PRINCE Harry and Meghan Markle fear their public image could be shattered if their bombshell “love story” docuseries is perceived as an endorsement of Netflix’s The Crown, a Royal expert has claimed.
Author Richard Fitzwilliams said the controversy around the latest season of the hit Netflix Royal drama will “worry” the couple.
Netflix bosses have been blasted for “inventing” scenes of a younger Charles trying to oust the Queen in The Crown’s fifth series.
The show is also under fire for filming the last moments of Princess Diana — played by Elizabeth Debicki — before the 1997 car crash in Paris that killed her.
The series is set to air on November 9 – weeks before the Duke and Duchess of Sussex‘s highly anticipated docuseries about their “love story”, insiders have claimed.
Royal expert Richard questioned whether Harry and Meghan will hit out at the “outrageous plotlines” about their family on the show prior to the release of their own series with Netflix.
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He said the couple may worry their “public perception” could be damaged if a tell-all docuseries is released so close to The Crown on the same platform.
There are fears that should Harry not criticise The Crown amid the “obvious anger” towards plotlines, his own series could come across as an endorsement.
He also stressed an exposing tell-all about the family may go against their philanthropic image.
He told The Sun: “Meghan and Harry have an interest in having a portrayal where they are philanthropic.
“And there’s nothing philanthropic about too much kiss and tell. Especially with the passing of the Queen.
“They would be worried about their public perception. In America the Queen was enormously respected and they know that.
“The question is: public perception is very important to them. They are very highly thought of in a lot of circles.
“They had a lot of support over Oprah.
“They have a certain pull – but the question is how wisely will they exercise this? And how they’re able to exercise what pull they actually have within Netflix when it comes to this documentary series.
“Whether they speak out on The Crown will surely have an effect on public perception of them.
“Netflix have a very special Royal success in getting both the Sussexes onboard and having The Crown.”
Richard pointed out Harry’s comments about The Crown on James Corden’s The Late Late Show.
In it, the Duke of Sussex said: “It’s fictional. But it’s loosely based on the truth. Of course it’s not strictly accurate.”
He said it gave a “rough idea” of the pressures of “putting duty and service above family and everything else”.
Richard added: “If you look at Harry’s comments with James Corden in reference to The Crown.
“He suggests that the portrait of royal life in The Crown is more accurate than critics say.
“From what we understand it’s atrocious and an anti-monarchy tract.
“And Harry has given a certain endorsement to what has been – he should have the courage to speak out on what is coming when it does come. Will he? We’ll have to see.
“Their controversial fly-on-the-wall documentary series… no one knows what’s going to be in it.
“But there is no doubt that Netflix – who is behind The Crown – [is aware of] the desire and fury this is creating with the reported outrageous and atrocious [variations from] the truth.”
It follows reports that the Sussexes’ docuseries has been pushed back until 2023.
A source told Deadline: “They’re rattled at Netflix, and they blinked first and decided to postpone the documentary.”
Harry and Meghan earlier requested a delay to the hit show, putting them at loggerheads with Netflix chiefs, reports claim.
And The Sun revealed last month that Harry was trying to make late edits to his £35million book in the wake of the Queen’s death, fearing parts were “insensitive” and needed “refining”.
And now, makers of the Netflix show have claimed some of Harry’s comments in the book are at odds with those he has made on camera.
A source told the New York Post: “A lot in the show contradicted what Harry has written (in his book), so that was an issue.
“Then Harry and Meghan made significant requests to walk back content they themselves have provided for their own project.”
Harry and Meghan are said to discuss other royals — including King Charles, Camilla and Prince William — on their documentary, directed by top US documentary maker Liz Garbus.
Sources said late edits are unwelcome as it needs translating into other languages.
One explained: “Netflix needs a couple of months to do all of the formatting and dubbing, subtitling and audio — the stuff that enables it to launch.”
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The California-based couple have previously levelled racism accusations at the royals.
But The Sun told last week how they hoped for a reconciliation after the book and series come out.
