Fury as ‘sick’ game featuring offensive cards about Queen, Prince Philip seen in Netflix series
The Sussexes are under fire after an ‘offensive’ card game that set out to ‘tarnish’ the royal family was spotted in their Netflix series.
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A controversial game featuring offensive cards about the late Queen and Prince Philip is visible in shots from the Netflix series of one of Prince Harry’s rooms in the grounds of Kensington Palace, according to The Sun.
Cards Against Humanity — which describes itself as “a party game for horrible people” — was spotted in a picture used in Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Netflix docuseries.
The game’s black box is visible on the floor while the Duke of Sussex poses in military uniform in a room at Nottingham Cottage.
The card game has previously sparked controversy over its “sick” content, which includes references to the Princess of Wales, Queen Elizabeth, and the Madeleine McCann case.
The game, which also features “jokes” about the Holocaust and Michael Jackson, is seen in episode four of the Netflix series, on which Prince Harry and Ms Markle have railed against things they find offensive.
There is no suggestion it is their game or that they have played it.
But Ingrid Seward, editor of Majesty magazine, said: “This game is sick. It is ridiculous and utterly tasteless whether you are a monarchist or not.”
In the episode, the Sussexes complain about the circumstances surrounding their wedding in 2018 and the cramped living conditions in the grace-and-favour property, which is in the grounds of Kensington Palace, West London.
In Cards Against Humanity, players are encouraged to be as offensive as possible.
The game has repeatedly come under fire since its release in 2011.
A blurb on the box says: “Unlike most party games you’ve played before, Cards Against Humanity is as despicable and awkward as you and your friends.”
It was devised by a group of friends in Chicago who admitted one of their aims was to “tarnish” the royal family.
The game makes offensive references to the late Queen twice and to Prince Philip.
It has sparked outrage due to a reference to the 1989 Hillsborough football stadium disaster, which claimed 97 lives.
The Hillsborough Family Support Group said the makers had “warped minds”.
Clarence Mitchell — a former spokesman for Madeleine McCann’s parents Kate and Gerry — also branded the game “deeply offensive” as one card refers to their daughter’s disappearance in 2007.
In each round a player reads from one of 90 cards, containing either a question or a phrase with a blank.
Other players — who hold a number of response cards — then have to fill in the blank.
The player who gives the most offensive answer wins a point.
Its creators have previously defended its controversial content.
Eli Halpern, project leader of the British version, has said of the cards mocking the royal family: “That was our mission statement — to take the most sacred thing in the UK and tarnish it.”
It comes as Prince Harry is set to drop more “truth bombs” in a major interview in the US to promote his new book.
The Duke of Sussex’s book Spare will come out on January 10 and he is set to chat to world-renowned TV anchor Anderson Cooper just days before its release.
More truth bombs are expected as Cooper is known for his hard hitting investigative journalism as the primary anchor of the CNN news broadcast show Anderson Cooper 360° and as a correspondent for 60 Minutes on CBS News.
MEGHAN AND HARRY WANT APOLOGY
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle reportedly want an apology and sit-down talks with the royal family to address their “issues” after their explosive Netflix series.
The Sunday Times reports that the Sussexes feel the royal family has shown double standards by initiating a reconciliation meeting between charity boss Ngozi Fulani and Lady Susan Hussey, a former lady-in-waiting to the Queen.
Ms Fulani said she felt “violated” at a Buckingham Palace reception after being repeatedly asked by Lady Hussey what country she came from, despite being born in the UK and stating multiple times that she was.
Lady Susan, Prince William’s godmother, offered “sincere apologies” at last week’s meeting for making “unacceptable and deeply regrettable” comments about Ms Fulani’s heritage.
A source close to the Sussexes told The Sunday Times: “Nothing like that was ever raised when Harry and Meghan voiced concerns — no meeting, formal apology or taking responsibility or accountability.
“That is hard to swallow — 100 per cent yes they’d like to have a meeting.”
The Sunday Times reports that Prince William, who came under fire in the Netflix series, has no plans to speak to his brother.
“Things have been very strained for a while,” a friend told The Sunday Times.
“There is sadness at where things currently are with his brother … and there’s a memoir coming.
Prince Harry’s memoir, Spare, will be released on January 10.
MEGHAN AND HARRY’S BIZARRE CHRISTMAS CARD
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have unveiled their “holiday season” card — but it fails to make any mention of Christmas.
The couple’s festive message includes a black and white photo of them taken at the glitzy Ripple of Hope awards ceremony in New York earlier this month.
The digital card is signed off using their royal titles — The Duke and Duchess of Sussex — despite the pair stepping down from their senior roles in 2020.
“From our family to yours, and on behalf of our teams at The Archewell Foundation, Archewell Audio, and Archewell Productions, we wish you health, peace, and a very happy new year!,†write Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex for their paper-free 2022 Christmas card. pic.twitter.com/ak8vUTeY1v
— Omid Scobie (@scobie) December 16, 2022
It reads: “Wishing you a joyful holiday season.
“From our family to yours, and on behalf of our teams at The Archewell Foundation, Archewell Audio, and Archewell Productions, we wish you health, peace, and a very happy new year.”
SAMANTHA MARKLE BLASTS NETFLIX DOCO
The half-sister of the Duchess of Sussex has described Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s new Netflix docuseries as a “$100 million fake news PR machine” and said their grandmother “would be rolling over in her grave” at claims that Ms Markle had cared for her.
In the Netflix series Harry & Meghan, Meghan Markle is heard fondly recalling time spent with the Queen, commenting on how “grateful” she was to have a “grandmother figure” after caring for her own grandmother “in her final years”.
The Duchess of Sussex claimed in the series that she barely knew Samantha, saying she hadn’t seen her in “over a decade and that was only for a day-and-a-half”.
Samantha Markle fired back against her estranged half-sister in an interview with Tucker Carlson on Fox News, saying the claims about their shared grandmother on their father’s side, Doris May Rita Sanders, was the last straw.
“The whole grandmother thing — that just did it for us,” Samantha Markle said.
“(Meghan) didn’t take care of her, she visited her.”
Samantha described the six-part documentary — she has previously labelled a “flopumentary bordering on comedy” — “as a ‘series of lies”.
“Wow, it’s just been a series of lies and I can’t believe we’re essentially looking at a $100 million fake news PR machine,” she told Fox News.
“It’s just projection at its finest and its almost comical, god, just so not true.”
Samantha Markle claimed the Duchess of Sussex did not have the closeness to their grandmother that she had described in the documentary.
“She never made apple butter with her because my grandmother was making apple butter, like, in the 1970s before Meghan was even born. So, it’s been so far-fetched.
“It’s like a tragic comedy, especially sadly for our family and for the royals.”
When asked what advice she would give to Ms Markle’s in-laws, Samantha urged King Charles to “lay down the boundaries” since the Duchess is an “apathetic” person.
“I think it sets a dangerous precedent to let this go on,” Samantha said.
Originally published as Fury as ‘sick’ game featuring offensive cards about Queen, Prince Philip seen in Netflix series
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