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The Telegraph
The Telegraph
National
Danny Boyle

Thursday evening news briefing: Decoding Harry and Meghan's Netflix show

Evening Briefing logo
Evening Briefing logo

Good evening. A row has broken out between Kensington Palace and Netflix over the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's show. Our correspondents have picked out the key moments from the first three episodes. But, first, the headlines...

Evening briefing: Today's essential headlines

Winter of strikes | Holidaymakers should consider cancelling plans to travel abroad this Christmas because of strike action, Suella Braverman suggested. The Home Secretary warned eight days of Border Force action would cause "serious disruption". See full details of the likely impact on airports of the walkouts – which come on top of multiple bouts of rail strikes. It came as GPs voted to ballot for strike action after union leaders urged them to be prepared to take a collective stance.

The big story: Key points from Harry & Meghan show

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's hotly-anticipated documentary series has now – finally – arrived. But, in the end, it tells only half the story. 

Kensington Palace is today embroiled in a row with Netflix over claims that the Royal family were not given a right of reply on the Harry & Meghan show. 

The first episode carries a disclaimer that they "declined to comment on the content within this series" – something the palace disputes, reports royal correspondent Victoria Ward

The first three of six parts of the show were released at 8am, taking swipes at Prince William, the King and the tabloid Press. Catch up on all the key moments – and the 11 things we have learnt

The Duke had billed the show as "the full truth" only the couple knew, but associate editor Camilla Tominey says it is probably best described as Harry, Meghan and the Half-Truth Prince – "an act of glossy wizardry and unashamedly one-sided story".

The couple handed over their personal archive of photographs, video diaries and audio messages to Netflix documentary makers. 

They are seen in images capturing their early relationship, first private holiday, life with their two young children and documenting their exit from royal life in self-filmed mobile phone diaries. 

Scenes show baby Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor being shown a photo of her late grandmother Princess Diana, Archie running round their home and garden, and Meghan rubbing noses with her babies in the nursery. 

See the most striking never-before-seen images that give a glimpse of their daily lives.

'Unconscious bias' race claim

Prince Harry claimed the entire Royal family have an "unconscious bias" on race, as the Netflix show portrays the monarchy as key funders of slavery. 

The Duke of Sussex says learning about race is a "constant work in progress", as he describes wearing a Nazi uniform to a fancy dress party as "one of the biggest mistakes of my life". 

Meanwhile, historians tell viewers that royal palaces are filled with "racist imagery" and murals and statues "glorify the institution of slavery". 

In one of the episodes, the Duchess's mother speaks publicly about her daughter for the first time – revealing she warned Meghan that race would be a problem.

What Meghan's outfits reveal

One of the most heavily trailed scenes in the series shows Meghan curled up at home, scrolling on her phone on a cream bouclé lounge chair. 

The Duchess holds her "nude" make-up face in her hands, her hair is tied in a scrunchie and she is wearing a cobbled-together outfit: a comfy jumper over pyjamas. 

So far, so relatable, says our senior fashion editor Caroline Leaper. But how "normal", though, are the £1,200 Hermès blanket or £200 pyjamas by a cult New York label. Caroline decodes the outfits.

Comment and analysis

World news: US swap for 'Merchant of Death'

Vladimir Putin has vowed to continue attacking Ukrainian energy systems in comments made at a champagne reception in the Kremlin. The Russian leader added that global criticism of strikes that have left millions without power in winter would "not interfere with our combat missions". Meanwhile, Russia has released US basketball star Brittney Griner in a prisoner swap for a notorious arms dealer nicknamed "the Merchant of Death". It came as Angela Merkel admitted that she should have spent more money on Germany's military while chancellor.

Thursday interview: 'I used to call Brian Wilson the Stalin of the studio'

As the Beach Boys turn 60, surviving members tell Neil McCormick about the band's dramatic ups and downs. Read the interview

The Beach Boys in Los Angeles in 1962
The Beach Boys in Los Angeles in 1962

Sport briefing: Enrique sacked by Spain

Spain coach Luis Enrique has left his job after the country's elimination in the last-16 at the World Cup when the side were beaten on penalties by Morocco following a goalless draw in an upset result after failing to turn their dominance in the game into a victory. Separately, Cristiano Ronaldo has disputed claims that he wanted to quit the World Cup after being dropped for Portugal's last-16 game. In cricket, Gary Ballance has left Yorkshire amid the on-going fallout from the club's racism scandal.

Editor's choice

  1. Netflix star Amita Suman | 'I was never supposed to do anything except get married'
  2. From Devon to the Donbas | The farmers' trucks sent into combat in Ukraine
  3. Christmas Charity Appeal | 'Serving in the Falklands took me to the brink of suicide'

Business briefing: O'Leary chases 'ludicrous' bonus

Michael O'Leary has been given an extra four years to secure a €100m (£86.4m) bonus after Ryanair agreed another extension to its long-serving bosses' contract. Europe's biggest budget airline originally announced the blockbuster bonus in 2019, only for the coronavirus crisis to upend global travel the following year, leading to heavy losses across the industry. Meanwhile, Marks & Spencer plans to install electric vehicle charging points at around 70 stores within the next two years.

Tonight starts now

Give the best gifts – and spend less | Want your present to stand out from everyone else's? There is nothing better than opening a beaut­ifully wrapped present to find something made by hand, rather than bought in a hurry last-minute. Handmade gifts have a unique character and charm, and little imperfections can sometimes only add to the appeal. Crafting a present can cost less than a shop-bought one, too. If you are intending to make gifts yourself, Jessica Salter has these easy DIY suggestions.

Three things for you

And finally... for this evening's downtime

'Adieu' to ski holidays? | If you love skiing, make the most of your passion – with the impact of climate change getting harder to ignore, holidays in the Alps could become dramatically different. This year, soaring temperatures meant that, by August, only one European glacier remained open for summer skiing – in the 1980s the number was 50. Abigail Butcher examines how the industry is adapting.

If you want to receive twice-daily briefings like this by email, sign up to the Front Page newsletter here . For two-minute audio updates, try The Briefing - on podcasts, smart speakers and WhatsApp.

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