Finding Freedom: Everything we know so far from Harry and Meghan biography

It’s hasn’t even been released yet but already plenty of revelations about Meghan and Harry’s royal lives have surfaced from Finding Freedom.

The long-awaited biography of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, purportedly written in a bid to finally tell “their side” of the tumultuous past few years in the royal spotlight, is due to be released this week.  

But ahead of its August 11 publication, the Times and the Sunday Times newspapers in the UK began running a selection of extracts from Finding Freedom: Harry and Meghan and the Making of a Modern Royal Family. 

When the book was first announced in May, it promised to go “beyond the headlines … dispelling the many rumours and misconceptions that plague the couple on both sides of the pond”.

The book has already ruffled feathers at the Palace. Picture: Daniel Leal-Olivas/AFP

It’s been reported the 320-page biography, written by royal journalists Omid Scobie and Catherine Durand, will portray a positive image of the couple and their explosive decision to step down as senior royals.

Scobie is close to the couple and was one of the few journalists given details of their video call with Archie to the Queen on her 94th birthday.

It’s been widely reported the royal couple gave their blessing for the biography, despite not giving direct interviews.

While a spokesman for Harry and Meghan said the pair did not contribute to Finding Freedom, he did not deny the content of The Times’ extracts.

The spokesman said: “The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were not interviewed and did not contribute to Finding Freedom.

“This book is based on the authors’ own experiences as members of the royal press corps and their own independent reporting.”

Thanks to the publication of the extracts, plenty of stories are already circulating from Finding Freedom. Here’s everything we’ve learned so far:

TWO WORDS THAT SPARKED RIFT BETWEEN WILLIAM AND HARRY

According to Scobie and Durand, a head-over-heels in love Harry was left feeling “p*ssed off” after his brother cautioned him to take things slow with Meghan.

It’s claimed in the book that William, who at that stage had only met her a “handful” of times, “wanted to make sure the American actress had the right intentions”.

“After all, these are two brothers that have spent their whole lives with people trying to take advantage of them,” the source said. “They’ve both developed a radar to detect that type of person, but as William didn’t know a whole lot about Meghan, he wanted to make sure Harry wasn’t blindsided by lust.”

“Don’t feel you need to rush this,” William told Harry, according to sources. “Take as much time as you need to get to know this girl.”

Harry was determined to marry Meghan from early on in their relationship. Picture: Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images

Those two words – “this girl” – reportedly sparked a rage in Harry, who interpreted them as snobbery.

“Harry was p*ssed off,” another source said. “Pissed off that his brother would ask such a thing. Some felt it was an over-reaction. But then, this sums them up as people — William, the calm and rational one, and Harry, who can’t help but take things far too personally.”

Another friend had a different interpretation, telling the authors, “Harry could see through William’s words. He was being a snob”.

However it was intended, and however it should have been interpreted – that conversation helped spark a chain reaction of events that would eventually see the Harry and Meghan step down as senior royals.

MEGHAN AND HARRY’S SECRET ENGAGEMENT

On November 27, 2017, a beaming Harry and Meghan announced their engagement to the world.

In a TV interview that same day with the BBC’s Mishal Hussain, Harry claimed the low-key proposal “happened earlier this month, just a standard typical night for us,” inside their former home of Nottingham Cottage within Kensington Palace.

Meghan added: “Just a cosy night, we were just roasting chicken.”

She also described how it was an “amazing surprise”.

“It was so sweet and natural and very romantic. He got on one knee.”

The day they announced their engagement in the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace. Picture: Daniel Leal-Olivas/AFP

However, Finding Freedom points to a very different story.

It’s claimed the couple actually got secretly engaged on a trip to Botswana in August, a whole two months before the “roast chicken” proposal was said to have taken place.
MEGHAN ‘SET UP’ PAPARAZZI SHOTS

While much of her royal life has been spent waging war on the paparazzi alongside Harry, Meghan would happily “set up a paparazzi photo here and there” during her days as a TV actress.

Late last week, it was reported she and the Duke of Sussex are suing photographers over claims they took pictures of their one-year-old son Archie with a drone.

The couple are also embroiled in a legal battle over published letters sent to her father in the Mail on Sunday, in which they have blamed the press for relationship troubles.

“While Meghan, before she met Harry, had occasionally set up a paparazzi photo here and there or let info slip out to the press, she did everything in her power to protect the privacy of her relationship with the prince,” the book claims.

“She knew that keeping things quiet meant that they could get to know each other without pressure or further worries that came from reporters covering and commenting on their burgeoning romance.”

While she was disappointed when their relationship was found out, the book claims, there was a “part of her that was relieved”.

SUSSEX’S JEALOUSY OVER WILLIAM AND KATE

Harry and Meghan reportedly felt they were “cut adrift” and overlooked in the royal pecking order, while William and Kate received all the plum official duties.

“There are buckets of bitterness. It will certainly not help relations with the royal family,” a source said.

Harry and Meghan felt they were forced to take a “back seat” in the royal pecking order, despite their global popularity. Picture: Phil Harris/Pool/AFP

Harry and Meghan were also furious at taking a “back seat” to senior royals like Charles and William, the biography claims.

The Sussexes reportedly believed they’d taken the monarchy to “new heights around the world” but were being held back so they did not “eclipse” the family, it’s claimed.

A friend of the couple described the old guard as “the vipers” — while a palace staffer referred to Harry, 35, and Meghan, 38, as “the squeaky third wheel” of the family.

The book also details how the Sussexes were angry at being barred from setting up their own office at Windsor, and complained they were victims of a “merciless machine” of staunchly traditional aides and courtiers.