Prince Harry & Meghan Markle's biographer hits back at 'off-the-mark' commentary as pair have 'beautiful love story'
THE author of a Meghan Markle biography criticised commentary surrounding the release of the book, but admitted his work was 'unauthorised and unofficial'.
Omid Scobie, author of Finding Freedom which will be released next week, spoke publicly for the first time to the On Heir podcast after the extracts it were released.
⚠️Read our Meghan and Harry blog for the latest news on the Royal couple.
He said he wanted to 'humanise' the Duchess and said he and co-author Carolyn Durand had spoken to '100 sources' over two years to write the book.
Fundamentally, Scobie said, the book was a "beautiful love story" – adding he felt it was a mistake for the Royal family to lose the couple as working Royals.
But he went onto distance himself from the couple and was adamant it was "unauthorised and unofficial" – adding a lot of commentary surrounding it was 'off-the-mark'.
Calling its publication the "the elephant in the room", he said: "It's been a couple of years in the making.
"We are really used to see Royal sources and palace sources in stories about the duke and duchess," he said. "It was very clear to many that those in their lives were increasingly frustrated by the treatment of the couple.
"We feel it [Finding Freedom] really accurately depicts what went on.
"It takes you from the first days they met."
The book so far has been awash with allegations including that:
- Meghan and Harry felt "cut adrift" and were frustrated at Prince William and Kate Middleton getting the 'plum' jobs
- The former actress moaned she had given up her life for the Royal Family
- Prince Harry compared fronting up to the royal institution to being in front of a firing squad
- The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were frustrated the Queen would not meet them earlier to discuss their demands
Scobie said: "It's unofficial and unauthorised." He added there was "some distance from the couple."
But he was adamant he had historically spent a lot of time with Prince Harry and Meghan, as part of the press pack – of which many media are members.
"I spent time with Prince Harry even before he and Meghan were married," he added.
"I hope it [the book] humanisies the Duchess of Sussex," he added.
"[It's] a beautiful love story [and] allows them to thrive in a space where they weren't thriving before.
The biographers quote Meghan claiming: “I gave up my entire life for this family. I was willing to do whatever it takes. But here we are. It’s very sad.”
And the authors claim the couple grew frustrated when the Queen and Charles refused to bow to their demands for change.
The book says Harry and Meghan even considered driving straight to see the Queen after returning from Canada in January because they had failed to secure an appointment with the monarch.
It was also claimed that the couple were left “with a bad taste”, feeling William and Kate ignored Meghan at the Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey in March — the Sussexes’ final duty as senior royals.
The authors add of Meghan and Kate: “The Duchesses struggled to move past the distant politeness of when they first met.
“Their cordial but distant rapport was apparent when they appeared with each other."
The Sun exclusively revealed their Megxit plans to spend more time in Canada in January.
That led to the Sandringham summit with the Queen which formalised how the Sussexes would step down.
The couple are now living in a rented mansion in LA with their son Archie.
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