The first except from royal reporter Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand’s book Finding Freedom was released over the weekend in The Times. It details the most intimate look at how difficult the Duchess of Sussex found it to fit into the Royal Family before she and Prince Harry made the decision to step back as senior members.
It reveals that Harry, not Meghan, was the driving force behind the decision which came after months of frustration and friction with both Royal Family members and staff, as well as constant negative press targeted at Meghan.
According to Scobie and Durand, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex struggled to understand “why so few inside the palace were looking out for their interests,” given their popularity in the public. “While they both respected the hierarchy of the institution, it was difficult when they wanted to focus on a project and were told that a more senior ranking family member, be it, Prince William or Prince Charles, had an initiative or tour being announced at the same time, so they would just have to wait,” the book reads.
While they both attempted to ask for help from the institution, over time both Harry and Meghan began feeling patronised by both family and staff, the reporter’s sources tell them.
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Ultimately, stepping down “was a direct result of their growing impatience,” Scobie and Durand write. “If other members of the family and those working with the households had taken their requests more seriously, it wouldn’t have reached that point.”
“Fundamentally, Harry wanted out,” a source close to the couple said. “Deep down, he was always struggling within that world. She’s [Meghan] opened the door for him on that.”
The excerpt goes on to say that while Harry had long wanted to distance himself from the public eye, Meghan attempted all that she could to fit into her role.
“I gave up my entire life for this family. I was willing to do whatever it takes. But here we are. It’s very sad,” a source claims Meghan told them.
Meghan and Harry did their final series of royal events in March. At their last event, the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey, the two learned they were removed from the procession of senior royals despite taking part in it in previous years. Inside, Kate Middleton barely acknowledged Meghan.
Finding Freedom: Harry And Meghan And The Making Of A Modern Royal Family is available for pre-order now.
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