Just when it seemed like things might finally be cooling down between Prince Harry and the royal family, a fresh report is threatening to throw gasoline right back onto the fire!
According to Radar Online, palace insiders are allegedly less than thrilled about the possibility of Harry and Meghan Markle returning to the United Kingdom with cameras in tow for a potential new Netflix-related project. And if this new report from the news outlet really is accurate, Prince William and Princess Catherine are reportedly feeling especially frustrated about the situation.
Okay, so, the drama centers on Harry’s expected return to Britain for the one-year countdown event ahead of the Invictus Games. While Harry’s participation is hardly surprising, the bigger headline is the possibility that Meghan could join him. That’s because if she does, it would mark her first significant visit to England in years following her appearance at Queen Elizabeth II‘s funeral back in 2022.
Bt according to insiders, it’s not Meghan’s return itself that is causing concern. Instead, insiders claim the royal family is worried that the Sussexes could use the trip as part of another documentary project. Yuuuup.
One source alleged to the outlet:
“William and Kate are aware Harry and Meghan have been in talks for another fly-on-the-wall project. The idea that they could be bringing a film crew with them when they come to the UK has come as a very unwelcome surprise.”
Yikes…
The project would allegedly focus on the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s charitable work and their involvement with the Invictus Games. However, Radar Online‘s source suggested that even if philanthropy is the primary focus, cameras would still be documenting Harry and Meghan’s personal and professional lives. Of course, right?
Well, that’s apparently where some of the tension begins. The insider claimed William and Kate believed that particular chapter of public royal-family storytelling had largely come to an end after seemingly interminable previous projects and interviews, claiming:
“The focus of this new show is expected to be much more heavily weighted towards their charitable work, but the reality is that cameras would still be following Harry and Meghan and documenting their lives — and William and Kate thought that chapter had largely been closed.”
Harry and Meghan have already proven they can attract massive audiences. Their Netflix docuseries generated enormous attention around the globe and became one of the platform’s most talked-about releases.
And while the couple’s exclusive Netflix deal is no longer rock-solid, the source notes the couple reportedly still maintains a first-look arrangement with the streaming giant. That means any future project could potentially be pitched to Netflix before being offered elsewhere.
And let’s be real for a second, too: if Harry and Meghan returned to the UK together for a highly publicized event while cameras followed their every move, it’s easy to imagine why a streaming platform might be interested. Love-watch ’em or hate-watch ’em, they make for good watching!
Related: Prince Harry Dealt Humiliating Snub — All Thanks To David Beckham!
According to the report, William allegedly views the situation as increasingly personal, with the insider claiming:
“William views it as a personal attack. He was under the impression that the Sussexes had chosen a different path and were focused on building their own identity outside the royal family. Instead, there is a growing sense they’re moving closer to territory traditionally occupied by the monarchy.”
Meanwhile, Kate is reportedly having trouble understanding why the couple would want to revisit this territory at all:
“Kate doesn’t really understand why Harry and Meghan work with companies like Netflix. So much has been said publicly already. Her feeling is very much, ‘How could they do this all over again?'”
The concerns don’t stop there.
The insider further alleged that palace officials worry the distinctions between the Sussexes’ activities and traditional royal work are becoming increasingly blurred in the public eye. According to the source, this overlap is creating frustration because it inevitably invites comparisons between Harry and Meghan and members of the royal family who actually do continue to carry out official duties:
“William and Kate aren’t exactly delighted at the prospect of the Sussexes coming to the UK with a camera crew and positioning themselves in a space that has long been occupied by the royal family. The Palace worries the lines are becoming increasingly blurred, and that’s where some of the frustration comes from.”
And perhaps most importantly, the source claimed there’s concern about how every time tensions begin to settle, yet another development emerges that seems to put the fractured family relationship back in the spotlight:
“The Sussexes are no longer working royals, yet they continue to operate in a space that often looks very similar to official work. A documentary focusing on that inevitably creates comparisons. The view of the Palace is that every time things begin to calm down, something new emerges that puts all the wrong things back in the spotlight. The relationship between William and Harry is complicated enough without another major television project entering the picture.”
Seriously…
Given the well-documented strain between William and Harry, it would seem now that the possibility of another major television project isn’t being welcomed with open arms — if, of course, you are buying what these insiders are selling!!!
Regardless, something tells us the headlines are only just beginning…
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[Image via MEGA/WENN]