Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have never been afraid to fan a number of flames, but things have gotten particularly spicy recently: As they ride the success of their recent Netflix docuseries, they’re also anticipating the discharge of Harry’s memoir, Spare, slated to return out on January 10. So as to add to the publicity wave, the prince has reportedly lined up two live interviews for the brand new yr—one with ITV’s Tom Bradby and one other with CNN’s Anderson Cooper. Alas, the royal family isn’t exactly thrilled with the debut writer within the family.
In response to a latest report from London’s The Times, Spare is “expected to be much more inflammatory than the couples’ Netflix series,” though it should focus more on Harry’s childhood than on his more moderen clashes with the Firm. A “close royal insider” told Those who, though the content is likely to be divisive, “a few of the issues [Meghan and Harry] have raised are necessary, and I believe each side probably recognize that.”
Still, a source told Entertainment Tonight that—despite the dearth of official comment from either Buckingham or Kensington Palace—tensions are running high after the Netflix drop. “There isn’t any trust left” between the royals and the Sussexes, the source confirmed, adding that “everyone stays wary” ahead of Spare’s publication.
A second source told ET that, though multiple members of the family are “offended,” Prince William is especially upset along with his brother. This source cites the docuseries’ inclusion of clips from Princess Diana’s 1995 Panorama interview with Martin Bashir as a key sticking point: Prince William said last yr the interview “should never be aired again” since it “holds no legitimacy,” following the revelation that Bashir used forgery to nudge the princes’ mother to comply with the taping.
In the meanwhile, the Sussexes are expected to stay far-off from their family across the pond, who this week will likely be celebrating their first Christmas without Queen Elizabeth. A former palace staffer told People, “It should be hard, because the Queen was all they knew, like most of Britain.” Prince William and Princess Kate, in addition to Princess Anne, Prince Edward, Prince Andrew, and Camilla, Queen Consort are all expected to collect at Sandringham Estate. This yr may even mark the primary time King Charles will make his annual Christmas broadcast. A former member of the queen’s staff told People, “The primary yr is most difficult, because it is at all times the primary of all the things that you simply notice.”
Associate Editor
Lauren Puckett-Pope is an associate editor at ELLE, where she covers film, TV, books and fashion.
