Audiences across the globe have been given unprecedented access to the real lives of the world’s most talked about couple in Harry and Meghan, a six-part docuseries series that takes a ‘vulnerable’ look into the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s high-profile relationship.
Taking a behind-the-scenes look at their high-profile love story and life in the spotlight, the first three episodes of the documentary (also dubbed Volume 1), began streaming on December 8th and were every bit as explosive as the trailer suggested.
So without further ado, let’s dig into the big moments from episodes 1 – 3, and what you need to know before watching the final three episodes (also dubbed as Volume 2) which drops on December 15th.
Episode 1
The documentary gave us plenty of never-seen-before images of the couple
(IMAGE: Netflix)The first episode of Harry & Meghan opens with the text saying that “Members of the Royal Family declined to comment on the content within this series”, which may mean that the Royal family had the chance to view the docuseries in advance.
It is revealed very early on in the episode that Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle chose to do ‘video diaries’ in the days and weeks after they chose to abdicate from their royal duties.
Episode one of the docuseries also goes into the intimate details of how the two met. We already knew it was mutual friends, but we learn more about their first and second dates, and how from the second date on they decided to “make a go of it”.
Harry described the videos as a way to “document all the mis-information”.
There were also behind the scenes photos and some video footage from the early days of their relationship – and we got a candid look inside their one week visit to Botswana, where the couple went back to basics and slept in a tent amongst wildlife.
Another interesting tidbit from the episode was the reveal that all filming had concluded by August 2022, a mere month before the [Queen’s death], which begs the question: did she view the docuseries before dying?
Harry also reminisced about his mother, Princess Diana and his ”cheeky childhood”, whilst sharing never before images and videos of his own life as a doting dad to Archie and Lilibet.
Episode 2
Three hour-long episodes of the docu-series were released all at once on Netflix
(IMAGE: Netflix)”I felt completely helpless.”
Those were the words of Prince Harry when speaking on the abhorrent treatment that his now wife, Meghan, faced at the hands of the British tabloid media.
Fittingly, as the polarising couple discuss their hatred of the press, they are in fact being tailed in their car, by paparazzi and are visibly anxious knowing that their every move is being followed (or should we say stalked).
Shockingly, Harry muses that instead of Harry & Meghan versus the press, their experience was better described as ”hunter versus prey.”
Yikes.
Moving on from the media frenzy, the episode shifts to the issue of racism in Britain: in the press, the public and the monarch.
”The direction of the palace [Buckingham] was just ‘don’t say anything, don’t do anything,” says Harry.
”They said it was a rite of passage, and to that, I said the difference here is the race element.”
Meghan then shocks viewers, claiming that she never saw herself as a ”black woman” before moving to the UK.
”People are aware of my race because they made it such an issue when I went to the UK, but before that, most people didn’t treat me like a ‘black’ woman”.
Moving on from the racism and nasty press attention, the episode sheds light on Meghan growing up, featuring interviews with a number of childhood friends.
The pair even discuss their shared experience of growing up as children of divorce and the impact this has had on their own parenting style, ending with some brand new images and first hand quotes from the couple about their engagement (awww).
Episode 3
Smiles on the outside, struggling on the inside.
(IMAGE: Getty)Racism within the monarchy is a headline that just won’t go away.
And with the racist history of royal family explored IN DEPTH in episode three, those headlines certainly won’t go away anytime soon!
With discussions about how the royal family ”finally caught up to the rest of Britain” by having a ”black princess”, Meghan cements herself as the unwitting punching bag for a public and press who like the monarchy, just can’t “get with the times.”
Harry then blasts so called ”royal experts”, touches on his and William’s ”contractual relationship” with the UK media, as Meghan laments over the intense pressure of royal duty and attention it attracts.
We then cut to a scene of Doria discussing how she felt ”unsafe” when photographers surrounded her home.
Doria explained: ”I felt unsafe a lot. I couldn’t just go walk my dogs, I couldn’t walk to walk, there was always someone waiting for me, following me. I was being stalked.”
Moving on, there are discussions on the drama with Meghan and her father, as she admits she now no longer has any contact with him, of which Harry says he ”blames himself”.
We also get to know Meghan’s niece, Ashleigh, who Meghan was told not to invite to her 2018 wedding given the very public fallout Meghan had had with Ashleigh’s mother (and Meghan’s half sister) Samantha.
Crikey, we can’t wait for the next three episodes!
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