Could the life of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry be significantly affected by a new biography? Royal expert Katie Nicholl talks exclusively to ET about Seeking Freedom: Harry and Meghan and the Creation of a Modern Royal Family, a book to be released this summer from real reporters Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand. He is reportedly littered with bombs about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s life in the spotlight, including a “fascinating glimpse” of their first dates, the drama within the royal family, their decision to resign as members of high rank and his eventual transfer to the United States.
Although Nicholl doesn’t have the full copy in his hands yet, he says the excerpts he’s read so far already tell what’s to come.
“Even Oprah Winfrey was unable to obtain an advance copy of this book. Literally, the Times and The Sunday Times“, Explain.” I think it’s fair to say it’s not Andrew Morton Diana. However, the level of detail in this book is quite remarkable. What the authors have managed to do is get an unprecedented level of detail. “
“It is clear that they have spoken with numerous sources,” he continues. “There is a lot of speculation that they have spoken to Harry and Meghan, something that the authors have denied, and something that the Sussex team has been interested in minimizing. They say that Meghan and Harry have had no official involvement with this biography, but it is very clear that the authors have had access to sources incredibly close to Meghan and Harry. “
Nicholl adds that this book literally “lifts the lid” when Meghan and Harry’s engagement actually took place, which she says happened weeks before Kensington Palace officially announced it.
“We get some really remarkable details about those first dates. Only the level of detail that has been most impressive to me,” he says. “I think the story is familiar to all of us now, but this is the first time we’ve really heard it from Harry and Meghan’s perspective, and read it in its entirety.”
“This has made the book compelling and fascinating, but for the royal family, this book has been damaging because it has opened old wounds,” he continues. “I think what is very clear is that Meghan and Harry have wanted to convey their side of the story. This is clearly a couple who are quite upset by the fact that they have never been able to respond to their criticism. They have never been able to handle incorrect reports. “
Because of that, Nicholl believes this book may be “being used” to correct some of the rumors spread by British tabloids over the years.
“To give Meghan and Harry a chance, if not through their own voices, then through the voices of friends, confidants, and people they trust, to get their side of the story,” he says. “They feel, especially Meghan, that she has been silenced for most of her real life, however short it may be. She did not have a chance to speak to her critics to take her side of the events.” “
According to excerpts, Find freedom It also seems to indicate that Prince Harry was unhappy for quite some time. The book claims that it was Meghan who gave her the courage to finally separate from the royal family.
“One of the themes that seems to be recurring in Find freedom is that Harry felt like a spare wheel, “explains Nicholl.” While the media loved this idea of a royal trio (Kate Middleton, Prince William, and Prince Harry), for Harry, it felt like a spare wheel. In points [in time]I even heard him complain that he felt like gooseberry, the third on the date. He never fit in. “
“I think that while Kate and William went out of their way to make sure Harry felt like part of this team, this trio, Harry always wanted to be his own person,” he continues. “I think Meghan has been the catalyst to give him that confidence to break free from William and Kate, and break free from the dynamic of the trio, which was cozy and convenient at times, but it really wasn’t really what he wanted.” “
Many British tabloids blamed Meghan at the time, claiming that leaving the UK came first. Suits idea of the star and that he was taking Harry and his one-year-old son, Archie, with her to Los Angeles.
“It is my understanding, and this is also explored in Find freedom, which was not just Meghan’s decision. I think Harry was a driving force, “says Nicholl.” People may not give you enough credit. Harry is a pretty stubborn man with a strong character, and several well-informed sources have told me that it wasn’t just that Meghan was dragging Harry around. “
“She gave him a new confidence, but I think the truth is that for a long time Prince Harry has wanted to go out,” he adds. “This was a prince who had spoken out loud about the restrictions of being a royal, the weight of the burden, a boy who said he wished he hadn’t been born a prince sometimes. I think that says a lot about Prince Harry. “
