The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have publicly distanced themselves from the bombshell book, which details the couple’s alleged issues with the Royal Family and the increasing tensions, which ultimately led to their sensational decision to quit the Firm. But Richard Fitzwiliams said he believes the book would have “served a purpose” – albeit “unofficially” – for the couple to “put their case” forward following Megxit.
The royal expert said this would have been done without “burning bridges” with members of the family.
He told Express.co.uk: “Finding Freedom was intended to appeal to Harry and Meghan’s admirers in the ‘Sussex Squad’ and also to the American market where they want to establish themselves.
“I think the book will have served the purpose they intended it to, unofficially of course, to put their case of the split from the royal family without burning any bridges.”
He said the publication of Finding Freedom, co-authored by royal reporters Carolyn Durand and Omid Scobie, was “bizarre” timing as the world tackles the coronavirus pandemic.
He added: “It is a book full of intimate trivia and the authors obviously have a weakness for the good life, luxury hotels, fashionable clothes and expensive restaurants.
“This makes the timing of publication during a pandemic so bizarre.”
READ MORE: Royal POLL: Are you worried about the collapse of the Royal Family?
The authors write: “He felt at once used for their popularity, hounded by the press because of the public’s fascination with this new breed of royal couple, and disparaged back within the institution’s walls.”
It was then in Canada where the couple decided to step back as senior royals.
Harry attempted to set a meeting with his grandmother at the start of January, but was told she was unavailable until the end of the month.
The authors write that as the couple flew back to the UK they “toyed with the idea of driving straight from the terminal to see the Queen”.
But this was abandoned because they decided it would have “ruffled feathers” and caused them difficulty.
The couple have distanced themselves from the book, which was released this week, saying they were not interviewed for the biography and did not make any contributions to it.
The couple and their 14-month-old son, Archie, now live in Los Angeles after they stepped down from their royal roles in March to forge new careers.
In January, they announced plans to lead a more independent life and to finance it themselves.
A spokesman for the couple said: “The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were not interviewed and did not contribute to ‘Finding Freedom’.
“This book is based on the authors’ own experiences as members of the royal press corps and their own independent reporting.”
