The Netflix documentary Harry and Meghan is the show we’ve all been waiting for, and finally, it’s here…
The first three episodes delve into every aspect of the couple’s relationship and cover everything from how the couple met via social media and life in the Royal Family to press intrusion into their personal lives and racism.
Here, we share the 11 things we learnt – and what the world will be talking about for weeks to come – from the first three episodes of Harry and Meghan.
1. The couple actually met over Instagram
If sliding into the DMs on Insta is good enough for Harry and Meghan, it’s good enough for us. The couple revealed that after a friend of Harry’s shared a video on the social media platform which featured Meghan, the pair got talking. The clip, where Meghan was seen with the infamous Snapchat filter dog ears, brought the couple together and led to them being set up on a first date via a mutual friend.
2. Harry describes their relationship as a great “love story” and reveals how they both sacrificed everything to be together
The prince describes their relationship as being a truly great love story and how you’ve got to make these kinds of decisions with your heart, rather than your head.
He goes on to explain, "I think for so many people in the family, especially obviously the men, there can be a temptation or an urge to marry someone who would fit in the mould, as opposed to somebody who you are perhaps destined to be with.”
And how, to join Meghan “in her world”, he sacrificed “everything that I know.” And how Meghan also “sacrificed everything she ever knew, the freedom that she had, to join me in my world.”
"We're trusting our story to someone else."
3. Harry was late for their first date
Harry actually arrived half an hour late for their first date, which left Meghan wondering if he was one of "those egotistical men" who assumed any woman would happily wait around for; which was something she wasn’t interested in doing.
The pair has arranged to meet at 76 Dean Street in Soho, with Harry explaining that when he realised he was late, he was “panicked, sweating and starting to freak out” texting her apologies.
Luckily, when Harry finally arrived, he was seriously sweet and hugely apologetic for being late, and Meghan suggested they meet for dinner the following night.
4. Harry has a “second family” in Africa
When he was just 18 years old, still grieving the loss of his mother, Harry went on a trip to Lesotho in South Africa. It was here that he met – and formed an extremely close bond with – Prince Seeiso, who was, at the time, also grieving the loss of his own mother. The pair became extremely close, and Harry explained that they “became like brothers.”
After his initial visit, Harry would often spend a few months there every year, sharing that, “Lesotho gave me the space and the freedom to breathe, to live and to grow” and how he has built a close-knit "second family" out there, along with a fantastic group of friends “that literally brought me up.”
5. When Meghan met Kate and William for the first time, she didn’t realise that public formality would continue behind closed doors
The couple also revealed how Meghan found it surprising that the formality seen publicly by the Royal Family “carries over” even when in private.
She explains, "When Will and Kate came over, and I met her for the first time, they came over for dinner, I remember I was in ripped jeans, and I was barefoot. I was a hugger. I've always been a hugger, I didn't realise that that is really jarring for a lot of Brits.
“I guess I started to understand very quickly that the formality on the outside carried through on the inside.”
6. Harry would sneak Meghan into the palace
After initially getting together, the couple decided to keep their relationship a secret to avoid intrusion from the press. They wanted the opportunity to get to know each other privately.
It began as a long-distance relationship, which Meghan described as being “exciting, relaxed and easy.” However, she did implement a two-week rule for the pair, which meant that they tried to see each other in person at least once every couple of weeks. During this time, it was deemed easier for Meghan to visit Harry in the UK, where he would sneak her into Kensington Palace.
He explained that “Getting her through the police barrier and into Kensington palace is a risk in itself, right? Because it’s not about who you trust; it’s about who they trust. That’s literally how it works.”
While the pair managed to date under the radar for four months, news of their relationship did eventually leak.
7. Harry says Meghan is very similar to Princess Diana
In emotional scenes, Harry shared how he felt that his wife is ‘so similar’ to his beloved mum, Princess Diana.
He explained that “So much of what Meghan is and how she is is so similar to my mum. She has the same compassion, she has the same empathy, the same confidence, she has this warmth about her.”
“I ended up quitting the show. I was so much more than what was being objectified on the stage.”
8. The couple are teaching their children about their late grandmother, Princess Diana
Despite Princess Diana not being in their children’s lives, Harry and Meghan are making sure that she remains an active presence.
In an emotional scene, Meghan shows Archie a framed photo of Princess Diana and says: “Who’s that? Yeah, that’s your grandma, Diana.”
The documentary shares that the couple have a photo of Diana on their wall at home and are making sure to teach their children all about their grandma.
9. Harry is really proud that his children are mixed race
Meghan explains,“People don’t talk about what it’s like to be mixed race, and I think a lot of that is, you’re not white enough or you’re not Black enough. But I don’t see the world that way.”
Harry then says, “My son, my daughter, my children are mixed race, and I’m really proud of that.”
10. Harry speaks out about the time he wore a Nazi uniform
Harry also addressed the time, in 2005, when he was photographed wearing a swastika armband at a fancy dress party. At the time, the palace issued an immediate apology but Harry was criticised for not apologising himself.
Following the incident, he explains that he took steps to learn from his mistakes, sitting down the chief rabbi in London and speaking to a Holocaust survivor in Berlin.
He said: "In this family, sometimes you're part of the problem rather than part of the solution – and there is a huge level of unconscious bias,"
“The thing with unconscious bias is it's actually no one's fault, but once it's been pointed out or identified within yourself, you need to make it right.”
He adds: “I could've just ignored it and probably made the same mistakes over and over again in my life. But I learned from that.”
11. Harry shoulders the blame for Meghan losing touch with her father
Harry also revealed that he “shouldered” the breakdown of Meghan’s relationship with her father, Thomas Markle, who was unable to attend their wedding due to ill health and then subsequently spoke to the press about the couple.
He explained: "Of course it is incredibly sad what happened. She had a father before this and now she doesn't have a father. And I shouldered that because if Meg wasn't with me, then her dad would still be her dad.”
The duchess is once again getting super honest on her Archetypes podcast.
