Harry and Meghan's biography is coming and may contain scandalous inside stories of the palace, fear royals
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have cooperated with the authors of a soon-to-be-released biography that is expected to further strain the couple's relationship with the royal household, it has been claimed.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have given interviews to two "friendly" journalists, Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand, for the book, provisionally titled 'Thoroughly Modern Royals: The Real World Of Harry And Meghan,' the Daily Mail reported.
It is expected to paint a flattering portrait of the couple following their highly-publicized exit from the royal family late last month, but there are fears that it could also be an exposé that reveals the monarchy's inner workings.
There are also rumors it could be a score-settling exercise in which Harry's and Meghan's strained relationship with the royals and their controversial decision to quit and move to North America could be revisited in a way more flattering to the couple.
Questions have also been raised regarding the involvement of Meghan's inner circle in the making of the book. It would be plausible since Princess Diana had encouraged her friends to speak to Andrew Morton for her biography 'Diana: Her True Story'.
Besides including details of the recent drama that has plagued Buckingham Palace, 'Thoroughly Modern Royals' is expected to include revelations from as far back as the lead up to her wedding to Prince Harry in May 2018, which is when the cracks first began to appear.
While co-operation regarding the book was initially sparse, more people reportedly began contacting Scobie and Durand a few months later in a bid to "set the record straight" regarding the Duchess.
It was theorized that this was the result of Meghan becoming frustrated with the strictures of the palace media operation, just like Diana more than a quarter of a century earlier, and had decided to take control herself.
But Diana's former private secretary, Patrick Jephson, has slammed her and Harry for cooperating with the authors and giving an interview for the book.
"Collaborating with pliable authors and magazine journalists while shunning those deemed awkward is standard royal practice, but for Harry and Meghan it's not just about image — for them it's business: a vital part of the self-branding and marketing process," he said.
Jephson was referring to the couple's decision to launch an unprecedented boycott of certain sections of the British press, in a protest over the controversial coverage of their lives, which saw them accused of "censorship."
Ian Murray, of the Society of Editors, said it was a "clear attempt to undermine certain sections of the UK media who often ask uncomfortable questions" and that "there is no escaping that their actions here amount to censorship and they are setting an unfortunate example."
The timing of the news — it was announced on the eve of the Queen's 94th birthday — was met with ire as well.
"We have been left stunned. They have not taken any of our advice," a palace insider said.
The 320-page book, which was originally due around the time of Archie's birth last May, was first delayed until June. Its publication was then delayed again, likely because of the pandemic, and is expected to hit stores in August.