Finding Freedom: Inside details for new Meghan Markle, Prince Harry book

The hotly-anticipated biography Finding Freedom promises to reveal “unknown details” of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s life together.

The hotly-anticipated biography about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle promises to reveal “unknown details” of the couple’s life together and avid royal watchers are keen to get their hands on a copy.

Amazon pre-orders for Finding Freedom: Harry And Meghan And The Making Of A Modern Royal Family, are through the roof while journalists are scrambling to get their hands on a preview copy. But what do we know about the book that is tipped to shake the monarchy?

FIRST OFF, WHEN WILL FINDING FREEDOM BE RELEASED?

The 320-page book about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, written by Harper’s Bazaar‘s London-based royal editor Omid Scobie and writer Carolyn Durand, who has covered the royal family for almost two decades, is due for release in Australia on August 12, and in the UK and USA on August 11.

It is available for pre-order now and went straight to number one on the day it was announced.

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Finding Freedom: Harry, Meghan, and the Making of a Modern Royal Family by Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand. Picture: Supplied

Publishers Harper Collins promise the biography will go “beyond the headlines to reveal unknown details of Harry and Meghan’s life together, dispelling the many rumours and misconceptions that plague the couple on both sides of the pond”.

Scobie and Durand are two British-based journalists who are close and sympathetic to Harry and Meghan and their book Finding Freedom – as its title suggests – is tipped to show a softer side to the royal couple.

Unlike other books published this year that offer a critical take on the Duke and Duchess of Sussex (Meghan and Harry: The Real Story, by Lady Colin Campbell and Royals at War: The Untold Story of Harry and Meghan’s Shocking Split with the House of Windsor by Dylan Howard, to name just two), Finding Freedom looks to be a more positive read.

“The aim of this book is to portray the real Harry and Meghan, a couple who continue to inspire many around the world through their humanitarian and charitable work but are often inaccurately portrayed,” said Scobie and Durand in a Harper Collins press release.

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Authors Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand have travelled the world with Meghan Markle and Prince Harry covering their philanthropic work. Picture: Michele Spatari/AFP.

HAVE MEGHAN MARKLE AND PRINCE HARRY BEEN INTERVIEWED?

When the book release date was announced in May, there was speculation about whether Harry and Meghan themselves were involved and had potentially even been interviewed before they moved to the US. However, a spokesman for the couple subsequently denied to The Times they had participated with the book however were “relaxed” about the writers’ “access to people ‘close to them’”.

Anticipation and interest in the book has been building and the Daily Mail quoted a friend saying: “(Meghan) said the book will finally set the record straight and show the world why they were left with no other choice than to leave the royal life.”

SO, WHO HAS BEEN INTERVIEWED FOR FINDING FREEDOM?

Harper Collins says Finding Freedom was written with “unique access” and “with the participation of those closest to the couple” – but who exactly have they spoken to? Well, we still don’t know.

The book was started as cracks began to emerge between Meghan and the rest of the royal family in the lead-up to her wedding in May 2018. Friends of the former actress are said to have contacted the authors to set the record straight, with the biography then delayed when Harry and Meghan quit The Firm.

Now it’s said the family fear further upset as the biography will explore the open wounds left in the wake of Megxit – including the Queen’s hurt at the decision and Prince Charles’ fury.

Finding Freedom was written as a rift started to develop between the Sussexes and the rest of the royal family. Picture: Ben Stansall – WPA Pool/Getty Images.

WHO ARE OMID SCOBIE AND CAROLYN DURAND?

The authors of Finding Freedom are part of a group of reporters that cover the British royal family and their engagements, often travelling the world with them.

Omid Scobie is a London-based writer, royal editor for Harper’s Bazaar and a contributor to ABC News and Good Morning America. He reports on the philanthropic endeavours of the Sussexes and therefore has strong access to the Sussexes’ working world. Scobie is so close to the couple, he was one of the few journalists given details of their video call with Archie to the Queen on her 94th birthday.

Carolyn Durand has spent nearly two decades working in London covering Buckingham Palace, Kensington Palace, Clarence House and other major international events. During that time, she produced multiple interviews with members of the royal family including Prince Harry.

It’s been repeatedly reported that the pair are “sympathetic” to the Sussexes and that this book will be a positive portrayal of them but not necessarily on the entire royal family.

In June, a palace source described as an “insider” told The Sun: ‘They are worried William especially will be portrayed in a bad light. This sort of family spat shouldn’t be out there in public. This shouldn’t happen to future monarchs.”

The source following up with, “The book could be the most damaging thing to the royal family since Prince Diana’s interview on Panorama with Martin Bashir.”

The book has also drawn comparisons with the explosive 1992 biography Diana: Her True Story, by Andrew Morton, which was written with the co-operation of the late Diana, Princess of Wales.

The book promises to tell the real stories behind the headlines of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s life together. Daniel Leal-Olivas/AFP.

In May, The Sunday Times reported that a senior palace source said: “The rest of the royal family will not be telling their side of the story. They feel that in this new world, people are more interested in seeing the family support frontline workers than reading about their internal politics.

“It was a soap opera. Everyone knows the narrative that’s coming. The feeling is that drama and everything that comes with it has left. Let the rest of the royal family get on with it,” the source said before adding, “It’s just not a hot topic of conversation in the family.

“They have had so many books written about them that have lobbed some hefty bombs over the sides. They’re used to it.”