Royal family hit out at Harry and Meghan's documentary claims

The royal family has hit out at a key claim in Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Netflix docuseries after the first three episodes were released on the streaming platform on Thursday. At the very beginning of the show, it is stated that the palace "declined to comment" on the six-part series.

The first episode opened with a statement written in white on a black background that read: "This is a first-hand account of Harry and Meghan’s story, told with never before seen personal archive. All interviews were completed by August 2022.

"Members of the Royal Family declined to comment on the content within this series."

However, a source has insisted Buckingham Palace, Kensington Palace and members of the royal family were not approached for comment, the Daily Mail reports. A source at Netflix has refuted these claims, saying the communications officers for both the King and Prince of Wales were contacted in advance and given a chance to comment on Harry and Meghan's "claims within the series".

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Kensington Palace has revealed they received an email from a third-party production company, not Harry and Meghan's Archewell Productions or Netflix. Prince Harry's aides reportedly contacted the Sussexes and Netflix to verify if it was genuine but received no reply.

"In the absence of this verification, we were unable to provide any response. The substance of the email we received also did not address the entire series," a source said.

London Evening Standard royal editor Robert Jobson tweeted about the situation, revealing no comment will be made, "Palace sources confirm BP nor KP nor any Members of the Royal Family were approached for comment on the content of the series. Nor will be making any further comment on this or any other aspect of it. Netflix claimed at the beginning of series that they were."

Meghan's subtle dig at William and Kate

It comes after Meghan made a subtle dig at the Prince and Princess of Wales, revealing that when she first met William and Kate that she was surprised they weren't more casual in a private setting.

"Even when Will and Kate came over and I met her for the first time. I was in ripped jeans and I was barefoot. I’m a hugger I’ve always been a hugger. I didn’t know that could be jarring for a lot of Brits," she said.

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"I guess I started to understand very quickly that the formality out on the outside, carried through on the inside. That there is a forward-facing way of being, then you close the door and you go, 'phew, great, we can relax now'.

"But that formality continues on both sides and that was surprising to me."

Harry also seemingly referenced Kate when he shared how he believes his relationship with Meghan is different to other members of the royal family, explaining, "I think for so many people in the family, especially men, there can be a temptation or an urge to marry someone who would fit the mould as opposed to somebody who you are perhaps are destined to be with."

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