood industry source said the couple were facing doubts about the series following the Queen’s death. They said: ‘A lot of conversations are happening. I hear that Harry and Meghan want the series to be held until next year, they want to stall.

‘I wonder if the show could even be dead in the water at this point, do Harry and Meghan just want to shelve this thing?,’ they added.

A Netflix insider also claimed: ‘Netflix has been keen to have the show ready to stream for December. There’s a lot of pressure on (Netflix CEO) Ted Sarandos, who has the relationship with Harry and Meghan, to get this show finished.’