‘The past six years of my life, books are written about our story from people who I don’t know,’ Meghan Markle succinctly said in the first episode of the new Netflix documentary series, Harry & Meghan.
She added: ‘Doesn’t it make more sense to hear our story from us?’
The answer is yes, of course it does.
So why does even the idea of this new series infuriate and anger some people so much? It’s not hard to avoid – just don’t watch or talk about it if you don’t like them.
The first three episodes of Harry & Meghan dropped on Netflix on Thursday (8 December) and they are going to be viewed across the globe.
But even before the series aired, the two trailers got over 10million views alone on YouTube – and kicked up a storm from all the usual suspects.
People complained about the fact that the trailer featured footage which was stock images from a Harry Potter premiere and not from the Duke and Duchess being hounded by paparazzi.
You can’t help but feel that this is a couple who, like so many of us, are just in love
Well, so what? This happens all the time in documentaries and their trailers – the point of the clips was to paint a picture and help explain the narrative.
Here’s the thing: There are only two options for them and everyone else – either don’t watch the series or watch the series. It’s that simple.
It’s ironic, though, that the same haters of Meghan and Prince Harry, will likely go through each episode with a fine tooth comb to further denigrate the pair in an attempt to paint them as liars.
The beauty of this limited Netflix series is that the protagonists are able to tell their story in their own words. How they met, how they felt, who betrayed them and what the Royal family did or didn’t do to support them – will all be told through their perspective.
As Harry and Meghan explained how they were connected via Instagram in the first place and the cute recollection of their early dates, illustrated with excited selfies, you can’t help but feel that this is a couple who, like so many of us, are just in love.
Recollections from their friends back this up, and it’s easy to forget that Harry is a part of the Firm, until he acknowledges the expectations set upon him.
‘I think, for so many people in the family, especially obviously the men, there can be a temptation or an urge to marry someone who would fit into the mould, as opposed to somebody who you perhaps are destined to be with,’ he said.
‘The difference between making decisions with your head, or your heart.’
And with that uncomplicated statement, I instantly recoiled knowing that the naysayers would pick up on it and use it as the stick to stir more hatred against Harry.
I think it’s likely Harry’s honesty will be taken as a jab towards both his brother, Prince William, and his father, King Charles.
Once more, Meghan will be pitted against Kate Middleton.
At no point did Harry slam his brother’s relationship, but that is what people will say.
Each and every claim that Harry and Meghan make in the doc will be scrutinised beyond comprehension, even when they are speaking about their own feelings and perspectives.
In this new documentary series, we get a rare true view of the inner workings of the Royal family and a behind the scenes look at one of Britain’s greatest institutions.
We learn how there are no real big talks or discussions from the senior royals to the junior members about what the family means to the public or how important their roles as royals is.
Everything Harry, and Meghan, come to know they have to learn on the hoof. We’re also told of Harry’s sense of a general feeling the men of the household have towards the women who marry into the tribe – that each female will suffer at the hands of the press because that’s what has happened to each woman before them.
Yet, this too will be translated as a knock against Harry’s family because it suggests the Royal Family has yet to embrace the modern world.
There are already those claiming Harry is ‘ungrateful’ for sharing that information.
Are we really to believe that God has picked this family of German descent to rule over the United Kingdom?
The divine right of kings seems out of touch and out of date in England and Wales, whose combined population is less than 50% practising Christian, according to the latest census.
What struck me the most was the way Harry himself admits in the documentary that his wife and late mother are very similar.
The Duke of Sussex said: ‘She has the same compassion, she has the same empathy, she has the same confidence. She has this warmth about her.’
Understandably, Harry does not want his wife to suffer the same fate as his mum, and yet no matter how many times he says it and how far away he moves from our shores, the critics will continue to slam him for protecting his family.
In the real world, if you don’t like someone, you’d avoid engaging with them.
For example, I’m not a fan of romantic comedies or period dramas so I don’t watch them. It would be sheer lunacy for me to go out of my way to watch a film I cannot stand and then berate the plot and performances again and again and again.
I would advise those who aren’t fans of Harry and Meghan to not watch the new documentary.
It is their loathing of the pair that keeps them relevant and that’s why they’ll be watching the series and questioning everything.
No matter what comes in the next instalments of this ‘global event’, those who dislike this most modern of couples should simply find the ‘off’ switch.
Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing jess.austin@metro.co.uk.
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