Netflix Docu-Series of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex (2022)

[stellam]

I have read every comment of the last two days and everyone has expressed one of my thoughts. So all I want to add is... was Harry, William and Kate's relationship just a facade before Harry met Megan and that's why the relationship has soured so badly? Who is really the culprit behind Harry's train of thought when he and wifey decided to leave the BRF. My mind boggles at this that Harry who professed to love his father and brother suddenly turned against them. I cannot understand it. Please explain it to me somebody. (Rhetorical question really.)

 

[Hallo girl]

I have read every comment of the last two days and everyone has expressed one of my thoughts. So all I want to add is... was Harry, William and Kate's relationship just a facade before Harry met Kate and that's why the relationship has soured so badly? Who is really the culprit behind Harry's train of thought when he and wifey decided to leave the BRF. My mind boggles at this that Harry who professed to love his father and brother suddenly turned against them. I cannot understand it. Please explain it to me somebody. (Rhetorical question really.)

I am with you, I think I am living in a parallel universe, none of this is making sense to me.

 

[yukari]

(...)

I mean that is crazy but no worse than any other explanation. "as the two most famous Harrys in the UK with a special destiny (since Harry Kane was not on the scene yet), Prince Harry also always felt kinship with Harry Potter..." Thus this footage is his *emotional* truth.

Well, wouldn't it be amusing if his book is actually titled "Harry Sussex and the Prisoner of Windsor" or "Harry Sussex and the Palace of Secret"

PS: there's one other famous Harry: Harry Styles, although he's member of One Direction, not The Chosen One.

 

[The Crown]

I also really can't understand it. Where is that Harry who said he loves his father and his brother? Where is that Harry who loved it to go to the people, joking with them during his royal duties? Where is that Harry who wanted to have a family like Kate and William? Where is that Harry who was thankful to his brother because his brother advised him to go to a psychotherapy?

What happenend to Harry? Is he megalomaniac?

How embarrassing it is that there are already so many mistakes in the trailers! And how embarrasing that he tries again to prove that they are in the same situation as his mother? Unbelievable. The situation is complete different.

News write today that they are creating a war. I can't understand this.

So, what happenend to him?

 

[TLLK]

https://archive.ph/ETISx

And more... I thought the point made by the telegraph about the choice of angle in the RF balcony picture was interesting - it has been chosen to fit their narrative but isn't actually a true reflection.

As the Duke tells viewers there is a “hierarchy of the family,” an image of the Buckingham Palace balcony, taken during Trooping the Colour in June 2019, is shown.

However, the angle it has been taken at suggests that the now Princess of Wales, wearing eye-catching yellow, is centre stage, positioned in the middle and therefore at the very heart of the monarchy.

In fact, Queen Elizabeth II, as ever, was standing firmly in the middle of the balcony for the RAF flypast.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex appear on the far right of the image, as if on the periphery of family life. But they are actually standing closer to the late Queen, and therefore closer to the centre, than the Cambridges, as they were then.

An interesting and lengthy article that really has delved into the sources for the Netflix trailer and possibly motivation as to why those images were selected. Thank you for sharing it.

Why all is not what it seems in Harry and Meghan's latest Netflix trailer

Clearly it is not what it seems.

 

[Kaye1850]

I have read every comment of the last two days and everyone has expressed one of my thoughts. So all I want to add is... was Harry, William and Kate's relationship just a facade before Harry met Megan and that's why the relationship has soured so badly? Who is really the culprit behind Harry's train of thought when he and wifey decided to leave the BRF. My mind boggles at this that Harry who professed to love his father and brother suddenly turned against them. I cannot understand it. Please explain it to me somebody. (Rhetorical question really.)

Well, our Harry seems to have the same question:
“…what on Earth happened?” —- from Netflix trailer.

My personal answer would be “Meghan happened.”

 

[southwind]

On YT the trailers are some of the most watched new ones on the Netflix channel, but the comments are pretty brutal...
but as PT Barnum said "there's no such thing as bad publicity"

Even if the comments are good or bad, in all social media, views are the things that made money.

News write today that they are creating a war. I can't understand this.

Create a scandal, make people fight in the comments and you would have more promotion, so more money. It doesn't matter if the information is true or not.
How many social media accounts are getting rich with this? and, Who handle those?

 

[Heavs]

Thinking again about some of the accusations they make in the trailer, the only people who have ever made me think badly of Harry and Meghan are......Harry and Meghan via their own words and actions and their known mouth pieces.

They might score some points in the next few days but I can't see this being any good for any long term strategy that relies on anyone who values discretion or anything other than perpetual victimhood. They've gone from complaining that it's hard to monetise kindness to flat out not bothering with philanthropy unless they can film it or it fits their narrative.

 

[Granada]

I have gone from being enchanted at the time of Meghan and Harry's wedding in 2018 to now firmly disgusted by their antics and agenda.
EVERY Royal that has engaged in these interviews "to get their side out" has regretted it.
And now these two are upping the ante to do a six part series.
Even The Queen wished they had never allowed the Camera's in for the documentary in 1969 "The Royal Family" broadcast to celebrate the then Prince of Wales Investiture.
Prince Edwards 'A Royal Knockout" starring his siblings (minus Charles and Diana) a flop. Lampooned and mocked for years, and very much hurt Edwards reputation.
Charle's Dimbleby's interview in 1994 and Diana's Panorama Interview in 1995, hurt them in the long run and were regarded as mistakes by both.

And of course the utter disaster of Andrew's car crash interview ! Words actually fail me on that one.

So how this Netflix docu-series plays out for The Sussex's will be interesting. Yes, it will get lots of views and publicity, but long term ? I doubt it will be helpful to their reputations or quest to be A-list Global Superstars.
In fact, I'm predicting the opposite. That in 2023 their star power dims considerably and their ability to project themselves as "Influencers" diminishes greatly.

Bitterness, jealously and false victim hood stories don't have long shelf lives. Not when that "narrative" has been being peddled for 3 LONG years.

Not even convincingly, and bizarrely having the two principals tell different and conflicting information about their chief reason for leaving. Suspicion about racism in the Royal Family, Archie "skin color" controversy and lack of mental health support simply don't add up.

 

[suztav]

I have gone from being enchanted at the time of Meghan and Harry's wedding in 2018 to now firmly disgusted by their antics and agenda.
EVERY Royal that has engaged in these interviews "to get their side out" has regretted it.

Even The Queen wished they had never allowed the Camera's in for the documentary in 1969 The Royal Family broadcast to celebrate The then Prince of Wales Investiture.
Prince Edwards 'A Royal Knockout" starring his siblings (minus Charles and Diana) a flop. Lampooned and mocked for years and very much hurt Edwards reputation.
Charles Dimbleby's interview in 1994 and Diana's Panorama Interview in 1995 both hurt them in the long run and were regarded as mistakes.
And of course the utter disaster of Andrew's car crash interview ! Words actually fail me on that one.

So how this Netflix docu-series plays out for The Sussex's will be interesting. Yes, it will get lots of views and publicity, but long term ? I doubt it will be helpful to their reputations or quest to be A-list Global Superstars.
In fact, I'm predicting the opposite. That in 2023 their star power dims considerably and their ability to project themselves as "Influencers" diminishes greatly.

Bitterness, jealously and false victim hood stories don't have long shelf lives. Not when that "narrative" has been being peddled for 3 LONG years.
Not even convincingly, and bizarrely having the two principals tell different and conflicting information about their chief reason for leaving. Suspicion about racism in the Royal Family, Archie "skin color" controversy and lack of mental health support simply don't add up.

Amen! In addition to other elements of the story that don't hold up .... I'm still stunned that Harry and Meghan claim she couldn't get mental health support when we have all heard that Charles got mental health support for the teen-aged Harry!

These two have over stayed their 15 minutes!

 

[tommy100]

The Queen got mental health support for Margaret decades before Harry even existed. Likewise the Duchess of Kent needed a lot of support at one point (oh yes and she quietly left the "working royal family" for her mental health but still gets on well with the family and was supported every step fo the way by the Queen) as did Diana. Apart from Harry and MEghan claiming they couldn't get nay mental health support the vast majority of the other evidence suggests the RF are very open to it and use it when needed - even way before it was "en vogue".

 

[FigTree]

I do see how badly the press treat royal women at certain stage and I do see the cultural issues.

I just think Harry wanted Meghan and she wanted to be a Princess. It wasn’t what she thought. She hated it. He wants to keep her. They have to make money and in essence they bring out the worst in eachother. We don’t know what is going on. What I do know is that neither seems to have any discernible talent at what they want to do so their days are numbered. Just live your life. You have many wonderful things and lovely children. Go forth.

 

[yukari]

Well, this is their excuse:

A source familiar with the making of the Netflix documentary confirmed that the Duke and Duchess did not have editorial control of the trailer themselves, but said the choice of footage was “standard practice in documentary and trailer production”.

"You use stock images to tell a story,” they said. “It's not meant to be literal in a trailer."

Harry and Meghan's team defends Netflix trailer stock footage: 'It's not meant to be literal'

Oh well ....

 

[Hallo girl]

That bodes well for the programme. It is not literal.

 

[tommy100]

So its just a tv series then - nothing documentary about it at all? Its all made up? They can't pick and choose - either its "the truth" (a phrase Harry and Meghan love uttering it rather vague ways as if it makes whatever they say true) or its made up. Sound, again, like they are trying to distance themselves from it to me.

 

[Erin9]

That bodes well for the programme. It is not literal.

Kind of sounds like an invitation to call the whole thing fiction then…

 

[yukari]

So its just a tv series then - nothing documentary about it at all? Its all made up? They can't pick and choose - either its "the truth" (a phrase Harry and Meghan love uttering it rather vague ways as if it makes whatever they say true) or its made up. Sound, again, like they are trying to distance themselves from it to me.

They do state that "the Duke and Duchess did not have editorial control of the trailer themselves".

Next we'll hear their spokesperson insisting that the couple have no control whatsoever of what's shown nor stated in this "docu-series".

 

[Erin9]

Well, this is their excuse:







Harry and Meghan's team defends Netflix trailer stock footage: 'It's not meant to be literal'



Oh well ....

Whatever. They always have an excuse.

The images are used to back up the story they are choosing to (again) verbalize- a very unkind story. There should imo be actual, literal photos backing up said story. That’s not an unreasonable expectation. Seems like a bare minimum actually.

Yes- that includes the trailer.

So its just a tv series then - nothing documentary about it at all? Its all made up? They can't pick and choose - either its "the truth" (a phrase Harry and Meghan love uttering it rather vague ways as if it makes whatever they say true) or its made up. Sound, again, like they are trying to distance themselves from it to me.

I think they are trying to distance themselves too.

Too late though imo. Their words, their photos, their footage is all over this. They perhaps should have put some real thought before choosing to do this- again.

Hope the paycheck was worth it.

 

[yukari]

Now it's the former staff's turn to speak up.

Palace must reject Harry and Meghan ‘lies’, says former aide

Archive

(...)

The former employee called on the palace to “step up” by lifting all the non-disclosure agreements, and said they should “publicly respond to [the Sussexes’] attacks”.

(...)

The former employee also believes that Meghan has been trying to push other former Palace employees into breaking their confidentiality agreements so they can be taken to court.

“She knows we can’t financially protect ourselves by going to court, so she keeps pushing.

“It’s all a game for her. And she is loving it.”

While the former employee is mistaken in thinking that the duchess could take them to court — in the event of a breach of the agreement, it would be the palace who could sue, not Meghan — their fear of legal action remains real.

They added: “I certainly have chosen to remain silent out of respect for the crown, but if they keep attacking us and our characters, reputation etc. we need to feel we are equally supported by the royal family.”

(...)

So the Sussexes claim that there's an agenda, "war" against Meghan. But the way things play out, it seems like it's the Sussexes who purposely wedge a war against everyone, they're making enemy one after another.

 

[Kenya]

Amen! In addition to other elements of the story that don't hold up .... I'm still stunned that Harry and Meghan claim she couldn't get mental health support when we have all heard that Charles got mental health support for the teen-aged Harry!

Not to mention, Harry was the co-founder of an intiative (Heads Together) focused on mental health. You mean to tell me that he couldn't reach out to anyone to get help for his wife, regardless of whether the Palace was willing to help? It makes no sense. But everything is always someone else's fault with these two.

 

[Iluvbertie]

Amen! In addition to other elements of the story that don't hold up .... I'm still stunned that Harry and Meghan claim she couldn't get mental health support when we have all heard that Charles got mental health support for the teen-aged Harry!

These two have over stayed their 15 minutes!

That has never added up to me when it is well known that The Queen encouraged and helped Margaret and Charles to get mental health help when they needed it as their marriages collapsed. We also know that Diana was able to get mental health help throughout her marriage.

Suddenly after all that being arranged, Harry's own involvement in both having help and setting up an organisation specifically concentrating on mental health they couldn't get help for Meghan.

 

[Toledo]

I saw the second trailer a few hours ago after I saw all the commotion in Twitter for it to be using nonrelated footage and using, again, the image of Princess Katherine in subliminal cuts. Looking angry, placed in the center of the royal balcony when it was actually QEII front and center with H&M next to her.
This is bad, almost bullying the princess in two separate trailers for a response.

 

[HRHHermione]

That has never added up to me when it is well known that The Queen encouraged and helped Margaret and Charles to get mental health help when they needed it as their marriages collapsed. We also know that Diana was able to get mental health help throughout her marriage.

Suddenly after all that being arranged, Harry's own involvement in both having help and setting up an organisation specifically concentrating on mental health they couldn't get help for Meghan.

They've also mentioned a close and enduring friendship with Julia Samuel, who is an incredibly connected and experienced psychotherapist with experience in maternal mental health. Presumably she could have connected them to almost anyone they wanted to work with. Additionally, they don't face any barriers to cost and can pay privately for help if they need it. They have far fewer barriers to mental health help than most people face.

I think that's the part of the interview that made most people with any knowledge of the royal family's history of seeking mental health help question the narrative.

 

[Hallo girl]

They've also mentioned a close and enduring friendship with Julia Samuel, who is an incredibly connected and experienced psychotherapist with experience in maternal mental health. Presumably she could have connected them to almost anyone they wanted to work with. Additionally, they don't face any barriers to cost and can pay privately for help if they need it. They have far fewer barriers to mental health help than most people face.

I think that's the part of the interview that made most people with any knowledge of the royal family's history of seeking mental health help question the narrative.

Also the simplest answer, could they not ask their doctor for a recommendation for help.

 

[Heavs]

Also the simplest answer, could they not ask their doctor for a recommendation for help.

It is a fact that at *every single* pre and post natal check up the doctor/nurse/health visitor asks about how the mother is feeling. Even on the NHS. My sister admitted to feeling "a bit overwhelmed" and had a therapist calling her to arrange to talk to someone and offers of group therapy and charities, apps etc that could help before she even left the car park, literally. It is taken very, very seriously in the UK, all Harry or Meghan would have needed to do is talk to one of her OBGYNs (we know she had a "team") or her GP. No "needing to talk to HR".

Whatever. They always have an excuse.

The images are used to back up the story they are choosing to (again) verbalize- a very unkind story. There should imo be actual, literal photos backing up said story. That’s not an unreasonable expectation. Seems like a bare minimum actually.

Yes- that includes the trailer.

But don't you see, it doesn't matter what the factual truth is, they *felt* that this was the truth and that is what matters most!

Stock footage to establish location or something is one thing, especially when everyone knows it's just that. It's another to try and pretend that footage at Katie Price's event or a Harry Potter premiere(!) is footage of them being hounded or used as "proof" of why supposedly others were so jealous. Not to mention cropping photos. Aren't these two supposed to be on a crusade against misinformation? Isn't Harry a member of the Aspen Institute? Surely they should be horrified.

Even if this doesn't show up in the actual series, it doesn't actually bode well for them if they have to do this to attract attention.

They do state that "the Duke and Duchess did not have editorial control of the trailer themselves".

Next we'll hear their spokesperson insisting that the couple have no control whatsoever of what's shown nor stated in this "docu-series"

In a couple of months' time it will be everyone else's fault that they even did the show to begin with.

 

[Claire]

It is actually a lot easier then ever to get doctors help in any of the royal palaces. Due to the QUeen's and DOE age a system was placed in that any phone - included some mobile phones could be opened and one button pressed to alert the police to send a doctor or ambulance or police to the area. THere is also hot buttons in some of the apartments.
After the emergency of Sophie Wessex they were spread to most of the royal households - and it I am not mistaking it was considered cheaper to have them as personal devices. So it is very easy to get any type of assistances.
I think the problem was Meghan wanted to go to the US for the treatment, a facility name was given, and it has been said to me that she wanted to have Archie in the US, as she felt comfortable with the doctors and system there.

 

[MARG]

I cannot understand why anyone would think that Harry and Meghan had much or more likely any say on the Doco trailers or even the date of release. That is up the Netflix and they are quite capable of matching timing and circumstances to tease their prospective audience, after all, they have been doing it since they started the Channel. H and M are merely the subject matter.

How they get sold is up to the network which with the death of the late Queen, has lent them far more momentous opportunities than they otherwise would have had. I would not mind betting there is already a fair amount of buyer's remorse on the part of the Sussexes. I don't think this is working out quite as either Harry or Meghan thought it would.

As to the content itself? I will wait to see the actual doco before I make up my mind because as much as we might wish it were not so, nobody is perfect and nobody is above reproach.

 

[Queen Claude]

So let me get this straight, you have a docuseries where one of the key premises is that you have a couple who was persecuted by the media and the folks putting together the trailer can find 20+ year old footage of Diana being hounded by the media, and 10+ year old footage of Kate being hounded by the media, but the folks putting together the trailer can't find 5-7 year old footage to show married in Meghan / Harry and Meghan being mistreated(???), and yet footage can be found of cheering crowds with shouts of "Meghan, we love you!" and voice overs labeling Meghan a royal rock star.

The interesting thing is I concur that media excesses occurred and Meghan was the target / foil, so why is that footage not in the trailer, especially since, you know, the stakes are so high? It seems to me that what Meghan experienced was bad, and unique in terms of it reflected the times we live in, namely the presence of social media, but as Harry mentioned, there is an issue with how the media and perhaps "the institution" treats women who date princes and marry into the BRF with the most compelling footage being from incidents involving Diana and Kate. Fair enough, but is that going to be the main thesis of this six part, Netflix worldwide event?

 

[Marengo]

We have only seen the promos. Perhaps in the documentary they will have used the clips to underline other points? If not I imagine netflix will have added the true background of these clips in the documentary itself by now. It would be foolish not to as they will expose themselves and the duke and duchess to accusations of misleading the viewer if they do not. A few hours and we will know.

 

[yukari]

We have only seen the promos. Perhaps in the documentary they will have used the clips to underline other points? If not I imagine netflix will have added the true background of these clips in the documentary itself by now. It would be foolish not to as they will expose themselves and the duke and duchess to accusations of misleading the viewer if they do not. A few hours and we will know.

It's still strange though since the footage shown is about celebrity (Katie Price, HP premiere) in a "docu-series" about royals. It's like showing footage from Wembley Stadium for a documentary about Wimbledon with excuse that both are people watching sport in England.