PRINCE Harry and Meghan Markle’s fly-on-the-wall documentary is expected to hit our screens next week.
But exactly what viewers can expect from the highly-anticipated £88million series remains to be seen.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry in New York in September 2021
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex previously promised to offer an insight into their “love story” on the show.
And former actress Meghan teased her fans by vowing to share parts of her life she has never been able to before.
But beyond that, royal watchers will be in for a surprise come December 8.
What we do know, however, is that the programme has had its fair share of controversy and could well upset members of the Firm.
Not a reality show
The Sussexes have stayed tight-lipped about the format of their documentary, directed by Liz Garbus.
Despite being pipped as a fly-on-the-wall series, the duchess has rubbished claims it could be a Keeping Up With the Kardashians-style show.
During an episode of her podcast Archetypes, she told the executive producer of the Real Housewives she would never be involved in such a project.
Meghan admitted being a Housewives fan but said she stopped watching when her own life had just as much drama.
Andy Cohen asked if she would consider appearing on the programme, to which she replied: “So you mean really this is my audition for the Real Housewives of Montecito?”
He then joked the Suits star wouldn’t need to audition because he would build the show around her.
But Meghan snapped back: “No, there will be no reality shows.”
But a ‘love story’
Very little is known about the content of the docuseries, but, in an interview with The Cut, the 41-year-old said it would focus on the Sussexes’ “love story”.
When asked about what people should expect, Meg said: “The piece of my life I haven’t been able to share, that people haven’t been able to see, is our love story.
“I hope that is the sentiment that people feel when they see any of the content or the projects that we are working on.”
She also told Variety magazine: “It’s nice to be able to trust someone with our story – a seasoned director whose work I’ve long admired – even if it means it may not be the way we would have told it.
“But that’s not why we’re telling it. We’re trusting our story to someone else, and that means it will go through their lens.”
Royal-free zone
It is highly unlikely any other members of the Royal Family will make an appearance.
Meghan and Harry, who quit the Firm for life in the States, were banned from bringing Netflix cameras to any of the public elements of the late Queen‘s Platinum Jubilee celebration when they flew over in June.
And no camera crews were allowed at Her Majesty’s funeral in September, or during the period of mourning that followed.
The couple are, however, expected to discuss members of the Firm, including King Charles, Camilla and Prince William, as they did during their explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey.
Invictus Games
As it wasn’t a strictly royal visit, a team from streaming giant Netflix, with which they have a £113million deal, followed Meghan and Harry at the Invictus Games in The Hague, Netherlands.
The 30-strong crew got exclusive behind-the-scenes footage for a special Invictus series, but some clips may well appear next week.
New York trip
The couple were also spotted with a videographer in New York, sparking rumours they were recording their work there.
A cameraman closely followed the California-based pair around the city and even ran ahead of them for the perfect shot before they toured the 9/11 Memorial, according to Page Six.
Harry and Meghan also brought photographer Matt Sayles to capture key moments on their visit to the Big Apple in September last year.
Elsewhere, the prince appeared to be miked up at restaurant Melba’s, and eagle-eyed fans spotted a similar wire during a reading of Meghan’s book in Harlem.
Controversy
Whatever the show entails, it is bound to get people talking.
Netflix is already facing criticism over series five of The Crown, which came out on November 9.
Bosses have been blasted for “inventing” scenes of a younger Charles trying to oust the Queen.
And the show came 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 Sussexes are understood to have wanted to push back the release of their own series to 2023 amid the backlash.
But execs reportedly want to plough on and stick to the plan.
Royal commentator Angela Levin believes it’s because they simply want better ratings.
Speaking to The Celeb Report, she said: “I suspect the date is what Netflix wanted, maybe because it will have allowed royal fans to have finished up watching The Crown.
“Season five came out on November 9 so it means the new show is coming out exactly a month later.
“It means fans will have been able to watch two episodes a week of the crown and have the whole season wrapped up just before Harry and Meghan’s show comes out.”
Author Phil Dampier added: “They will have been taking financial considerations and looking at when to put it out for maximum impact and ratings.
“They will also have thought about how people watch a lot of TV before and around Christmas.”
A film crew following the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in The Hague
The Sussexes’ documentary is due out next week
