There has been a lot of debate in the wake of the Netflix series released by Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex.
So much so that the couple has released a statement to try to clarify things.
Whether you love, hate or don’t care about the couple, Prince Harry is the King’s youngest son (and fifth in line to the throne) and the Duchess of Sussex is a Hollywood actor.
So let’s break it down, real quick.
what happened last week
This week, the royal family released a trailer and the first three episodes of their long-awaited Netflix series, Harry & Meghan.
The show was billed as a “vulnerable look” into their lives.
And it comes after Prince Harry told Oprah Winfrey last year that he and Meghan needed to step back from their roles for his wife’s survival.
How did Harry and Meghan’s first few episodes go?
Criticism has been harsh in the days since the first half of the six-part series was released.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s six-episode docuseries premiered this week. (Provided by Netflix USA)
“If it were Netflix, I’d want my money back. Because there was nothing ‘bombshell’ here or even very new,” wrote Carol Midgley for The Times in Britain.
“It shot really well, but it was repetitive, whiny and boring.”
Stephanie Bunbury of US news site Deadline said the series did not add any new insight to the most pressing questions from fans and royal watchers.
On Rotten Tomatoes, audience ratings were negative. Out of 248 reviews, the average rating was 1.3 out of 5 this week.
Meanwhile, Buckingham Palace has remained silent amid claims and counterclaims that no member of the royal family or royal household has been approached to comment on the series.
Themes of media intrusion appear in the series, with several clips of members of the royal family being followed by a multitude of photographers.
Some commentators have complained loudly that the Netflix series is at odds with the couple’s decision to leave the UK in early 2020.
But this is where the Sussexes, who are embroiled in legal battles against newspaper publishers, appear to have stepped in to counter those claims.
What did Harry and Meghan’s statement say?
It wasn’t exactly them, it was their global press secretary, Ashley Hansen, who issued the statement.
“The Duke and Duchess have never cited privacy as the reason for stepping back,” the statement said, according to the BBC.
“This distorted narrative was intended to trap the couple in silence.
“In fact, his statement announcing his decision to step back makes no mention of privacy and reiterates his desire to continue with his public roles and duties. Any suggestion otherwise speaks to a key point of this series.
“They are choosing to share their story, on their terms, and yet the tabloid media has created a completely false narrative that permeates press coverage and public opinion. The facts are out there.”
Why did the royals abandon their duties then?
Let’s look back at what they said in January 2020, shall we?
Prince Harry has previously said he felt a lack of support from his family when he and Meghan were struggling with their roles. (Chris Jackson/Pool Photo via AP)
A statement was released on their personal Instagram account and also at Buckingham Palace explaining that they plan to split their time between the UK and North America.
“After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year to begin carving out a new, progressive role within this institution,” the statement read.
“This geographic balance will allow us to raise our son with an appreciation for the royal tradition into which he was born, while giving our family the space to focus on the next chapter, including the launch of our new charity “. keep on.
Obviously there’s been a lot of water under the bridge since then, but here we are.
So is that all?
No. Conservative politicians in the UK are quite upset with the documentary.
Some want the couple to be stripped of their royal titles.
Conservative MP Bob Seely told local media he could bring forward a private members’ bill that could downgrade Harry and Meghan’s royal status.
“In addition to tearing his family apart and monetizing his misery for public consumption, he is also attacking some important institutions in this country,” he said.
However, as in Australia, private member’s bills often fail because they rarely get the votes needed to pass parliament.