Harry and Meghan - as it happened: Duke of Sussex reveals he has internally ‘blocked out’ early memories of Diana

Reactions to Duke and Duchess of Sussexes’ Netflix docuseries pour in as couple speak out on first dates, marriage, press intrusion and Meghan’s experiences of racism

Key moments from Harry and Meghan’s Netflix documentary

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have received mixed reactions over their new Netflix documentary series, Harry and Meghan, which dropped on Thursday (8 December).

Parts of the much-hyped programme, which has been split into “Volume I” and “Volume II”, were described as “moving”, but the first three episodes did not deliver any new explosive allegations against the royal family - who will no doubt be relieved by the lack of revelations.

The Independent’s Arts Editor Jessie Thompson wrote in her review of the series: “There are no major revelations here, nothing so incendiary that it will cancel King Charles’s coronation next year; in fact, certain quotes are becoming a bit pat.”

Meanwhile, the Sussexes’ staunchest critics wasted no time in excoriating the couple for some of the claims made in the show. Piers Morgan accused Harry and Meghan of trying to “brand Britain as a racist country”, while the BBC’s veteran royal correspondent Nicholas Witchell dismissed Meghan’s claims that the media wanted to “destroy” her as “absurd”.

Meanwhile, neither Palace officials nor members of the royal family were approached for comment over the content of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s new Netflix docuseries, it has been alleged.

It was suggested that representatives for Buckingham Palace and Kensington Palace, as well as the royals themselves, were not offered the opportunity to reply to the accusations lodged by the couple during the first three episodes of their highly anticipated series.

The second part of Harry and Meghan’s docuseries will begin streaming on 15 December.

Key Points

• Harry says he has internally blocked out early memories of Diana
• Palace officials ‘weren’t contacted for comment’ over new Netflix series
• MP planning legislation to strip Harry and Meghan of royal titles
• Meghan Markle says her race was only ever ‘made an issue’ when she came to UK
• Prince Harry attacks ‘huge level of unconscious bias’ in the royal family
• Meghan discovered her father was not attending her wedding ‘through tabloid’

[8 December 2022 20:40 · Chelsea Ritschel]

The docuseries also contains many sweet moments, including footage of Meghan showing the couple’s son Archie a photo of his grandmother, Princess Diana.

[8 December 2022 20:20 · Chelsea Ritschel]

As for the reaction to Meghan and Harry’s Netflix docuseries so far, fans were divided, with some grateful to see the insight into the early days of the couple’s relationship, while others found the first three episodes “boring”.

From Meghan’s shock upon realising the “formality” of the royal family, even behind closed doors, to the couple’s first date, these are some of the biggest talking points.

[8 December 2022 20:00 · Chelsea Ritschel]

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex covered a lot of ground in the first three episodes of their Netflix docuseries, however, more is yet to come, as the last three episodes are set to be released on 15 December.

As for what we can expect from the couple in volume two, Kate Ng reports below.

[8 December 2022 19:40 · Chelsea Ritschel]

During the candid docuseries, Meghan also opened up about the conversations about her family that took place in the lead-up to her and Prince Harry’s royal wedding in 2018.

According to the duchess, she was told by Palace aides not to invite her niece, who she described as being like a “little sister,” to the weddding because of her tense relationship with her niece’s mother, Samantha Markle.

Details about the Palace’s guidance, and her niece’s reaction, can be found below.

[8 December 2022 19:20 · Oliver O'Connell]

What were Harry and Meghan paid for their Netflix documentary

This is the first project to emerge from the multi-year deal the Duke and Duchess of Sussex signed with Netflix in 2020, made shortly after they stepped down as working members of the royal family.

So how much are Meghan and Harry getting paid? Peony Hirwani reports.

[8 December 2022 19:00 · Oliver O'Connell]

‘She has this warmth about her’: Harry compares Meghan to Princess Diana

Prince Harry said that Meghan Markle has the “same compassion”, “empathy”, and “confidence” as Diana, as he opened up about how he wanted to “protect” his family from his mother’s tragic fate.

Kate Ng has more of what the prince revealed in his Netflix docuseries.

[8 December 2022 18:40 · Oliver O'Connell]

Harry recalls ‘panicking’ after turning up 30 minutes late to first date with Meghan

In their Netflix docuseries the couple recalled their first date in 2016 after being set up by a mutual friend.

Kate Ng has the details.

[8 December 2022 18:20 · Oliver O'Connell]

Who’s who in Meghan Markle’s family?

Aside from what we know about her husband and in-laws including King Charles III, Prince William and Kate Middleton, who are Meghan Markle’s own family?

[8 December 2022 18:00 · Oliver O'Connell]

Royal men ‘marry someone who fits in the mould’ over love, says Harry

In the first episode of the Netflix docuseries, Prince Harry said: “For so many people in the family, especially obviously the men, there can be a temptation or urge to marry someone who fits in the mould, as opposed to somebody who you are perhaps destined to be with.”

Kate Ng reports.

[8 December 2022 17:45 · Oliver O'Connell]

Meghan shares Archie’s sweet reaction to photo of Princess Diana

Meghan Markle shared a sweet moment of her and Prince Harry’s son, Archie, reacting to a photo of Princess Diana in the royal couple’s new Netflix documentary series.

In the first episode of Harry & Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex is seen holding her son when he was still a baby and looking at a black and white photo of Diana on the wall.

Amber Raiken has the story.