Meghan Markle said her and Prince Harry’s royal exit ‘didn’t have to be this way’, new book claims
Authors of new biography about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex recall the couple’s final royal engagement in March
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The Duchess of Sussex said that it “didn’t have to be this way” when she and the Duke of Sussex stepped down from their positions as senior members of the royal family, a new book on the couple has claimed.
Finding Freedom, a biography written by royal journalists Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand, provides an extensive insight into the authors’ experiences working in close proximity to members of the royal family.
The book, which is being released on Tuesday 11 August, documents every stage of Meghan’s involvement with the royal family, from the beginning of her relationship with Prince Harry to the couple’s monumental decision to distance themselves from “the Firm”.
In January, it was announced that the duke and duchess had chosen to no longer represent the royal family as working royals, with their leaving date later set for 31 March.
In Finding Freedom, Scobie recalled the emotional moment he and other members of staff for the Sussexes bid farewell to Meghan on the day of her final solo royal engagement.
The royal journalist said that he and his co-author Durand found it “hard to believe” that this was Meghan’s last outing as a senior royal, describing how sad several of her staff were to be saying goodbye.
“Staff who had been with the couple from day one were mourning the end of what was supposed to be a happy story: two people fall in love, get married, have a baby, serve the Queen, the end. Instead, they were leaving the country,” he said.
“As Meghan gave me a final hug goodbye, she said, ‘It didn’t have to be this way’.”
Meghan and Prince Harry attended their final joint royal engagement on Monday 9 March, when they joined other members of the royal family at the Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey.
In February, the couple revealed their plan to transition away from royal life, sharing a detailed explanation on their website sussexroyal.com.
They outlined that a 12-month review would take place once they commenced their “revised role” at the end of March, adding that the royal family “respect and understand” their wish to live a more independent life “by removing the supposed ‘public interest’ justification for media intrusion into their lives”.
In January, it was announced that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s Buckingham Palace office would be closed.
The couple reportedly “worked closely with their staff to ensure a smooth transition for each of them”, something that was “saddening” for them and their team, they said on their website.
A spokesperson for The Duke and Duchess of Sussex commented on Finding Freedom, stating: “The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were not interviewed and did not contribute to Finding Freedom.
“This book is based on the authors’ own experiences as members of the royal press corps and their own independent reporting.”
The Independent has contacted a representative for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex for comment.
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