Prince Charles was ‘crushed’ when Harry confirmed Meghan Markle was his girlfriend – because it overshadowed his official Middle East tour, biography claims
- Harry put out a statement in November 2016 giving Charles 20 minutes notice
- The statement overshadowed Charles and Camilla’s tour in the Middle East
- Finding Freedom claims that Prince Charles was left ‘disappointed’ by the move
Prince Charles was left ‘crushed’ when Harry confirmed Meghan Markle was his girlfriend – as it overshadowed an official tour of the Middle East.
The besotted prince rushed out a statement in November 2016 attacking the ‘racial undertones’ of articles about Suits actress Meghan, giving his father and his staff just 20 minutes notice, a biography of the couple claims.
The extraordinary press release detailing claims of ‘abuse and harassment’ made headlines around the world and eclipsed ‘critical’ visits his father and the Duchess of Cornwall were making on behalf of the Government, the biography, Finding Freedom, says.
The Mail understands the move was considered by those on the trip as unforgivably rude and an appalling breach of protocol, particularly given the importance of the visit for Britain in terms of diplomatic relations, as well as economic, cultural and charity ties.
Prince Charles was left ‘crushed’ when Harry confirmed Meghan Markle was his girlfriend – as it overshadowed an official tour of the Middle East
The biography’s authors, Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand, wrote: ‘When Harry decided to make an official statement, the only stumbling block was Prince Charles.
On a diplomatic tour in the Middle East, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall had just arrived in Bahrain to meet the country’s King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa.
‘It was a critical moment that had been in the works for months. A statement from Kensington Palace condemning the Press and, in the same breath, confirming Harry’s new girlfriend would all but eliminate coverage of Prince Charles’s tour of the Gulf.’
The biography of the Sussexes goes on to say: ‘The Palace decided to go ahead with the statement nonetheless, much of which was drafted by Harry himself.
Sure enough, as soon as Harry put out his declaration, the statement dominated the news cycle.
The move left Charles ‘disappointed’ according to the book, which also claims the heir to the throne ‘understood’ the situation with Meghan had ‘reached a tipping point’
The team at Clarence House, which had spent months putting together Prince Charles’s tour in the hopes that it would be covered significantly, was crushed.’
The move left Charles ‘disappointed’ according to the book, which also claims the heir to the throne ‘understood’ the situation with Meghan had ‘reached a tipping point’.
It adds: ‘Harry had felt the need to prioritise the woman he loved over duty to the greater Royal Family.’
Harry’s statement – much of which he wrote with then-press secretary Jason Knauf, read: ‘His girlfriend, Meghan Markle, has been subject to a wave of abuse and harassment. Some of this has been very public – the smear on the front page of a national newspaper; the racial undertones of comment pieces; and the outright sexism and racism of social media trolls and web article comments.’
The writers who peddle royal gossip to America
Exclusive access: Omid Scobie
OMID SCOBIE started his career on the celebrity magazine Heat before moving on to cover the royals. He is now Royal Editor at Large for Harper’s Bazaar.
Born to a Scottish father who runs a marketing agency and an Iranian mother who works in child welfare, he said he left Heat after an executive called him a ‘Paki’.
He is a royal contributor for Good Morning America and host of ABC’s royal podcast, ‘The Heir Pod’.
Mr Scobie has boasted of his exclusive access to the couple. He is described in the blurb for the book as ‘an authoritative voice on the lives and philanthropic endeavors of the Royal Family’s younger members and maintains strong access to the Sussexes’ working world’. There was confusion over his age at the weekend after he told Times feature writer Andrew Billen he was 33. Public records suggest he is 39. He failed to respond to a request for comment.
Vocal supporter: Carolyn Durand
CAROLYN DURAND, an American, has spent 18 years working in London covering the royals for The Oprah Magazine, Elle Magazine and other American and British news outlets.
She also worked for ABC News in London and knew Mr Scobie from royal events. Miss Durand, who describes herself as a ‘journalist, producer and storyteller’ is said to have approached him about writing a book two years ago at the time of the couple’s wedding.
Miss Durand has also been vocal in her support for the couple.
Asked if Meghan joining the Royal Family was ‘doomed to failure’ she said: ‘I wouldn’t say that they’re doomed to failure. I’m not sure that that’s accurate.
‘I think in five years or ten years we can maybe make a more accurate judgment on where things stand and if this is the right thing for Harry and Meghan and the right thing for the Royal Family.’