Kyla Brown | Head Editor
December 16, 2022
The second half of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s self-titled docuseries was released on Netflix on December 15th. The first three episodes of the series are dedicated to discussing the timeline of their relationship, while the second three are focused on why the couple stepped away from royal duties. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex famously announced their decision to depart from the royal family in January 2020, and there was a significant amount of anticipation surrounding the series and the royal secrets it would expose. The documentary series has become Netflix’s biggest documentary debut, racking up 81.55 million hours of views during its release week.
This is not the first time information about the pair’s personal lives has been made public, however. A biography by Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand centered on the couple’s marriage was published in August 2020, and the 2021 BBC program The Princess and the Press discussed the relationship between the media and the British monarchy. In March 2021, over a year after their announced departure, Harry and Meghan sat down for an interview with Oprah Winfrey, where they explained why they left the royal family themselves, noting that the royal establishment was not granting them the help they needed as they were obliterated by the media. One great topic of interest in the media and the royal family throughout Harry and Meghan’s relationship seemed to be how Meghan Markle looked.
Scandal has plagued the British crown since its early days, controversy being sparked left and right wherever the royals find themselves. The family is no stranger to racism, notoriously making racially charged comments and acting on racist beliefs for years. Meghan Markle, as a biracial woman, seemed to cause quite a stir within the castle because of her race. She is the first person of color to marry into the family in recent history, and she received numerous death threats after her relationship with Harry was made public. Senior Mary McGraw said “The treatment of Meghan Markle by the royals, the press, and the general public was disgusting,” and many like Mary were shocked by the hate toward Harry and Meghan’s relationship on the basis of looks.
Reactions to the series have been polarized– while some adamantly stand with the couple, many find themselves stark adversaries. Critics of the series claim that the story is repetitive, that the couple is repeating and monetizing a narrative made public time and time again. Some think the series fell short of the drama it was advertised to entail. Others, however, think the series tells an important story of systemic injustice and personal perseverance. An anonymous viewer of the docuseries stated that they were “impressed by both Meghan and Harry’s character as well as their desire to serve others.” This view of the couple is shared by people across the globe, cheering on the couple as they challenge the foundation of the British crown.
At the end of the day, Harry & Meghan is the story of exactly that: Harry and Meghan. They are telling the story they want to be told. How the series should be interpreted, however, is up to individual viewers globally.
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