Excerpts from the book Finding Freedom claim to tell the story of Harry and Meghan, but they say they were not involved

An upcoming book promises to tell the inner story of how Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, turned their backs on royal life.

Here’s what we know about Finding Freedom – and if the Duke and Duchess were involved – as well as some of the biggest things we’ve learned yet.

For Australians, the book comes out August 12

It’s a day later than the UK and the US.

However, you may already get a taste. Multiple extracts have already been published by the British newspapers The Times and The Sunday Times.

The book was written by two longtime royal correspondents

Finding Freedom editors say Carolyn Durand (a journalist who covered the royal family for two decades) and Omid Scobie (the royal editor of Harper’s Bazaar) had “single access” and wrote their book “with the participation of those closest to the couple”.

The clips released so far certainly have a flying feel on the wall.

However, the Duke and Duchess themselves were not involved. Here is what a spokesperson said in a statement:

“The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have not been interviewed and did not contribute to “Finding Freedom”.

“This book is based on the authors’ own experiences as members of the royal press corps and their own independent reporting.”

Nonetheless, the perpetrators were called “sympathetic” to the couple.

Sibling issues reportedly started soon after Harry met Meghan

Durand and Scobie write that when Harry and Meghan were dating, the Duke sat down with his brother Prince William to discuss their relationship.

According to a source, William, who had only met Meghan a “handful” of times, wanted to make sure that Harry “was not blinded by lust”.

Harry would have been offended by this alleged statement from his brother:

Durand and Scobie explain:

“In those last two words, ‘that girl,’ Harry heard the tone of snobbery that was anathema in his approach to the world. During his 10-year career in the military, outside of the royal bubble, he had learned not to slam judgments about people based on their accent, education, ethnicity, class or profession.

“Plus, to take Meghan out of the equation, Harry was tired of the dynamic that had built up between him and his older brother. There was a fine line between caring and condescending. Just because he was leading his life differently from his brother didn’t mean it was wrong. “

We don’t know if Harry would recognize this portrayal, but he acknowledged the tensions last year.

A source also told Durand and Scobie that there was an open invitation for William and his wife Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, to visit Harry and Meghan when they lived in Oxfordshire from May 2018 to March 2019 , but they never did.

Meghan and Catherine simply wouldn’t have much in common

According to Durand and Scobie, Meghan and Catherine only spent a “handful of occasions” together before the 2018 wedding.

But despite the “duchesses in duel” media account, Finding Freedom says there was no bad blood.

Here’s how Durand and Scobie describe the relationship:

“Meghan would agree with the assessment that the Duchesses were not best friends. Their relationship hadn’t progressed much since she was Harry’s girlfriend. Although Meghan could understand the mistrust of Kate to forge a meaningful friendship, they still weren’t closer by back in her days as a senior member of the royal family and wife of William’s brother. The flowers for her birthday were lovely, but Meghan would have much preferred that Kate watches her during the most difficult times with the press.

“But they weren’t at war with each other either.”

Members of the royal family have reportedly said unfavorable things about Meghan

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According to Durand and Scobie, a senior royal called Meghan ‘Harry’s showgirl’, while another said she came with “a lot of luggage”.

It was a similar story with a high-ranking courtier, who allegedly told a colleague, “There’s just something about her that I don’t trust.”

According to a source, courtiers as well as “a certain family” also blamed Meghan for the hardships caused by the Sussexes’ push for independence.

Meghan reportedly told a friend in March:

The Queen and Prince Philip were ‘devastated’ by the launch of the Sussex Royal website

This characterization of the reaction of the Queen and Prince Philip was courtesy of “several” members of the royal family.

The Duke and Duchess launched the Sussex Royal website, as well as an Instagram account, earlier this year, announcing their intention to “step back” as senior members of the Royal Family, become financially independent and to divide their time between the UK and North America. .

Finding Freedom describes the negotiations that followed, including the “Sandringham summit” attended by the Queen, Prince Charles and William and Harry (with Meghan reportedly joining by phone from Canada).

The ensuing deal involved Harry and Meghan abandoning the Sussex Royal brand.

But according to a “source close to the couple”, Harry’s loss of his honorary military duties touched the most:

A senior Buckingham Palace official also reportedly said: