New Harry and Meghan book portrays Royal Family as uncaring and dysfunctional
The Sussexes' view that they were "propelling the monarchy to new heights" may be perceived as arrogant and blinkered by some.
Saturday 25 July 2020 19:15, UK
Some have been billing it as Harry and Meghan's side of the story, except the couple's spokesperson insists they weren't interviewed for it.
One thing that has quickly become clear, however, is that the authors have spoken to people very close to the couple, with or without their help - sources who want to get the Sussexes' side across in this most public of family breakdowns.
We knew things were bad between the couple and the Royal Family when this all first blew up; you just had to listen to some of the interviews Harry and Meghan gave, and read the statements they put on their Sussex Royal website.
This book, however, brings a new level of insight into why the couple felt forced out.
Harry and Meghan didn't feel protected, didn't know who they could trust within the royal household, and felt they had no option but to step away from "the vipers" within the palace.
The more you read, the more you get a sense of people wanting to publicly put things straight.
The Royal Family, and especially the Queen, have had to develop broad shoulders when it comes to people trying to delve into their family relationships over the years.
Who can forget the fallout from Andrew Morton's Princess Diana biography.
While this new book doesn't appear to be quite as explosive, the portrayal of the Windsors as being uncaring, dysfunctional and unable to sort out their own family problems without palace aides being involved will, I'm sure, make some squirm.
The royal court doesn't come out of this well, either.
For all the work over the decades to portray the monarchy as a modern institution, the descriptions of the grey suits, claims of leaks, and households briefing against each other give a sense of an old fashioned royal court from another era, an environment some may say is still too traditional for any modern couple to properly thrive.
There is no doubt the Sussexes polarise opinion. Some see the way they've acted as disrespectful to the Queen; others admire them as a forward thinking and inspiring couple.
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For the Royal Family, this will again raise questions about why they couldn't find a way to use their star appeal.
On the other hand, the Sussexes view that they were "propelling the monarchy to new heights" may be perceived as arrogant and blinkered by some.
They may have stepped away from royal duties but, as the Queen made clear in her statement in January, they are still part of the family.
A family, that for the moment, still seems very divided.