By Ashley Young-
An updated version of Prince Harry And Meghan Markle’s biography, Finding Freedom, claims that several members of the Royal Family were ‘understood to have been ‘quietly pleased’ that Meghan did not attend the funeral of Prince Phillip at Windsor Castle.
The book claims the royal family were afraid Meghan Markle attendance would create “a circus” or “a spectacle” following the pair’s bombshell Oprah Winfrey interview, which aired a month prior to Philip’s passing.
The Duchess of Sussex was unable to travel from California to Britain with her husband Prince Harry for the service in April under doctor’s orders because she was heavily pregnant with the couple’s second child, Lilibet Diana.
Harry, 36, flew out for the ceremony but immediately returned home to Markle, 40, who was unable to fly due to her pregnancy.
The couple welcomed their daughter, Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor, two months later.
The updated version of “Finding Freedom” — which is set to be released on the 24th anniversary of Princess Diana’s death on Aug. 31 — will also address the couple’s controversial interview with Winfrey that aired on March 7 after the duo exited from their roles as senior royals in 2020.
During the interview, Markle confessed she became suicidal due to the level of negative media coverage she was receiving, and claimed that the royal family was concerned about what color their son Archie’s skin would be when he was born.
The new version of Finding Freedom which also covers the Oprah Winfrey interview and the Sussexes’ plans for the future claims that a red poppy wreath had been ordered for Harry with the Royal British Legion.
His request for it to be laid at the Cenotaph service in November last year was allegedly denied because he was no longer a ‘frontline royal’. The book adds: ‘As the day came and went, Harry’s gesture remained in its box at the charity’s headquarters in Kent.’
A source said Harry was ‘saddened and disappointed by the decision’, adding: ‘Ten years of service and a lifetime commitment to the military community and this is how it’s been acknowledged by his family.’
Harry and Meghan were instead photographed during a private visit to the Los Angeles National Cemetery in California, where he laid a wreath.
The book also looks at the fallout from Harry and Meghan’s bombshell interview with Oprah on March 7, in which they claimed a senior royal made a racist comment about the colour of their unborn child’s skin.
The book claims that William ‘was understood to be ‘furious’ that private family matters were being discussed in the public domain’ and is not likely to ever comment again on the claims made in the interview.
Royal commentators and journalists attacked Prince Harry and Meghan Markle for publicly criticizing the royal family , with many considering the Duchess Of Sussex to have been influencing Prince Harry negatively.
Prince Harry later made it clear that he had always wanted outs from royal duties, and felt trapped in the royal family, Meghan being the opportunity he took to abandon royal duties due to mistreatment from ‘the firm’ and the press.
Meghan Markle has since come under fierce attack from her father and half sibling, Thomas Markle Jnr, who said he told Prince Harry that his sister is shallow.