Harry and Meghan deny they quit royal duties over privacy concerns as Netflix documentary is panned
Misty Severi
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Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, rejected the narrative on Friday that they stepped back from royal duties for privacy reasons.
The global press secretary for the royal couple, Ashley Hanson, claimed that privacy did not play a part in the couple’s decision to leave royal life, but rather because they wanted to tell their story on their own terms.
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“Their statement announcing their decision to step back mentions nothing of privacy and reiterates their desire to continue their roles and public duties,” Hanson 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.”
The conversation around how much privacy the couple wanted comes after the release of the first three episodes of their Netflix documentary series, which featured behind-the-scenes looks at their royal life. The couple has been criticized for the documentary series when it was assumed they wanted to move away from the royal family for privacy reasons.
Although Harry has claimed that he hopes life in the United States is quieter than royal life, no mention of privacy was included in the couple’s statement on stepping down.
“After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution,” the couple said in 2020. “We intend to step back as roles as ‘senior’ members of the Royal Family, and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen. This geographic balance will enable us to raise our son with an appreciation for the royal tradition into which he was born, while also providing our family with the space to focus on the next chapter, including the launch of our new charitable entity.”
Meghan further denied the exit had to do with privacy during her tell-all interview with Oprah last year.
“I think everyone has a basic right to privacy,” Meghan said. “Basic. We’re not talking about anything that anybody else wouldn’t expect.”
She instead claimed it had to do with financial independence.
The royal couple has received backlash for the documentary after Harry claimed there was an “unconscious bias” within the royal family. A British lawmaker claimed he does not believe the allegations and called for the couple to step down from royal duties.
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Trailers for the documentary series dropped last week and also created buzz around the duo after it was learned that clips of paparazzi were taken out of context. One image in the series was actually from the premiere of the final Harry Potter installment in 2011, years before the royal couple had even met.
The final three episodes of the series will drop next week.