August M
A fresh wave of criticism has hit Prince Harry and Meghan Markle after the release of their latest Netflix docu-series, which debuted three months after the late Queen’s death.
The programme has ignited debate among royal supporters, who argue it undermines Elizabeth II’s decades-long commitment to the Commonwealth.
The Express reports that contributors featured in the series put forward stark assessments of the institution, prompting accusations that the couple allowed a “direct hit” on the late monarch’s legacy.
A contested portrait of the Commonwealth
According to The Express, commentators interviewed for the show describe the Commonwealth in deeply critical terms. Afua Hirsch calls it ‘Empire 2.0,’ while academic Professor Kehinde Andrews argues that ‘it’s not changed a thing
Andrews adds: “If you look at the black people in the Commonwealth, well their conditions are almost just as bad as they were 50 or 100 years ago.”
Other speakers frame the organisation as “a privileged club of formerly colonized nations” and an economic structure that keeps countries “intergenerationally poor.”
The documentary intercuts these remarks with archival footage of the Queen’s 1947 broadcast to the Empire and her 2018 speech at the Commonwealth summit.
Former insiders voice alarm
Several individuals with ties to the Royal Household expressed dismay over the commentary.
‘One former adviser called the remarks “shocking,” saying the tone “goes to the root of attacking her legacy.” They added: “They have obviously held off from attacking her in any way.”
Another insider described the moment as ‘unexpected,’ arguing that the programme mounted ‘a full-scale attack on not just the Commonwealth, but the Queen’s association with the Commonwealth. It’s an attack on her life’s work,’ as cited by The Express
Release strategy and narrative framing
According to The Express, Netflix has confirmed the series will roll out in two stages: the first three episodes landed on December 8, with the final instalments arriving on December 15
The trailer — just over a minute — features Harry stating that “no one sees what happens behind closed doors” and, regarding the couple’s 2020 departure from royal duties, that “I had to do everything I could to protect my family.”
The show also includes brief appearances by the couple’s two children, reflecting their life in California after stepping back from their roles less than two years after their Windsor wedding.
Sources: Express.
