Prince William is said to be "utterly furious" at claims made in the new Harry and Meghan Netflix series, according to reports.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex reignited the war of the royals with attacks on the Palace in the first three episodes of the show, which were released yesterday (Thursday December 8). Many in the family believe there is now “no way back” into the fold for the couple, the Mirror reports.
The Palace and Netflix immediately got into a briefing war, as the streaming giant claimed the royals declined to comment after being approached prior to release. Buckingham Palace and Kensington Palace flatly denied an approach was made but within hours made a U-turn, suggesting they had received contact from a third party production company which went unresolved.
READ MORE : Everything we learned from first three Harry and Meghan episodes on Netflix
According to sources, the Prince of Wales was appalled that Netflix used footage from the 1995 Panorama interview with Princess Diana, which she agreed to do after being conned by BBC reporter Martin Bashir. William previously said it should “never be aired again” and thought it was one thing he and his brother agreed on.
A source said: “Harry has blatantly gone against his wishes with the Panorama footage. It shows just how little regard there is from the Sussex camp. William will be rightly furious about it.
“He couldn’t have been clearer and this is one thing he would have thought he and Harry were aligned on. It shows the gulf between them couldn’t be wider.”
Sources close to the future king said he was also “exasperated” at his brother’s continued criticism two years after Harry and Meghan ditched their royal roles for a new life in California. But King Charles and the Windsors face serious questions over race after Harry suggested the entire family had an “unconscious bias”, admitting his own attitudes were a “constant work in progress”.
Harry said Meghan’s American roots “clouded” his family’s view of her. Harry said he spoke to his family about a “race element” in media criticism of Meghan but was ignored.
Meghan said the media was intent on “destroying” her “no matter how good” she was, and that “salacious stories” were “planted” in the lead-up to their wedding in 2018, leaving them to play “whack-a-mole” as articles appeared.
But it was the personal nature of some criticism that has caused most hurt. Meghan described her first meeting with William and Kate, saying she was surprised at their “formality” behind closed doors. Revealing that she was barefoot and wearing ripped jeans at their first meeting, she said: “I’ve always been a hugger, I didn’t realise that that is really jarring for a lot of Brits.”
The actress also told how she was first told to curtsy in front of the Queen, reliving the moment with a theatrical performance as she sat next to a seemingly embarrassed Harry. Royal sources questioned comparisons Harry made between his mother and Meghan when he has said in the past that he had few memories of Diana as he had “blocked them out”.
One insider said: “Selective memory doesn’t quite cover it, does it?” Harry also recalled a private conversation when William asked why Meghan should get “special treatment”.
Harry said: “Some of the members of the family were like, ‘My wife had to go through that, so why should your girlfriend be treated any differently? Why should she be protected?”’
In a barb aimed at Kate, who he once had a great relationship with, Harry said there was a pattern of men in the royal family marrying someone who “fits the mould”. Sources close to William and Kate said the comments were “particularly hurtful”.
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