Everything we know about Meghan and Harry’s Netflix documentary

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s reality-style series is set to drop in hours, and it looks to be far more explosive than anticipated. Here’s what we know.

The only time Meghan and Harry were sighted with Netflix camera crew was during their philanthropy-centred New York trip last year, leading many royal commentators to believe their long-awaited documentary would be a curated puff piece.

But a lot of the filming appears to have taken place behind closed doors judging by two emotionally driven, dramatic trailers released on Friday and Tuesday, and all of a sudden it looks like yet another bombshell exposé from the exiled Duke and Duchess of Sussex is imminent.

Netflix has confirmed the series – titled Harry & Meghan – will officially drop its first three episodes on Netflix tonight, December 8, with the remaining three to be released a week later, on December 15.

What is ‘Harry & Meghan’ about?

A six-part series, Harry & Meghan is helmed by notable director Liz Garbus, and centres on their fairytale romance. American actress meets handsome British prince and falls in love.

Soon after, it was a love they shared with eight billion people around the world and a union which propelled them among the most famous couples in modern history.

Given the privacy and protocols concealing the early days of their relationship, a level of secrecy which carried into their ill-fated stint as senior working royals, onlookers were rarely given any sort of candid glimpse into their world. This series, Meghan says, aims to bring that inside story to viewers.

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Harry and Meghan’s docuseries is expected to hit Netflix on December 9 in Australia. Picture: Netflix

Meghan told Variety that – despite all the noise surrounding their relationship – the core ethos of the series was about their romance.

“So much of how my husband and I see things is through our love story. I think that’s what people around the world connected to, especially with our wedding. People love love,” Meghan told the publication in October.

“I’m not excluded in that sentiment. And our definition of love is really expansive: Partner love, self-love, the love of community and family. We use that as the baseline of the kind of shows and documentaries we want out there.”

And judging by the first trailer, Meghan has come true on that promise, with viewers treated to a collage of never-before-seen candid photos of the couple from their wedding day, pregnancies and everything in between.

A pregnant Meghan Markle seen in Harry & Meghan. Picture: Netflix

The couple shared a string of candid photos in the teaser. Picture: Netflix

The documentary’s bio reads: “In an unprecedented and in-depth documentary series, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex share the other side of their high-profile love story.”

Royal bombshells

But, given the rumoured $183 million Netflix threw at Meghan and Harry as part of their multi-year content deal with the streamer, it would be virtually impossible for the pair to ignore the Buckingham Palace-sized elephant in the room.

In a telltale sign Meghan and Harry are set to lift the lid on relations with the royal family, the teaser trailer showed a gloomy, black and white picture of Prince William and Kate Middleton as Harry says in a voiceover: “No one sees what’s happening behind closed doors.”

That picture – which one British TV host branded as a major “dig” at Kate – was juxtaposed by not one, but three moments showing Meghan breaking down in tears.

A photo of Kate and Will used in the promo for the doco.

Meghan is seen breaking down multiple times. Picture: Netflix

In the second trailer, released Tuesday, the drama was dialled up several notches, with Harry slamming the royal “hierarchy” while a tearful Meghan Markle sobbed, “They’re never going to protect you”

The Duke goes on to say: “The pain and suffering of women marrying into this institution, it’s a feeding frenzy”.

“I had to do everything I could to protect my family,” Harry adds as Meghan closes out the trailer, “When the stakes are this high, doesn’t it make more sense to hear our story from us?”

Harry & Meghan. A Netflix Global Event.
Volume I: 8 December
Volume II: 15 December pic.twitter.com/WtbngS4HQq

— Netflix UK & Ireland (@NetflixUK) December 5, 2022

Netflix added in the description bio: “Across six episodes, the series explores the clandestine days of their early courtship and the challenges that led to them feeling forced to step back from their full-time roles in the institution. With commentary from friends and family, most of whom have never spoken publicly before about what they witnessed, and historians who discuss the state of the British Commonwealth today and the royal family’s relationship with the press, the series does more than illuminate one couple’s love story, it paints a picture of our world and how we treat each other.”

Meghan hints at telling their side of the story in the series. Picture: Netflix

Multiple reports suggest Harry and Meghan have been at odds with Netflix bosses in attempts to delay the show, following a chaotic period for the royal family, including the Queen’s death in September.

The couple are understood to have wanted to push the controversial TV series back to 2023 amid backlash over the new series of The Crown, which is chronicling the breakdown of Charles and Diana’s marriage.

It’s already copped controversy for the use of “fake” and “misleading” photos which have been exposed in detail, including one paparazzi picture taken from the Harry Potter premiere in 2011.

When will Harry & Meghan air?

The first three episodes will drop on Netflix on December 8, with the final three episodes released a week later on December 15.

Hold on to your seats.

Originally published as Everything we know about Meghan and Harry’s Netflix documentary