From first dates to racism: The 6 biggest talking points from Harry and Meghan on Netflix
The first three episodes of the documentary have arrived on the platform – here’s what we’ve learnt so far
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s documentary series, Harry and Meghan, has landed on Netflix – and the couple have made revelations about everything from their first date to Princess Diana and racism in the UK.
The couple, who stepped down as senior royals in 2020, give intimate interviews in the series, alongside “family and friends who’ve never spoken publicly about the couple’s relationship before”.
You can follow The Independent’s live blog here.
Harry and Meghan was directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Liz Garbus, who has worked on a number of documentaries about public figures, including Marilyn Monroe, Bobby Fischer, and Nina Simone.
Read about the biggest things we learnt from the documentary below…
The couple’s engagement interview was an ‘orchestrated reality show’
Meghan referred to her 2017 engagement interview with Prince Harry as an “orchestrated reality show”.
“It was rehearsed,” Meghan said. “We did the thing out with the press, then we went right inside, took the coat off and did the interview. So it’s all in that same moment."
Meghan says her race was only ever ‘made an issue’ in the UK
The duchess talked about how she was never treated “like a Black woman” in the US, and said it was only when she came to the UK that she began to experience racism.
The couple also discussed the headline in a Daily Mail article that came out the week their relationship became public, which called Markle “(almost) straight outta Compton”.
Read the full story here, and about the moment Meghan feared her father’s phone had been “compromised”.
Shock at the royal family’s ‘formality’ behind closed doors
Meghan said she was “surprised” to find that royal family’s “formality” continues in private.
The duke and duchess talked about how casual Meghan was, in barefoot, compared to Prince William and Kate Middleton when they came over for dinner.
They also discussed Meghan’s first meeting with the late Queen, with Harry saying it was “weird” to explain to Meghan that she had to curtsy.
Read the full story here, and about Meghan’s memories of her “amazing” first royal Christmas.
Harry said male royals ‘marry someone who fits in the mould’
The Duke of Sussex claimed that men in the royal family have a “temptation” to choose to marry women “who fit in the mould” instead of choosing love.
He also spoke of the way his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, made decisions based on her “heart”, compared to “many people” in the royal family.
Read the full story here, as well as the moment Harry talked about blocking out memories of Diana.
Harry calls wearing Nazi costume to party ‘one of the biggest mistakes of my life’
The duke discussed the fancy dress party, in 2005, at which he wore a Nazi uniform complete with swastika armband.
“I felt so ashamed afterwards,” he said in the documentary. “All I wanted to do was make it right.”
At the time, Harry had apologised, and the Board of Deputies of British Jews called out his actions as “ill-judged”.
The couple’s first date panic
Harry and Meghan reflected on their first date, which was at London’s Soho House in 2016.
The prince said he arrived as a “hot, sweaty red ball of mess”, with Meghan realising he was “genuinely so embarrassed and late”.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments