Harry & Meghan director says Buckingham Palace tried to ‘discredit’ Netflix series

Oscar-winning director Liz Garbus who helmed Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s controversial docuseries says the experience gave her an insight into Buckingham Palace’s “mind games”.

Liz Garbus, the director of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s controversial Netflix series Harry & Meghan, has slammed Buckingham Palace officials for their attempt to “discredit” the series.

The six-part docuseries gave an insight into the couple’s spectacular falling out with the royal family and what they say led to it.

A monumental rift that led the couple to step away from the royal family in 2020, first for Canada and ultimately to a new life in California.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle told their story in a controversial docuseries for Netflix. Picture: Netflix

Ms Garbus, who directed the entire series, says each episode gives the public insight into the “alleged palace mind games” Prince Harry and Ms Markle were forced to put up with at the hands of other royals.

“For instance, Buckingham Palace said that we didn’t reach out for comment [on the docuseries] when we did,” Ms Garbus said in a new interview with Vanity Fair.

“They did that to discredit us … and by discrediting us, they can discredit the content of the show.

Oscar-winning director Liz Garbus has claimed Buckingham Palace tried to “discredit” the Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s docuseries. Picture: Getty Images

“We lived through some of those moments that were a little bit like Alice Through the Looking Glass,” the Oscar-nominated director added.

At the beginning of the docuseries, a message flashed to viewers that read, “Members of the royal family declined to comment on the content within this series.”

Countering the claim, a source told the New York Post that neither Buckingham Palace, which represents King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla, Kensington Palace, which represents Prince William and Kate Middleton, nor any members of the family were approached for comment.

The Sussexes gave the public a glimpse into their private life. Picture: Netflix

The insider claimed that there would be “no comment” anyway on “any aspect” of the docuseries.

Buckingham Palace has not commented on Ms Garbus’ claims.

The documentary, particularly in the UK, has been slammed as “a very Californian exercise in grievance,” a “tedious, narcissistic wallow,” and “a one-sided PR effort.”

But Ms Garbus defended the series, suggesting that the negative reviews jarred with the overwhelming public interest in the couple.

“People are very happy to read everything about Harry and Meghan when it’s somebody else writing about them,” she said.

Prince Harry remains estranged from his father and brother. Picture: Getty Images

“But when Harry and Meghan want to tell their story in their own words, it suddenly becomes an issue.

“People are not forced to watch a documentary. It’s not going to be required in school. It is your choice what you binge and what you don’t binge.

“There have been more documentaries and books written about Harry and Meghan than Harry and Meghan have produced themselves. So I think it’s an interesting kind of pearl-clutching that doesn’t quite add up with the public’s appetite for reading stuff about them from other people.”

Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and Doria Ragland with baby Archie. Picture: Netflix

The exiled royals dropped a number of bombshells in the docuseries — released just one month before Prince Harry’s explosive tell-all memoir, Spare.

The six-part series saw the pair talk about the alleged racism Ms Markle endured, coupled with the difficult decision to step away from the monarchy.

The pair also break down in detail the mistreatment they claim they endured from the royals, including their strained relationships with Prince William and King Charles and Ms Markle’s own struggles with mental health, as well as her devastating miscarriage.

In addition to their Netflix deal, which according to Forbes was worth $A141 million, the couple also signed a $A35 million contract with Spotify — to produce content like Ms Markle’s Archetypes podcast — prompting backlash from musicians who receive significantly less per stream from the audio-based site.

– with the New York Post