Truth vs Reality: How Meghan and Harry wove a narrative web in Netflix series
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle told ‘their truth’, but the Netflix version of reality has come into conflict with their own story. Here’s how.
Royals
Don't miss out on the headlines from Royals. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle claimed be the only ones to “know the truth”, but the world is questioning whether their reality is based on fact or fiction following their Netflix release.
The first three episodes of Harry & Meghan delved into the couple’s “love story”, with Ms Markle promoting the series as a chance to tell their “own story” after the media “shaped” the narrative around them.
The first seconds of the series began with a disputed statement, which claimed “members of the royal family declined to comment on the content within this series.” Royal insiders, however, have said neither Buckingham Palace, Kensington Palace nor any family member was approached for comment on any of the Netflix content.
With the release of Volume I, the “truth” of their narrative appears to have changed from their previous versions of major milestones in their relationship; from their first date to the media’s intrusion of their privacy to the bitter feud with Ms Markle’s family.
BLIND DATE VS LOVE AT FIRST INSTAGRAM
Old truth: Prince Harry claimed in a 2017 BBC interview that he met his future after being introduced on a blind date, suggesting he didn’t know who he’d be meeting.
“It was definitely a set-up — it was a blind date. It was a blind date for sure,” he said.
Netflix truth: Prince Harry first saw Ms Markle by pure coincidence scrolling through his Instagram timeline, saying they met on the social media app.
“I was scrolling through my feed and someone who was a friend had this video of the two of them,” he said, adding that the first photo he saw was of her with a dog filter over her face.
“That was the first thing. I was like who is that?” Harry said, before texting a mutual friend to help them get in touch.
COSY PROPOSAL IN VS CANDLE-LIT PICNIC OUT
Old truth: Prince Harry popped the question on a “cosy night in” roasting chicken, he previously told BBC One.
“It happened a few weeks ago, earlier this month, here at our cottage; just a standard typical night for us,” he said.
Meghan added they were “just roasting chicken”. “Trying to roast a chicken and it just — just [was] an amazing surprise, it was so sweet and natural and very romantic. He got on one knee.”
Netflix truth: Prince Harry proposed outside in a romantic, candlelit garden. Pictures shared in the Netflix series show the prince down on one knee with their dog and flowers on a picnic blanket.
FASHION ICON VS STIFLING DRESS CODE
Old truth: While in the United Kingdom, Ms Markle was famously photographed in bright reds, yellows, and greens as she was welcomed as a breath of fresh air to the Royal family.
Netflix truth: In episode three, Ms Markle said she “rarely wore colour” so she didn’t clash with the Queen and senior members of the Royal family.
“I wore a lot of muted tones … I also wore it so I could just blend in,” she said. “I’m not trying to stand out here. I don’t want to embarrass the family.”
FINDING FREEDOM VS SILENCED AND GAGGED
Old truth: After moving to the United States, the couple found their voice to tell their story in a now-infamous interview with Oprah in March 2021, when they accused an unnamed family member of racism and that they failed to offer help for suicidal thoughts.
Asked about that interview on the eve of the documentary release, Ms Markle said spoke up to show others how to be brave to “speak honestly about your own experience.”
Netflix truth: Prince Harry said the couple has “never been allowed to tell our story”, with Ms Markle adding: “That’s true. That is consistent. Until now.”
FAIRYTALE WEDDING VS ENGAGEMENT FRENZY
Old truth: The Royal wedding between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in May, 2018 was widely celebrated in British media as a modern, progressive fairytale. Stories from “palace insiders”, “courtiers” and “family friends” portraying her negatively and as difficult not appearing until late 2018.
One of the first overtly negative pieces came in August of that year when Ms Markle broke Royal protocol by wearing a dress without stockings, “the only hard rule” the Queen was known to “require” of female members of the Royal family.
Netflix truth: Ms Markle says the relationship with the press deteriorated about two years earlier after the announcement of their engagement in 2016.
“Truth be told — no matter how hard I tried, no matter how good I was, no matter what I did, they were still going to find a way to destroy me,” she said.
Meghan had photographers following her in Toronto where she filmed Suits, where she put on a pleasant demeanour for the paparazzi.
“And I remember H the next day saying, ‘You can’t talk to them’,” Ms Markle said. “And I was like, ‘I’m just trying to be pleasant, I don’t know what to do, I’ve never dealt with this before.’ He’s like, ‘Right, but the UK media are saying you love it. You’re smiling. You love it.’ “
FATHER’S BETRAYAL VS HARRY’S BLAME
Old truth: Thomas Markle was blamed for his estrangement from his daughter, with Ms Markle telling Oprah that she “couldn’t reconcile” the betrayal of him speaking to the British press.
Netflix truth: Prince Harry says he’s the one to blame for Ms Markle not having a father and the fact he would not walk her down the aisle at their wedding, which they only learned from a story on TMZ.
“She had a father before this, and now she doesn’t,” Prince Harry said. “And I shouldered that. If Meg wasn’t with me, then her dad would still be her dad.”
PRESS INTRUSION VS MEDIA COLLUSION
Old truth: The Duke and Duchess have long criticised press intrusion into their private lives. In 2019, Meghan and Harry took an official tour with their new son, Archie, to Desmond Tutu’s home in South Africa. A photo was taken of the couple from behind, showing them carrying Archie through the home.
British royal correspondent Robert Jobson, who was there to cover the event, said the image was taken from one of only three accredited press pool photographers in a position agreed to by Harry and Meghan.
Netflix truth: That photo was used as an illustration of the press invading their privacy. Prince Harry and Ms Markle, meanwhile, were the subject of a formal complaint after they snuck a photographer into the Queen’s home without her formal approval.
Pictures taken inside the Queen’s “private quarters” of Buckingham Palace appeared in the Netflix series, along with private images of the family released by Prince Harry and Ms Markle themselves.
FAMILY FEUD VS FAMILY FRIENDS
Old truth: Ms Markle claimed she was never close to her half-sister, Samantha Markle, and hadn’t seen her in “over a decade” before she suddenly saw her in the media calling her “Princess Pushy”.
Other than her mother, Ms Markle invited no other members of her estranged family to the wedding with Prince Harry.
Netflix truth: While not close to her half-sister, Ms Markle is close to her half-sister’s daughter, Ashleigh. Ms Markle’s niece, who did not attend the wedding, appeared on the show revealing how she’s close to the Duchess.
Ms Markle said she followed “the guidance at the time” to not have Ashleigh come to the wedding.
“How do we explain that this half-sister isn’t invited to the wedding, but the half-sister’s daughter is?” she said.
More Coverage
Originally published as Truth vs Reality: How Meghan and Harry wove a narrative web in Netflix series
Queen Margrethe rushed to hospital after fall
Denmark’s Queen Margrethe, who abdicated in January in favour of her son King Frederik and his Australian wife Queen Mary, has been hospitalised after an accident at her home.
Diana’s confidant Al Fayed accused of multiple rapes
The late Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed, whose son Dodi died alongside Princess Diana, has been accused of multiple sexual assaults amid claims the luxury store covered up the alleged abuse.