Palace staff are ‘seething’ over trailers for Harry and Meghan’s Netflix documentary and have asked if secrecy clauses can be revoked so they can speak out, sources say
- Members of ‘The Sussex Survivors’ Club’ have asked to speak out, sources say
- Harry and Meghan’s Netflix docuseries released its first episodes this morning
- The Palace has repeatedly denied to respond to the couple’s allegations
Buckingham Palace was under pressure to lift confidentiality agreements on former staff so they can counter claims made by Harry and Meghan in their Netflix series.
Members of the Sussexes’ now defunct household are said to be ‘seething with rage’ over trailers for the six-part documentary, the first three hours of which were due out this morning.
The couple have been shown claiming they had no protection from the Palace and that aides actively leaked and ‘planted stories’ against them as part of a ‘dirty game’.
Now several former employees, part of what the Mail previously revealed to be known as ‘The Sussex Survivors’ Club’, have said they either want Buckingham Palace to respond in full to Harry and Meghan’s ‘outrageous’ claims – or the opportunity to do so themselves.
Members of the Sussexes’ now defunct household are said to be ‘seething with rage’ over trailers for the six-part documentary
In the latest Netflix trailer, Harry says: ‘No one knows the full truth. We know the full truth’
That would mean the royal household lifting the non-disclosure agreements they were forced to sign before either quitting or losing their jobs when the Sussexes walked away as working royals and moved to the US.
One source told the Mail: ‘People are getting utterly fed up of having to listen to them [Harry and Meghan] spouting these claims with their hands tied behind their backs. They want the opportunity to correct them.
‘And if the Palace isn’t going to do that because it is so concerned about exacerbating this war of attrition with the duke and duchess, or because – as we are told – they feel it is wrong for them to speak for former staff, then let them do it themselves. They have plenty to say.’
In the early hours of yesterday, the Sussexes attended a star-studded gala in New York to pick up an award for their ‘heroic stance’ against the ‘structural racism’ of the monarchy.
The couple faced shouts of ‘are you putting money before family?’ and ‘are you harming your family, Harry?’ from the media as they posed for photos on the red carpet.
But the duke ignored the calls, muttering ‘so many questions’, as he was escorted inside. Yesterday The Times highlighted how ex-palace insiders, including a former member of staff who claims to have been bullied by the duchess, were deeply concerned by what the couple might allege in their fly-on-the-wall series.
One source told the newspaper: ‘The danger is that they will be making accusations based on theories they have which are not supported by evidence.’
Buckingham Palace has repeatedly declined to respond to Harry and Meghan’s allegations about their treatment other than to infamously say that while aspects, such as claims of racism, were concerning, ‘some recollections may vary’.
This week aides were keen to keep the focus on a busy week of royal engagements and did not wish to be dragged into a public slanging match with the couple.
The couple have been shown claiming they had no protection from the Palace and that aides actively leaked and ‘planted stories’ against them as part of a ‘dirty game’
But former aides who have seen the trailers have reportedly requested their secrecy contracts be revoked
Since their bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey last year, Harry and Meghan have made several pointed attacks on the Royal Family but failed to go into any detail or provide evidence of their allegations.
But if they use the documentary to make more detailed claims, Buckingham Palace may have no choice but to respond.
In the latest Netflix trailer, Harry says: ‘No one knows the full truth. We know the full truth.’
One former member of staff said: ‘They always use vague terms ‘the truth’, ‘my truth’, but nothing concrete is said.’ Others have been angered by the trailers’ use of footage purporting to depict aggressive paparazzi activity around the couple, likening it to the treatment of Harry’s mother, Diana.
They told the Mail such comparisons with the former Princess of Wales are untrue and ‘dangerous’.
Indeed some of the footage in the trailers supposed to show press harassment of the duke and duchess was shot at completely unrelated events, including a Harry Potter film premiere.
One insider added said: ‘The irony is that it is Harry and Meghan and their supporters who are treating the whole situation like some sort of game.
‘But for the Royal Family, the stakes are high and they are not on a level playing field as they don’t feel that they can answer back.’
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