It seems like not a minute goes by when Prince Harry and Meghan Markle aren’t the subject of more scrutiny in certain arenas. Whether they’re too loud, too quiet, speaking or being talked about – the latter being the case this week.

This time, the Sussexes are making headlines thanks to a new biography, Charles III: New King, New Court. The Inside Story, by royal journalist Robert Hardman. The biography, which is being serialised in The Daily Mail, offers insight into Charles’ first year on the throne. Naturally, a big aspect of this is his relationship with Harry and Meghan, which was recently bought back into the news thanks to Omid Scobie’s bombshell book Endgame and the royal racism row which ensued. 

From questions over whether the Queen approved of naming their daughter Lilibet to Charles’ reported ‘exasperation’ at Harry, Hardman’s book details several fresh revelations about the Sussexes. This has sparked lots of negative headlines about the couple again – and the couple have also been criticised by Bev Turner on GB News.

Despite stepping back from their roles as ‘senior’ royals in 2020, and even going as far as to relocate and start a new life in Montecito, California, it seems Meghan and Harry are still constantly doubted – which is exactly what drove them to distance themselves from the public eye in the first place. Despite having had their say in various publicity appearances, such as the 2021 Oprah Winfrey interview, the 2022 Harry & Meghan docuseries and Prince Harry’s bombshell memoir, Spare, the couple can’t escape having their story constantly undercut.

Take one of the key revelations to come out of the book about Meghan and Harry’s daughter. According to Hardman, the late Queen Elizabeth was apparently infuriated by Harry and Meghan claiming that she had approved them naming their daughter Lilibet – the late Queen’s family nickname. It was only used by a small number of people closest to the Queen; her parents King George VI and the Queen Mother, her late sister Princess Margaret, her husband Prince Philip, and a few friends. 

In the biography, Hardman writes how one member of palace staff recalled that the late Queen was ‘angry as I’d ever seen her’ after Meghan and Harry said she had been ‘supportive’ of the name. He recounts how the couple subsequently threatened legal action against anyone who, as the BBC had, dared to suggest otherwise, but says that when they tried to get the Palace to support their version of events, the Sussexes ‘were rebuffed.’

At the time Harry and Meghan said they would not have used the name without the late Queen’s blessing, with lawyers even addressing news organisations such as the BBC to drop ‘defamatory’ suggestions. A spokesperson for the couple said at the time, ‘The Duke spoke with his family in advance of the announcement, in fact his grandmother was the first family member he called,’ continuing ‘During that conversation, he shared their hope of naming their daughter Lilibet in her honour. Had she not been supportive, they would not have used the name.’ 

The book also addresses the reported fallout which came about after the Sussexes decided to step back from royal duties. According to Hardman, Prince William was hurt by comments Harry made about Kate. In the Harry & Meghan docuseries, Harry said ‘For so many people in the [royal] family, especially obviously the men, there can be a temptation or an urge to marry someone who would fit the mould as opposed to somebody who you perhaps are destined to be with…The difference between making decisions with your head, or your heart.’ 

According to Hardman’s serial in The Daily Mail, a family friend said this was the ‘lowest of the low’ to Prince William and describes the docuseries as a ‘salvo’ of ‘withering remarks’ about the monarchy and his family. However, Hardman did caveat this with the suggestion that ‘opinions were divided’ over whether Harry was being indirectly negative about Kate and her marriage.

Other revelations in the book centre around Charles’ ‘true’ feelings towards Harry and Meghan. Although Charles was left deeply hurt by Harry’s actions he has reportedly learnt to ‘compartmentalise’ domestic trauma, Hardman claims. And while the King reportedly feels ‘exasperated’ by Harry, he is too preoccupied with Royal duties to dwell on it, according to a friend.

If the past few years have taught us anything, it’s that Harry and Meghan will be criticised whatever they do, whether that’s telling their story, remaining silent, or anything in between. Can’t we just leave them in peace? It seems that there will always be another side of the story to be told when it comes to the rift with the royals.