HAVEN’T COTT A CLUE
How Harry & Meghan’s examples of ‘truth’ in Netflix doc stand up to reality including slumming it in FREE home
HARRY and Meghan have told the world of their “modern fairytale” of a “prince and an actress” — where in the end “love wins”.
But as the privacy-loving couple whined about their struggles in the final part of their Netflix docu-series, they glossed over some important details.
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Here are some examples of how their “truths” stand up to reality.
THEIR VERSION: In episode four, the couple gave the impression they were leading tough lives before their marriage and as newlyweds in Nottingham Cottage, in the grounds of Kensington Palace.
Meghan whines: “Kensington Palace sounds very regal. Of course it does, it says palace in the name. But Nottingham Cottage, it was so small.”
Harry says: “As far as people were concerned, we were living in a palace. And we were… in a cottage.”
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He adds: “The whole thing’s on a slight lean, really low ceiling.”
REALITY: Nottingham Cottage is a cosy two-bed with two reception rooms and a bathroom, spread over 1,324 sq ft.
The red-brick property was designed by architect Sir Christopher Wren in the 17th century.
It was Harry’s bachelor pad after he left the Army.
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William and Kate also previously lived there.
THEIR VERSION: They boast about how well their 2018 tour of Australia went, showing ecstatic fans getting excited about meeting them.
Harry and Meghan are dubbed the “superstars” of the Royal Family when the tour is covered.
Harry says: “I mean, looking back on it now, I am amazed we managed to do what we did.”
Meghan interrupts: “But also even harder when I was pregnant.”
She describes it as a rigorous tour and Meghan’s pal Abigail Spencer says it “went so well”.
REALITY: Meghan had explosive rows with aides during the 16-day trip.
She is alleged to have lost her temper with one assistant and a hot drink was knocked over.
She was also said to have become upset at being given only a wing of the Australian Governor’s mansion, rather than the whole property during the visit.
Her assistant, Melissa Toubati, resigned a month after the tour, their first as a royal couple.
THEIR VERSION: Meghan shared never-before-seen pictures of son Archie’s baby scan and her lavish 2019 baby shower.
She went on to attack the press over its coverage of the New York event, attended by the likes of tennis champ Serena Williams, 41, and Amal Clooney, 44.
Meghan was angry with the media for revealing details of the reported £400,000 bash — which included a harp player.
She says: “It was so wrong. These independent, strong, successful women choose to use their own money — and it’s not taxpayer money — to throw a party for their friend from a place of love.
“Why are you taking such a beautiful moment and trying to ruin it?”
REALITY: The media did not attack them for the amount of money spent — nor where the money came from.
Coverage about the lavish event was, on the whole, positive.
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THEIR VERSION: Meghan says she had no idea her quote about not being “OK” would be broadcast in an ITV documentary.
The interview, with Tom Bradby, 55, came at the end of the highly successful South Africa trip — their first as a family with Archie.
Meghan’s emotional interview generated headlines across the world.
She and Harry then go on to attack the British press over the coverage in the aftermath.
Harry said: “The fallout was bonkers. Every front page in the UK was like, very different to what the general public’s reaction was.”
He says his mother, Princess Diana, was the only royal who had previously spoken so openly, with a clip of her now discredited interview with Martin Bashir, 59.
REALITY: The documentary only showed online headlines from two British newspapers — including from the woke Guardian — which said: “Royal experts question wisdom of Harry and Meghan documentary”, plus one from Metro.
Other headlines were from foreign media.
And The Sun sympathetically reported what Meghan had said in our coverage the next day, featuring it in part on the front page, with the headline, “Meg: My stress at being royal”.
THEIR VERSION: Meghan spoke about a dashed trip she and Harry took to leave Britain to return to the US on Commonwealth Day in March 2020.
They left Buckingham Palace and flew from Heathrow Airport.
Meghan said a man “overseeing the crew” came over to where she was sitting and took off his hat and knelt to thank her.
She claims he said “we appreciate everything you did for our country”.
She said it was the “first time someone saw the sacrifice” she had made for Britain.
REALITY: Meghan could not be specific as to the crewman’s role, only saying he was not the pilot.
By that point, Meghan and Harry had received praise for how they had conducted themselves on visits.
THEIR VERSION: Meghan recalls saying “Oh, my god” to Harry when she realised she had upstaged the Queen at the Festival of Remembrance in 2018.
The couple were staying at Buckingham Palace when they came down and saw the headlines on the morning magazines and papers.
REALITY: The Queen was the most loved monarch in British history and one of the most photographed people in the world.
It would have taken Meghan several lifetimes to upstage her.
THEIR VERSION: Throughout the documentary, the couple spoke about their plans to leave Britain and start a new life abroad.
This included moving to South Africa and New Zealand, while they also spoke about Canada.
In episode five, Harry and Meghan revealed they had presented the monarchy with three different plans for them to remain as working royals.
They said they presented the idea of moving to New Zealand in 2018, but it did not happen.
Then, at the beginning of 2019, they suggested they move to South Africa, where they could support charities.
Harry said The Queen’s office, Charles’ office and William’s office signed off on this plan after looking at an “internal document”.
This was leaked to The Times in April 2019.
Harry said Charles then asked him and Meghan to put a plan for their move to Canada in writing.
Harry said he preferred not to write it down because of the previous leak about South Africa.
REALITY: They quit as working royals to score mega-money deals with Netflix and Spotify, and chose to move into an £11million mansion in California.
Their wedding day
HARRY and Meghan gushed about their perfect wedding as they shared photos from the Windsor Castle do in 2018.
They laughed about cutting their wedding cake with a sword and showed unseen pics of Harry with Idris Elba and Elton John about to embrace Meghan.
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But the doc did not mention Meghan making Kate cry before the event over bridesmaids’ dresses.
The Sun’s front page revealing Kate’s tears was shown but used to portray how the media was trying to “bring down” Meghan.
'Challenging life'
MEGHAN is pampered by two assistants as she talks about how challenging life is as a mother.
It was shot in a friend’s New York apartment in November 2021 during her legal battle with Associated Newspapers.
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In another scene, she and Harry are seen taking part in a bizarre “guided meditation” session.
Their instructor says: “When you try to prove that you’re good and that you’re not the person they say you are, you’re taking the bait, you’re feeding the beast. It is an illusion.”
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