The long-awaited biography chronicling the relationship between Meghan Markle, Prince Harry and the Royal Family was released on August 11 and has already delivered its fair share of claims and revelations.
Written by Royal reporters Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand, Finding Freedom shares claims about the couple’s meeting, marriage, work and departure from their royal titles.
However, the unauthorised biography has been rejected by representatives for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex claiming that the book comes from the authors’ “own experiences as members of the royal press corps and their own independent reporting”.
Nevertheless, the book is making waves for its apparent behind-the-scenes revelations about a relationship which has been subject to unthinkable levels of press and public fascination, attention, scrutiny and harassment since 2016.
But with new information about the couple popping up in droves, we’ve rounded up the most explosive claims from Finding Freedom, below.
Queen Elizabeth’s Final Words To Prince Harry Were Supportive
In the novel, Scobie and Durand reveal what really happened between Queen Elizabeth and her grandson before he left his royal titles behind earlier this year.
In contrast to reports that she was against the move, the Queen had lunch with her grandson in March, and they discussed his move away from the royal family.
According to one insider, the monarch wanted Harry to know that they would support him on his next steps, and the meeting was without “titles. Just granny and grandson.”
The source went on to say that “the Queen was still one of the most important women in Prince Harry’s life,” and that as “they tucked into a roast lunch, the Queen made it clear to Harry that she would always support him in whatever he decided to do.”
While she was “very upset” that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were moving overseas as she would love to spend more time with their one year old son, Archie Harrison, she “accepted… that his mind is made up and he intends to live in North America.”
The Queen also made it clear that “the arrangement can only work if they do not exploit their royal status and try to ‘cash in’—that’s why she wouldn’t let them use the word ‘royal’ for their foundation,” and she was “protecting the institution”.
Meghan Markle’s Reaction To Princess Michael Of Kent’s Brooch
Back at a Christmas lunch held by the Queen in 2017, Princess Michael—the first cousin of Queen Elizabeth—was spotted wearing a brooch in a ‘Blackamoor’ style. Traditionally, ‘Blackamoor’ art is considered to be racially insensitive. The figures are sculptures, including images of servants or slaves, which were used in European art in the Early Modern period.
And while Royal fans were less than impressed with her choice in brooch, the novel claims that Meghan was convinced Princess Michael was “sending her a message”.
“In the back of Meghan’s mind, she wondered if there wasn’t a message being sent in the pin of the torso of an African man wearing a gold turban and ornate clothing,” Scobie and Durant wrote. Princess Michael later apologised to the couple.
Kate and Meghan’s Relationship Changed After One Shopping Trip
Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle have suffered an endless stream of online bullying, mostly involving their rumoured feud.
They went on to add that while the two women “were not at war with each other”, they “struggled to move past distant politeness”. In fact, they reportedly had little in common “other than the fact that they lived at Kensington Palace.”
However, it was one awkward incident in particular between the two that kept tensions high. Apparently, Kate left Meghan to shop by herself, driving in a different direction in her Range Rover.
The book also alleges that Kate Middleton tried to iron out tensions by sending her sister-in-law some flowers, but it was apparently too late.
According to a report by Vanity Fair, Kate sent Meghan some flowers as a peace offering amid the media speculation about their feud, but Meghan ‘told Kate in no uncertain terms that flowers were not enough.’
The Real Story Behind Megan Markle’s Wedding Tiara Drama With The Queen
This particular rumour alleged that Meghan and the Queen were involved in a disagreement about which tiara the Duchess of Sussex should wear for the ceremony.
However, in the novel, Scobie and Durant claim that instead, the disagreement was between Prince Harry and the Queen’s dresser over the length of time a hair trial was taking. It went ahead in the end with “no hesitancy” from the Queen, with Meghan and Harry having previously shared how special choosing a tiara would be, with Harry calling it “an incredible loan” from the Queen.
Princess Eugenie Was Annoyed That Meghan Markle Shared Her Baby News At Her Wedding
According to Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand, Eugenie was not thrilled by Meghan and Harry telling everyone that they were expecting a baby on her big day.
“It did not go down particularly well with Eugenie, who, a source said, told friends she felt the couple should have waited to share the news.”
“Harry had always confided in his cousin when it came to the women in his life,” they added. “Not only did he trust her implicitly, but friends say that she gives great advice and has always been ‘beyond wise’ for her years.”
While it may seem like a questionable choice to announce a pregnancy at another person’s wedding, Meghan and Harry seem to be getting along just fine with her now.
Pippa Middleton Didn’t Want To Invite Meghan Markle To Her Wedding
Ahead of Pippa Middleton’s 2017 wedding to James Matthews, Pippa hadn’t exactly been excited to invite Meghan.
And while Meghan ultimately didn’t attend the ceremony, Scobie and Durand reported why she was “somewhat of a reluctant addition” to Pippa’s guest list for the wedding.
“Both the bride and her mother, Carole, privately harboured concerns that the American actress’s presence alongside Harry might overshadow the main event,” they wrote.
Adding that on “the day of the nuptials, The Sun ran a cover story, It’s Meghan v Pippa in the…Wedding of the Rears, accompanied by a rear-view paparazzi picture of Meghan in yoga pants leaving a central London yoga studio that week side by side with the infamous photo of Pippa from behind during Kate’s 2011 wedding ceremony”.
“Harry and Meghan agreed that she couldn’t possibly turn up at the church, only fifty meters away from a specially arranged media pen, after such a crass cover story.”
Meghan Markle Was Advised To Not Wear ‘H’ Necklace By The Palace
According to Scobie and Durand, Meghan was advised not to wear a necklace with a pendant bearing the initial ‘H’—in honour of her husband—as it would attract interest from photographers in the early days of their relationship.
The authors claim Kensington Palace phoned Meghan to share their thoughts, which she listened to but allegedly grew frustrated with afterwards.
“After hanging up, she felt frustrated and emotional,” the novel says. “While she knew the aide had good intentions, the surreal experience of having someone from her boyfriend’s office tell her what kind of jewellery to wear or not to smile at a photographer was too much.”
Prince William Told Harry To Take His Relationship With Megan Slow
Prince Harry was allegedly aggrieved when he was advised by his older brother to take his relationship with Meghan slow.
According to the book, William told Harry, “Don’t feel you need to rush this”.
“Take as much time as you need to get to know this girl.” However, Harry took issue with William’s use of his last two words: “this girl”, considering them to be snobby.
According to the book, the Duke of Cambridge was pleased to see his brother happy in his new relationship, but was looking out for him as he can allegedly take things too personally in comparison to William.
Scobie and Durand went onto report that during Harry’s 10-year career in the military—outside the royal bubble—he had learned not to make snap judgements about people based on their accent, education, ethnicity, class or profession.
Prince Harry Blamed Palace Staff For Royal Feuds
Prince Harry was concerned that his brother’s staff were trying to “throw him under a bus” in a bid to make William look good, Scobie and Durand claim.
Apparently, after months of rumours and negative press, members of the family—including the Queen—were concerned about the relationship. Another source told the book: “Harry was upset that it was playing out so publicly and that so much of the information being reported was wrong.
“There had been moments where he felt people working with his brother had put things out to make William look good, even if it meant throwing Harry under the bus,” a source explained.
“It was a confusing time, and his head was all over the place—he didn’t know who or what to believe, and he and William weren’t talking enough either, which made everything a lot worse.”
The ‘False’ Rumours Regarding The Royal Wedding
The book aslo went on to clarify the false wedding stories that circulated following the 2018 event. One of the stories that surfaced was that Meghan left Kate in tears following a bridesmaids fitting. According to the book, this was false.
A source, who was at the mid-May wedding fitting and has never discussed before what really happened, said stories about tears have been “puzzling” to those who were present.
“Some of the children weren’t co-operating, and there was a lot going on. Everyone tried to help where they could, but it’s never easy with kids at fittings. There were no tears from anyone. And in the end, the fitting was fine. Kate and Meghan were both a little stressed but professionals in the room, and there were other people there.”
Another similar story claimed that Meghan instructed Diptyque diffusers to be placed around St George’s Chapel for her wedding day, but that was also not all it seems. The book revealed that the plans were signed off by all parties and were similar to scented candles Kate requested for her Westminster Abbey wedding in 2011.
Prince Harry Sourced The Diamonds For Meghan Markle’s Engagement Ring From Botswana
According to the book, the Duke of Sussex designed the engagement ring himself, using a central diamond from Botswana–a country that the newlyweds have visited together.
The two diamonds on either side are from his late mother Princess Diana’s collection. The three jewels were held together by a gold band, which Meghan later changed to a diamond eternity band.
Although we knew the sentimental value of the ring, it seems to have been made all the more special for the time and effort Prince Harry put into creating it.
According to Scobie and Durand, Harry travelled to Africa to source the perfect conflict-free diamond in May 2017, a whole six months before their engagement was officially announced.
Harry and Meghan Dismissed Archie’s Night Nurse For Acting “Unprofessional”
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry were forced to dismiss Archie’s “unprofessional” night nurse during her second shift, the book claims.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex had hired the nanny as an extra pair of hands for their son—who is seventh in line to the throne—but her employment was “brief”.
It is unclear exactly what occurred, but the incident is claimed to have left the new parents concerned about using a nanny.
“The new parents went on to hire a second night nurse, who did a fine job, but because of the incident with the first nurse, neither found themselves comfortable sleeping through the night without going to check on Archie regularly”.
“After a few weeks, they decided to take on nights themselves and went without a night nurse entirely.”
They also decided not to have a live-in nanny—like Prince William and Kate Middleton—so in the end, it was “just the three of them.”
Meghan Cried Before Final Royal Engagement As She Said Goodbye To Staff
According to the book, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s final outing was the Commonwealth Day service, however a few hours before the event, Meghan tearfully said goodbye to the team she had been working with in the United Kingdom.
“With the state room almost empty except for a few familiar faces, the tears the duchess had been holding back were free to flow… ‘I can’t believe this is it,’ she said, hugging one of the young female aides she had become close with.”
“Though Team Sussex was a much smaller operation than the more sophisticated offices at Clarence House and Kensington Palace, in the short space of a year since setting up, they had become like family.”
Meghan and Harry Kept Archie’s Christening A Secret To Avoid Tabloids
While many speculated as to why Meghan and Harry had a private christening for their son, the real reason is much more understandable than you’d think.
According to Scobie and Durant, Meghan felt like the world wanted her to “serve her child on a silver platter”. As a fiercely protective mother, Meghan made sure Archie’s christening was a “completely private affair” at the Queen’s chapel in Windsor Castle.
“A child who is not going to be protected and doesn’t have a title. How does that make sense? Tell that to any mother in the world.”
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