Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Actor Brian Cox says Harry and Meghan’s experiences ‘clearly traumatic’

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will release a tell-all documentary this week about their time in the royal family.

Charlotte McLaughlin
Wednesday 07 December 2022 12:00 GMT
‘Harry & Meghan’: Prince Harry Says Royals Planted Meghan Stories

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Brian Cox said he thinks the Duke and Duchess of Sussex experienced “trauma” while being in the spotlight as members of the royal family.

The 76-year-old Scottish actor, best known for Succession, was speaking at a gala by the Robert F Kennedy Human Rights (RFKHR) organisation on Tuesday night where Prince Harry and Meghan received the Ripple of Hope Award.

The accolade honours exemplary leaders and the pair were recognised for their racial justice and mental health work.

Cox told Good Morning Britain (GMB) on Tuesday: “I don’t know what went on (with Harry and Meghan), but something clearly traumatic went on for the pair of them.

“I don’t think they made it up, I don’t think it’s false. I think it’s true and should’ve been rectified, and it hasn’t.”

In a recent Netflix trailer for upcoming tell-all show Harry & Meghan, the duke can be heard talking about “hierarchy in the family”, a “dirty game”, and warning “we know the full truth” in a trailer for the show.

Actor Alec Baldwin, who starred in 30 Rock, was also asked about the royal couple on the red carpet.

The 64-year-old told GMB he “tends not to focus” on the “allegations of racism” as he is a “conscious” American who realises “racism is everywhere”.

CBS Mornings presenter Gayle King said people should not “judge something they haven’t seen” when talking about the upcoming six-episode series.

King, 67, added: “I thought Meghan said it very well in the trailer. She said: ‘Shouldn’t people hear our story?'”

In the first trailer, Harry said: “I had to do everything I could to protect my family,” before Meghan is seen appearing to wipe away tears.

The duchess then said: “When the stakes are this high, doesn’t it make more sense to hear our story from us?”

Billed as a Netflix global event, the streaming giant has promised an “unprecedented and in-depth documentary series” where Harry and Meghan “share the other side of their high-profile love story”.

It features commentary from friends and family, most of whom have never spoken publicly before about what they witnessed according to Netflix, and historians who discuss the state of the British Commonwealth today and the royal family’s relationship with the press.

The director is two-time Academy Award-nominated and Emmy-winning director Liz Garbus.

Harry and Meghan signed lucrative deals – thought to be worth well over £100 million – with Netflix and Spotify after quitting the monarchy and moving to the US.

Harry & Meghan airs on December 8, with the second volume to be released on December 15.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in