Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Netflix bombshell ‘smacks of desperation’
“A bit rich”: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s new Netflix project smacks of desperation, says former palace aide.
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A former senior palace aide said a fly-on-the-wall docu-series staring Prince Harry and Meghan Markle “smacks of desperation”.
Dickie Arbiter told Palace Confidential on Mailplus: “It’s a bit rich, two people who left the UK, walked out of the Royal Family, because they wanted privacy.
“They’ve done nothing else but put themselves up front and a week doesn’t go by when there isn’t some sort of statement coming out of their PR people.
Mr Arbiter told the publication the project smacked of desperation because Netflix was haemorrhaging money.
“It’s cut productions, it’s got The Crown coming out in November which is a very costly production.
“Harry’s got his memoir coming out either before or just after and Netflix want to show this docuseries to coincide with it all,” he told the publication.
“I think it smacks of desperation.
The comments as the Duke of Sussex criticised social media companies that made “imaginable money” from people’s time, attention and information.
Attending the launch of the 5Rights Foundation’s Global Child Online Safety Toolkit via video link, Prince Harry said he hoped his children “never have to experience the online world as it exists now”.
He joined representatives from the United Nations, the African Union and the European Union as well as young people between the ages of 13 and 21, from countries all over the world.
Speaking at the opening of the event, the Duke said: “Wherever you are, wherever you’re listening from, I predict that your family, like mine, understands that the way we experienced technologies like social media isn’t working and needs to be fixed.”
QUEEN WILL BE “HORRIFIED” BY NEW DOCU-SERIES
The Queen and Prince Charles will be “horrified” by reports of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s new Netflix plans, a royal expert has said.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are reportedly filming an “at home with the Sussexes”-style docuseries for the streaming giant as part of their multi-million dollar mega-deal.
US reports claim the couple have welcomed cameras into their $20 million Montecito mansion to film candid content, as reality stars the Kardashians did for their fly-on-the-wall show.
But, according to the Sun, it’s unclear whether the royal family were briefed on the move, revealed just weeks before the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
Royal biographer Angela Levin said a docuseries would be hypocritical after Prince Harry has repeatedly complained about living in the public eye and that royal life was similar to “living in a zoo”.
Levin also believes the series would come as another blow to the royals - and could “steal the enjoyment from the Queen” during her platinum jubilee.
Speaking to the Sun, Levin reportedly said: “I think the royal family will be horrified because if Harry’s memoirs are coming out at a similar time - which seems what Netflix want - then it’s a double attack on the royal family.
“I don’t know how they can manage this without taking strong action but I don’t think the Queen wants that.
“At the end of her years she wants the royal family around her.”
Earlier, it was reported that Netflix would give subscribers a sneak-peek into the lives of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, thanks to a multi-million dollar fly-on-the-wall documentary deal.
According to the New York Post, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex signed the deal in 2020 after moving to the US, with Netflix pushing to air the series by the end of the year to tie in with the release Prince Harry’s memoir.
“The timing is still being discussed, things are up in the air,” one producer told the New York Post, which reports the royal couple would rather wait until early next year to release the bombshell show.
The Sussexes first allowed Netflix camera to follow them around during their visit to the Netherlands for the Invictus Games for an upcoming documentary called Heart of Invictus.
While details of the new documentary is yet to be revealed, Page Six reports cameras were allowed behind the scenes at the couple’s Montecito mansion and followed them on their trip to New York City last September.
“I think it’s fair to say that Netflix is getting its pound of flesh,” a Hollywood insider told Page Six.
Since the Sussexes moved to California, they’ve been surrounded by controversy relating to the breakdown of their relationship with the royal family.
But the pair announced they would be taking their children, Archie, 3, and baby Lilibet to London for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations next month.
However, the Palace confirmed they wouldn’t be joining senior members of the royal family on the balcony at Buckingham Palace.
Last month, Netflix announced it would no longer air Meghan Markle’s animated series, Pearl, executive produced by Markle along with Sir Elton John’s husband, David Furnish.
The show, which was announced last year, is one of several projects being dropped by the streaming giant, which last month revealed a sharp fall in subscribers and warned millions more are set to quit the service.
Netflix declined to comment, and reps for the Sussexes were unavailable.
KATE MIDDLETON STEPS IN FOR QUEEN
Kate Middleton has stood in for the Queen in stunning style during an annual summer garden party at Buckingham Palace.
The Duchess of Cambridge joined Prince Edward and his wife, Sophie, to celebrate invited guests who have distinguished themselves in public service.
Traditionally, the Queen hosts four garden parties over the northern hemisphere summer – three at Buckingham Palace and one at Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh.
This year she will be represented by senior members of her family as she continues to step back from public engagements amid ongoing “mobility issues”.
Kate, sporting a coral dress from New Zealand-born designer, Emilia Wickstead, mingled and chatted with guests for more than hour.
The Queen missed the State Opening of parliament last week but made a surprise appearance at Paddington Station on Tuesday to mark the opening of the Elizabeth tube line.
Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall represented the Queen at the first of three Buckingham Palace garden parties, which will be held every Wednesday in May. The Holyroodhouse party will take place on June 29.
It is the first time the Buckingham Palace garden parties have been held since 2019 after they were cancelled in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
Speaking on the Queen’s absence, which was announced last week, royal expert Angela Levin said: “It’s a good decision for the Queen not to attend garden parties as there would be too much standing. What a shame though.”
The annual Buckingham Palace garden parties, started in the 1860s by Queen Victoria, are a way of recognising and rewarding public service and see people from all walks of life enjoy high tea on the lawn to the sounds of a military band.
Every year, the Queen invites 30,000 people to attend the parties and in 2018, 8,000 guests attended the first soiree of the season. At each Garden Party, around 27,000 cups of tea, 20,000 sandwiches and 20,000 slices of cake are consumed.
For the occasion men are asked to wear morning dress or lounge suits while women are invited to wear a “day dress, usually with hats or fascinators”.
Originally published as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Netflix bombshell ‘smacks of desperation’
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