Ever since the first installment of the Netflix, Inc NFLX docuseries “Harry & Meghan” debuted on Dec. 8, the series tallied more than 81.6 million hours in its first week — setting a new Netflix record.
On Thursday, part two dropped on the streaming service, and it includes several bombshells about the Sussexes and their relationships with other members of the British Royal Family and their aides.
And it just happens to debut about five months ahead of King Charles III’s coronation, which is set to take place on May 6, 2023, with a new bank holiday across the U.K. set for May 8.
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Whether Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will be enjoying a holiday to England for the event isn’t yet known, but the release of the series has many questioning how Charles will handle the couple’s allegations against the royal household. Will Harry and Meghan be punished or will the revelations be swept under the rug for fear of inciting further drama and negative media attention?
The Backdrop
In 2021, when the Duke and Duchess’ confessional interview with Oprah Winfrey aired on ViacomCBS, the late Queen Elizabeth II released an official statement neither confirming nor denying her grandson and his wife’s accusations.
The longest-reigning monarch took the quintessential high road, stating, in particular to allegations of racism, that “while some recollections may vary, they are taken very seriously and will be addressed by the family privately."
The suggestion that conflict between the royal family could be solved behind closed doors doesn’t appear to have been met with agreement from both sides, considering the couple chose to air the family’s dirty laundry publicly again.
After the first part of “Harry & Meghan” aired on Netflix, broadcaster and royal commentator Jonathan Sacerdoti suggested that Charles issue a “firmer response” than Elizabeth, according to a report.
During the first three episodes of their $100-million series, the Sussexes recounted various topics and issues they’d experienced, including:
- “Unconscious bias” around race
- The couple's relationship with Prince William and Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge
- Kate's alleged coldness toward Meghan
- Meghan’s battles with the paparazzi
- Harry's criticisms of his father, stating that he didn’t want to make the “same mistakes” as his parents did while raising his own children.
Perhaps the most damning of the accusations against the royal family is that the palace provided negative stories about Meghan to cover up other royal scandals and that William screamed at Harry over the latter’s decision to step away from his palace duties.
Part two also dives deeper into the negative effects Harry and Meghan suffered because of negative press, including Harry's belief that Meghan suffered a miscarriage due to stress caused from a tabloid story.
The King’s Response
So far, the palace has yet to issue a formal response to the series, but media reports are buzzing with speculation of how the show could affect Charles’ dealings with Harry and Meghan at his coronation.
There have been reports that Harry and Meghan have been urged to stay home in the U.S. during the event and that Charles could ban the pair or take the less aggressive route of not inviting any non-working royals.
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