MEGA SHOW
Kate and Meghan Markle’s ‘jarring’ first meeting revealed in Netflix documentary – and Harry’s savage dig at Charles
MEGHAN Markle and Prince Harry have unleashed a string of bombshell claims in their Netflix documentary today - with the duchess revealing her "jarring" meeting with Princess Kate while Harry took a savage dig at his own father.
Meghan claims she was left reeling by her first meeting with the Princess of Wales as the Sussexes unleashed "truths"; about life in the Royal family.
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And it was just one of the string of claims the couple revealed in the first three episodes of Harry & Meghan that is just the latest blow to the relationship between the couple and the Firm.
Netflix claimed the Royal Family had been approached for comment - but palace insiders say otherwise.
It is understood Kensington Palace received an email from a third-party production company via a different, unknown organisation’s email address.
Insiders claim the palace attempted to verify the source of the email with Archewell Productions and Netflix but no one replied - meaning the palace could not respond.
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Experts today warned the Netflix doc was the "final nail" in the coffin between Meghan and Harry and the Royals - with the couple already appearing to change their story five times.
In bombshell claims, Meghan discussed her first meeting with sister-in-law Princess Kate.
She said: "Even when Will and Kate came over and I met her for the first time.
"I was in ripped jeans and I was barefoot.
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"I’m a hugger I’ve always been a hugger. I didn’t know that could be jarring for a lot of Brits.
The Netflix documentary revealed...
- Meghan Markle's first meeting with Princess Kate - with the duchess describing it as 'jarring'
- Meghan and Harry's first meeting - but fans spotted they had changed their story
- Sweet new photos of Archie and Lilibet with proud dad Harry seen kissing his daughter
- The couple shared their proposal story - which appears to have changed
- Meanwhile, Piers Morgan has blasted Meghan and Harry’s Netflix doc as ‘worse than the Kardashians’
"I guess I started to understand very quickly that the formality out on the outside, carried through on the inside.
"That there is a forward facing way of being then you close the door and you go phew, great we can relax now.
"But that formality continues on both sides and that was surprising to me."
Meanwhile, in an apparent dig at his dad King Charles' parenting, Harry claimed he was "brought up" by friends in Africa.
He said: "I've got a second family out there. A group of friends that literally brought me up."
The first three episodes of the six-part show were released today at 8am. The remaining three will be available to watch on December 15.
Netflix today double down on insisting it offered the right of reply to the Royals, claiming: "Communications offices for King Charles and the Prince of Wales were contacted in advance and given the right to reply to claims within the series."
In the show, Harry said he "sacrificed everything he had" for Meghan when they left royal life behind.
And Harry claimed Meghan "doesn't have a father" as they dove into the lead up to their royal wedding.
Thomas Markle famously posed in staged paparazzi pictures during the lead up to the wedding. He and his daughter Meghan are now estranged.
The couple - who are rumoured to be making an appearance on a US talk show next week - also revealed never-before-seen clips of Archie riding his bike while his Harry pushed baby Lilibet in a pushchair.
Addressing alleged abuse Meghan faced after joining the Royal family, Harry appeared to take a dig at his brother William.
'TRUTH BOMBS'
He said: "So it was almost like a rite of passage, and some of the members of the family were like 'my wife had to go through that, so why should your girlfriend be treated any differently?
"'Why should you get special treatment? Why should she be protected?'"
Harry went on to claim men in his family marry women who "fit the mould".
He said: "I think for so many people in the family, especially the men, there could be a temptation or an urge to marry someone who would fit the mould as opposed to someone you are destined to be with.
"The difference between making a decision with your head or your heart.
“And my mum certainly made most of her decisions, if not all of them, from her heart.
"And I am my mother's son."
Meghan and Harry have vowed to tell details of their "love story" in their own words during the six-part show.
One clip shows an emotional Meghan with a towel wrapped around her head.
She says: "I really want to get to the other side of all of this."
The duchess becomes tearful as she adds: "I don't know what to say anymore."
In another shock clip, the Duke and Duchess claimed they "weren't allowed to tell our story" while working members of the royals.
Meghan and Harry also shared details of how they met - which appears to contradict what the duke said previously.
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Back in 2017 Harry told the BBC: "It was definitely a set-up — it was a blind date. It was a blind date for sure.”
But in episode one released today, Harry claimed that "Meghan and I met over Instagram."
He added: "I was scrolling through my feed and someone who was a friend had this video of the two of them."
The couple were today blasted by experts who claimed the documentary is the final "nail in the coffin" for their relationship with the royals.
Royal Expert Angela Levin said: "It's the nail in the coffin bringing the Royal Family into it. Bringing in Catherine and King Charles.
"I think that's the end. I really do. There's not one per cent of gratitude.
"No one would know who she was if she hadn't married Harry.
"They paint themselves as perfect.
"It's shocking, so shocking. Too terrible for words.
"It's resentment after resentment. I've never seen so many resentments in three hours. It makes you feel very uncomfortable really."
In the documentary, Meghan said she stalked Harry's Instagram feed to see "what he was about".
The couple said that they got each others numbers before heading out for drinks in London - but Harry was running late.
She says: "He kept texting 'I'm in traffic, I'm so sorry'."
Harry jumps in: "I was panicking, I was freaking out. I was sweating.
"I didn't know him so I was like: 'Oh is this what he does. Got it. This I'm not doing,'" Meghan adds.
Harry jumps in with: "What's that supposed to mean?" Meghan replies: "A guy with such an ego that any girl would sit around and wait for half an hour for you. I'm not interested in that."
The duke goes on to say: "And then I walked in sweaty red mess and she was like: 'Oh that's not what you are'."
"That's not what you're like. You were genuinely so embarrassed you were late," Meghan says.
Later on in the series, Harry talks about how he proposed.
He said: "In the North Garden being overlooked by the staff flats I got 15 of those electric candles.
"Of course I got down on one knee."
A picture then shows Harry on a blanket on the grass with Meghan's dog.
It appears to be different to the tale Meghan told in the couple's engagement interview.
In that Harry says: "It happened a few weeks ago, earlier this month, here at our cottage; just a standard typical night for us."
Meghan adds: "We were just roasting chicken.
"Trying to roast a chicken and it just -- just [was] an amazing surprise, it was so sweet and natural and very romantic. He got on one knee."
Netflix has promised the series will "explore the span of their relationship, from the early days of the couple’s courtship to the challenges and controversies that prompted them to step back from the royal family".
Two teaser trailers have already caused a stir at the Palace.
The Duchess is seen sobbing on a phone call with her head in her hands in one image.
In another, Prince Harry is seen blasting the Royal "hierarchy" before Meghan sobs "they're never going to protect you".
Harry also references his mother Diana's death throughout, stressing: "I didn't want history to repeat itself."
Referencing his mother further in the second trailer, the Duke goes on to blast the Royal Family's treatment of women.
He claims: "The pain and suffering of women marrying into this institution, it's a feeding frenzy."
And the Duke even goes so far as to claim wife Meghan did not feel safe in the Firm when he erupts: "They're never going to protect you."
The bombshell six-part series has already been hit with criticism as it grapples with a "fakery" storm.
At least four images used to promote the controversial docuseries are not what they seem, while one other has been selectively edited.
This is despite Meghan and Harry repeatedly claiming that they want to reveal the “truth”.
The series is directed by Academy Award–nominated and Emmy-winning director Liz Garbus.
In a statement following the release of the first episodes, Liz wrote: "We are grateful to have the ability to share our love story through such an esteemed creative team and with the global reach of Netflix.
"We hope it helps others to heal, and to feel inspired.
"I hope that when Netflix viewers press play, whatever preconceptions people have, they will be open to the discovery of what we’ve shared in this documentary series."
Their previous director - Oscar-nominated Garrett Bradley - reportedly quit over creative differences.
Having previously directed the critically acclaimed series Naomi Osaka, Garrett was approached by Netflix for Harry and Meghan.
Due to be a look-inside to the Sussexes' life, Garrett allegedly wanted to film at the couple's home but the three butted heads over it.
It is claimed the former actress and Harry fell out with Garrett over the vision of the project and refused to have it filmed inside their house, according to .
A TV insider said: "Garrett wanted Harry and Meghan to film at home and they were not comfortable doing that.
"There were a few sticky moments between them, and Garrett left the project.
"Harry and Meghan's own production company captured as much footage as they could before Liz Garbus was hired."
However another source claims Liz also clashed with the couple after they wanted to heavily edit the documentary - which is unwelcome as it needs translating into other languages.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
Insiders say Harry and Meghan always avoided criticising the Queen but later wanted to make changes because it's too critical of the new King and Queen Consort.
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