Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have put their story on the small screen in a Netflix docuseries. On Dec. 1, the streamer released the first teaser trailer for “Harry & Meghan,” but did not share info on when it would release. Four days later, on Dec. 5, Netflix shared a longer trailer and announced the first part would be released Dec. 8. Part two is set to premiere on Dec. 15, and on Dec. 10, the streamer unveiled a new clip from the upcoming episodes with a full trailer following two days later.
The latest trailer details more about Markle and Harry’s decision to step down as senior royals and embark on a new life in California. “I wonder what would’ve happened to us had we not got out when we did,” Harry says in the opening few seconds. As the couple talk about the difficult time that led to them leaving, Meghan says, “I wasn’t being thrown to the wolves, I was being fed to the wolves.” Harry adds they were victims of “institutional gaslighting” and knew they had to “get out.”
While there were few big revelations surrounding the royal family in the first part of the docuseries, with much of the narrative recounting Harry and Markle’s love story and the role of the media, it appears the second part will be more damning. “They were happy to lie to protect my brother. They were never willing to tell the truth to protect us,” Harry says. More candid videos and familiy photos can be expected, particularly of idyllic family life, enjoying birthday parties and beach trips together.
Plus, we can expert more on their relationship. In the earlier teaser for part two, Markle and Harry discuss their first dance at their wedding and how the Duchess of Sussex wanted it to be a joyful moment. “I just really wanted the music to be fun,” she explains. “Even our first dance.”
Previously, the first teaser included a number of intimate black and white photos taken throughout the royal couple’s relationship, which flashed up on screen as dramatic music played. Liz Garbus, who directs the docuseries, is heard asking, “Why did you want to make this documentary?” Harry responds, “No one knows what’s happening behind closed doors,” as a photo of a visibly emotional Meghan appears. He continues, “I had to do everything I could to protect my family.”
The 50-second trailer ends with a flash of the couple sitting side by side with Meghan wiping tears from her eyes before cutting to her speaking alone in an interview, saying “When the stakes are this high, doesn’t it make more sense to hear our story from us?” In the full trailer, Harry notes, “No one knows the full truth. We know the full truth.”
On Oct. 19, Markle gave a rare update on the project in her Variety cover story just days after Deadline reported that Netflix delayed the documentary’s release until next year.
“We’re trusting our story to someone else, and that means it will go through their lens.”
“It’s nice to be able to trust someone with our story — a seasoned director whose work I’ve long admired — even if it means it may not be the way we would have told it. But that’s not why we’re telling it,” Markle said of the docuseries. “We’re trusting our story to someone else, and that means it will go through their lens.”
Markle and Harry’s multiyear Netflix deal was announced in September 2020, which includes the production of documentaries, docuseries, feature films, scripted shows, and children’s programming. So far, the only other projects the couple has confirmed for the streamer are their other documentary centered on the Invictus Games and their since-canceled animated series titled “Pearl” (Netflix reportedly axed it due to a stock drop).
Harry and Markle’s documentary was rumored to be a reality TV series, but the couple previously slammed that idea in a statement provided to People. “The Duke and Duchess are not taking part in any reality shows,” a spokesman said.
Following said rumors, Markle stressed the difference between a “historical documentary” and a “reality docuseries” in her August profile for The Cut, though she didn’t specify which one her and Harry’s Netflix project is. “The piece of my life I haven’t been able to share, that people haven’t been able to see, is our love story,” she told the outlet of what it’ll cover.
In her profile, Markle said that, at the time, she wasn’t aware of what had and hadn’t been confirmed about the docuseries, but she did take time to praise its director and share what likely inspired the project. “I will tell you, Liz Garbus is incredible,” she said. “. . . When the media has shaped the story around you, it’s really nice to be able to tell your own story.”
Read ahead for everything else we know about Harry and Markle’s documentary so far.
“Harry & Meghan” Netflix Docuseries Part 2 Trailer
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“Harry & Meghan” Netflix Docuseries Part 2 Teaser
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“Harry & Meghan” Netflix Docuseries Trailer
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“Harry & Meghan” Netflix Docuseries Teaser Trailer
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“Harry & Meghan” Netflix Docuseries Release Date
Netflix announced that Volume I will premiere Dec. 8 and Volume II will premiere Dec. 15. According to Deadline, Harry and Markle’s documentary has been unofficially slated to debut on Netflix for quite a while, though that date has been thrown into question for a variety of reasons. The outlet noted that the streamer was shaken up after “attacks” from former Prime Minister John Major were aimed at “The Crown” season five. Major, as per CNN, reportedly referred to the Netflix drama’s depiction of his time in office as “damaging and malicious fiction.” “They’re rattled at Netflix, and they blinked first and decided to postpone the documentary,” a source told Deadline. Now, however, the series will continue on as planned. Reps for Archewell did not immediately respond to POPSUGAR’s request for comment.