While the public binge-watched the story of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, claims to strip them of their royal titles began to spring.
The love story that has had the world watching for the past six years is now on Netflix. Britain was glued to the screen on the 8th of December, as the first three episodes of the Harry and Meghan Netflix documentary came out. Meanwhile, A Conservative MP proposed legislation to take their titles of Duke and Duchess of Sussex away.
Whilst the members of the royal family, including the King and the Prince of Wales, have denied giving any comments on the documentary, an MP was not so determined to ignore it.
Bob Seely said he is intended to bring forward legislation that would have them stripped of their royal titles. “As well as trashing his family and monetising his misery for public consumption, he is also attacking some important institutions in this country”, he said to the Guardian.
The former royal couple made it clear it was the invasiveness of the press and the lack of support by the royal institution, the reasons why they made the decision to step down as royals. Harry “couldn’t let history repeat itself”, as he affirmed remembering the struggles his own mother faced when it came to the media.
Meghan admitted she did not imagine “the lengths to which British tabloids would go for a story”. Footage of paparazzi waiting for her outside her flat in Toronto and following her around was included in the documentary.
The public is divided in their opinions: “I have not watched it yet, I have seen some clips on TikTok, but I mean all she says about protocol and curtsy, didn’t she expect it, dating the Prince?” said Jane, a media student at the University of Westminster.
Meghan did indeed talk about her difficulties adapting to royal formality, saying she thought “it was a joke” when Harry told her she would have to curtsy in front of his grandmother. “Then I understood all the formality on the outside, carries through in the inside”, she said.
“I do get that the tabloids took the racism discourse too far, but unfortunately that is part of the package that comes with marrying a prince, you will be the centre of attention”, said another student, who wishes to stay anonymous.
While many disliked her for the accusations she made towards the family she married into, others were more understanding of their position.
“I do understand their choices, it was very interesting to finally see them directly addressing what they had gone through, tabloids can be very harsh, to be honest, I don’t really see the point in taking their titles, he is still the King’s son,” said Emily, a social sciences student from Goldsmiths.
Her friend Luke added, “I think, they told the truth from their point of view, and that should be respected, but the truth is never absolute, I am sure the King would say different things”.
The next, and final, three episodes, are due to be released next Thursday and are predicted to be another bombshell the monarchy will have to deal with.