Harry and Meghan’s new TV show ‘smacks of DESPERATION’, says Queen’s former aide

Plans for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to let the cameras into their home to film a ‘docu-series’ have been branded desperate by a former senior Palace aide. 

Dickie Arbiter, who was press spokesman to both the Queen and Prince Charles, told Palace Confidential that the move appears to contradict the pair’s desire for privacy. 

‘It smacks of desperation,’ he said. ‘It’s a bit rich, two people who left the UK, walked out of the Royal Family, because they wanted privacy, they’ve done nothing else but put themselves up front and a week doesn’t go by when there isn’t some sort of statement coming out of their PR people.’

Dickie Arbiter, pictured, who was press spokesman to both the Queen and Prince Charles, told Palace Confidential that the move appears to contradict the pair’s desire for privacy

The Daily Mail’s Diary Editor Richard Eden says the contents of the proposed show could make the Royal Family nervous.

‘The Kardashians do a reality series, the Sussexes do a docu-series. For any good fly-on-the-wall documentary, you need some tension, you need drama, otherwise it’s just boring. 

‘Netflix really do want bang for their buck,’ he told the programme. ‘What we’re thinking now, will they be bringing Netflix with them for the Jubilee celebrations?’

Reports from the New York Post’s pagesix.com suggest that Netflix is keen for the show to air this year to coincide with the first instalment of Harry’s series of memoirs – for which he could be paid up to £29million – but that the Sussexes want to wait until next year. 

According to Page Six, Harry, 37, and Meghan, 40, have been filming for several months, however it is not known whether they have allowed Archie and Lilibet (pictured) to be on camera 

These commercial considerations show some of the pressures the pair will be under, believes royal correspondent Victoria Murphy.

‘You have two seemingly commercial deals, one with a publisher, one with a production company, presumably there’ll be a level of competition there about stories and content,’ she said.

Meanwhile Rebecca English sends a report from Canada where Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall are touring as part of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations, including a 23-hour working day.

Plus – as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge take to the red carpet for the premiere of Top Gun: Maverick in London, we look back at our favourite royal red carpet moments.

Rebecca English sends a report from Canada where Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall are touring as part of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations, including a 23-hour working day. Pictured, the couple in Ottawa on Wednesday