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Harry and Meghan: Leaving royal family was 'never about privacy'
Harry and Meghan have come under fire after the first three episodes of their Netflix docuseries were released on Thursday. People have been questioning why the couple have revealed so much about their private life, as it has been suggested they wanted ‘privacy’ after stepping back from royal duties. A new statement from the couple's spokesperson has now declared Megxit was 'never about privacy'.
However, Harry has been open about his desire for a ‘normal life’, and the statement on their Sussex Royal website from 2020 shared their hope for privacy moving forwards. “Equally, like every member of society, they also value privacy as individuals and a family,” it read.
During their tell-all with Oprah in 2021, Meghan also added that “everyone has a basic right to privacy.”
The pair’s global press secretary Ashley Hansen has hit out at the ‘narrative’ surrounding the couple, saying that privacy was never mentioned in their initial statement.
“Their statement announcing their decision to step back mentions nothing of privacy and reiterates their desire to continue their roles and public duties,” she told the New York Times. “Any suggestion otherwise speaks to a key point of this series.
“They are choosing to share their story, on their terms, and yet the tabloid media has created an entirely untrue narrative that permeates press coverage and public opinion.
“The facts are right in front of them,” she finished.
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Royal fans were divided on social media, with some believing that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex wanted more control over their narrative in the press, rather than complete privacy.
“I, for one, have no problem understanding how Meghan & Harry leaving the royal family was about agency, not privacy, but it seems like some people really struggle with it!” one person wrote.
“For those who are screaming about Meghan and Harry wanting privacy. They only wanted a peaceful life…don’t worry they have it now,” a second added.
“I’m really happy that, while telling their love story, Harry and Meghan decided to share cute moments of them with their babies with us. And I was noticing that they showed their children without showing all their faces. They, as parents, respect their children’s privacy so much,” another chimed in.
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However, other users found clips from previous interviews with Harry asking for the ‘right to privacy’. In an unearthed interview with journalist Andrew Marr, he slammed the ‘incessant need’ to show his life ‘behind the scenes’.
Prince Harry has, in fact, talked about his “right to privacy” the line between personal and public, and wanting a more “peaceful” life.
In 2016 he asked @AndrewMarr9 why the “incessant need” to see “behind the scenes” - ironically the very problem to which he’s now contributed🧵 pic.twitter.com/MpKBIt5qqQ— TheRoyalRundown (@RoyalRundown1) December 4, 2022
“Why write a book if you want a private, private life?” a royal fan asked.
“Yet he’s keen to plaster it all over Netflix now!” added a second.
"Pretty sure writing a book and doing a ‘tell all’ interview is anything but private?" another pointed out.
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