The revelations made in Meghan and Prince Harry’s unauthorised and unofficial biography are likely to deepen the divide between the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and their relatives in the UK, sources have said. The book by Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand has been described as a “very one-sided account” by insiders.
They told the Daily Mirror: “It’s sadly hard to imagine a world where this won’t do lasting damage to many of the personal relationships explored in this very one-sided account.”
Among the claims made in the biography, the authors spoke of the rift between Harry and William and what brought their decades-long bond to break.
The book also analyses the lack of warmth in the relationship between Kate and Meghan.
Moreover, it describes how Meghan and Harry perceived some of the courtiers and palace aides.
In light of the intimate details presented to the readers by the authors, who have reported thoughts and personal episodes in Meghan and Harry’s private lives, a palace source questioned whom Ms Durand and Mr Scobie may have spoken to.
They told the Mirror: “One may indeed wonder who those two sources are.
“It’s fair to say there is a great deal of scepticism over the involvement of the book’s two primary subjects.”
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Mr Scobie and Ms Durand said to have spoken with more than 100 people, most of whom have been anonymously reported in their book.
Every claim, they added, was confirmed by at least two sources.
Both the authors and Meghan and Harry have denied any direct involvement of the couple in the making of this book.
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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex said in a statement: “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.”
In a recent interview, Mr Scobie also said his and Ms Durand’s knowledge of the couple was deepened by the fact that they both enjoyed front row seats to all Meghan and Harry’s private engagements.
However, in the author’s notes on the final pages of the book, Ms Durand and Mr Scobie admit they did speak to the couple while writing their biography.
The note read: “We have spoken with close friends of Harry and Meghan, royal aides and palace staff (past and present), the charities and organisations they have built long-lasting relationships with and, when appropriate, the couple themselves.
“In many instances, we have granted sources anonymity to allow freedom to candidly provide direct quotes without their names being attributed (either due to the sensitivity of roles or to protect careers).”
After this footnote sparked a flurry of comments regarding the real involvement of Meghan and Harry’s in the book, Mr Scobie took to Twitter in an attempt to set the record straight.
He wrote: “Let’s make one thing clear: There’s a huge difference between exchanging a few words with a member of the Royal Family on an official engagement or tour to actually interviewing them.
“The amount of nonsense doing the rounds right now is unreal.”
The book Finding Freedom: Harry and Meghan and the Making of a Modern Royal Family by Carolyn Durand and Omid Scobie is now available for digital download and in hard copy.
