Currently, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have taken over Netflix releasing content about its million-dollar deal. On December 8th, 2022, Netflix released ‘Harry & Meghan’. The two-part docu-series is directed by Liz Garbus. It has garnered a lot of eyeballs. Audiences and critics have had mixed reactions to the docu-series. The couple chronicles the intimate look at their relationship and the effect of being a part of the Royal Family and the aftermath of the Megxit.
When you are a part of such an illustrious and powerful family, the camera flashes will always illuminate your face. However, it may not guarantee the same when it comes to one’s reputation who comes from the family. The Royal Family has been under constant media watch and public scrutiny because it comes with the territory. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have also touched upon the media’s exploitation and intrusion. Let’s take a look at what Prince Harry has said about the media in the docu-series.
Prince Harry Accused Media Of Controlling The Royal Family Narrative
No one can forget Princess Diana’s death and how the paparazzi culture was maligned post that incident. On August 31st, 1997, the Princess of Wales died in a tragic car accident after leaving the Hotel Ritz in Paris. Before and after the accident, the media barraged her space. The media was highly criticized for not helping the victims of the accident and like vultures preying on the deceased for their gain. Like Princess Diana, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have also been under heavy media scrutiny, and the couple has had a rift with the paparazzi due to no privacy.
In ‘Harry & Meghan’, Prince Harry revealed that there are certain Royal Family-affiliated media that are authorized to be in the palace premise called ‘Royal Rota’. He said, “That press pack of royal correspondents [the Royal Rota]is essentially just an extended PR arm of the royal family. So there’s been an agreement that’s been there for over 30 years. If you’re part of the Royal Rota, you have priority over the story over everybody else”.
The Telegraph, The Sun, Daily Mail, Evening Standard, and others have been covering the Royal Family for the longest time. These outlets have anything and everything controversial exclusives. However, to maintain their privacy after signing off duties as a royal, Meghan and Harry declared that they will not be a part of the Royal Rota system as well. In the documentary, he took a dig at this system saying, “So all royal news goes through the filter of all the newspapers within the Royal Rota, most of which, apart from the Telegraph, happen to be tabloids. It all comes down to control. It’s like, ‘This family is ours to exploit. Their trauma is our story and our narrative to control.’ “
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The Couple Called Apology From The Sun A ‘PR Stunt’
It has become a routine for Jeremy Clarkson to slam Meghan Markle. If you remember his take on Oprah Winfrey, he said, in a derogatory manner, that her “pants really were on fire!” after asking to replay a clip. He has also slammed Amber Heard in recent times. Now, again, he wrote an op-ed in ‘The Sun’ slamming Meghan Markle for the ‘Harry & Meghan’ docuseries.
Talking about his fantasies about the actress’ fate, he wrote, “At night, I’m unable to sleep as I lie there, grinding my teeth and dreaming of the day when she is made to parade naked through the streets of every town in Britain while the crowd chants ‘Shame!’ and throw lumps of excrement at her”. However, the op-ed backfired, and the tabloid. Independent Press Standard Organization (IPSO) has received about 20,000 complaints about the article.
After Clarkson’s apology, The Sun issued a statement saying, “We are sincerely sorry. Columnists’ opinions are their own, but as a publisher, we realise that with free expression comes responsibility”. Prince Harry and Markle’s spokesperson, in a statement, said, “The fact that The Sun has not contacted The Duchess of Sussex to apologise shows their intent. This is nothing more than a PR stunt”.
The spokesperson continued, “While the public absolutely deserves the publication’s regrets for their dangerous comments, we wouldn’t be in this situation if The Sun did not continue to profit off of and exploit hate, violence, and misogyny. A true apology would be a shift in their coverage and ethical standards for all. Unfortunately, we’re not holding our breath”.
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