‘Fictional, lies’: royal speaks out after Harry, Meghan documentary
Another actress who joined the royal family has hit out at Harry and Meghan, praising the senior royals’ ‘bravery’ in the face of ‘brutal … criticism and undermining,’ saying they’ve always been good to her.
A member of the royal family has broken silence over Harry and Meghan’s Netflix documentary, suggesting their explosive series is “fictional,” and “lies.”
Sophie Winkleman, an actress who is married to Lord Frederick (Freddie) Windsor, son of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, makes the comments in an article for the Spectator Magazine, praising the senior royals for their courage “in the face of … criticism, lies, undermining”.
She also makes a swipe at Meghan’s continued refrain that the royal family never supported her when she first married Prince Harry, insisting they have been “always so good to me.”
“I cherish my growing closeness to the senior members of the royal family who are so hardworking, uncomplaining and brave in the face of relentless and brutal media attention, criticism, lies, undermining and fictional TV programs – and always so good to me that I’m honoured to know them,” writes Winkleman – also known as Lady Frederick – who is best known for her role as Big Suze in the sitcom Peep Show.
Her comment about “fictional TV” could also refer to the Netflix series The Crown, the latest series of which has caused upset with its negative portrayal of Prince Charles as his marriage to Princess Diana was failing.
Winkleman, who has said she’s never watched The Crown, has previously made it clear she adores the family she has married into, telling The Times in 2020 she had “not had one single negative experience with them.”
At a time of upheaval in the family – Meghan and Harry had only recently walked away from their royal duties, with Meghan claiming she’d never received any help from Buckingham Palace – Winkleman made it clear she had always been supported by the family.
“I’ve been incredibly welcomed with open arms by all of them,” said Winkleman, who has been married to Lord Freddie - 49th in line to the throne - for 13 years. “I haven’t had a single negative experience.
“The Queen’s been wonderful, Prince Charles has been wonderful, Prince William’s been heaven. They’d never tell me off at all if I wanted to play some [racy] role. Everyone’s looked after me.”
She also described how, in 2017 after breaking her foot and two bones in her back in a car accident, the royal family rallied around. The then Prince of Wales had his Clarence House cook supply the family with two meals a day “for weeks on end … It was life saving having this massive thing twice daily I didn’t have to worry about,” she said.
She said she had met Meghan a few times, but not well enough to know her.
“She certainly has very admirable energy and focus,” she said diplomatically of the woman who was already splitting the family apart.
Her comments come days before Prince Harry’s much anticipated memoirs ‘Spare’ is published. The book is said to be even more incendiary than the Sussexes’ Netflix series, but the Sunday Times reported recently that the couple was keen forva reconciliation with the royal family before the King’s coronation in May.
However sources close to Harry and Meghan told the newspaper said they wanted a royal summit and an apology, saying the royals should “take responsibility” over their “concerns”.
The royal family will come together – without Harry and Meghan – over Christmas, spending the holiday period at Sandringham House in Norfolk. On Christmas Eve, King Charles and Queen Camilla will appear in a televised broadcast of the Princess of Wales’s carol service at Westminster Abbey, which is dedicated to the late Queen.
In the service which features a special performance by a St Mary’s Ukrainian School in London, Catherine will say: “This Christmas will be our first without Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth …“Her Majesty leaves with us an incredible legacy and one that has deeply inspired many of us. This year’s carol service is dedicated to her and to all those who are sadly no longer with us.”
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