Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s holiday with George Clooney

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle joined George and Amal Clooney at their Italian villa in Lake Como to relax by the pool and explore on motorbikes shortly after their wedding, according to the authors of new biography Finding Freedom.

Authors Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand claim the couple weren’t the only royal guests invited to stay at the A-list couple’s luxurious home – estimated to be worth £100million – because their visit overlapped with Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank’s stay, too. 

The bombshell book, which is out today, tells how that George Clooney, 59, arranged for Harry, 35, and Meghan, 39, who tied the knot at St George’s Chapel in Windsor on May 19, 2018, to fly from London to Lake Como on his own private jet in the early evening of August 16.

The newlyweds then arrived into Milan’s airport, and from there were driven in an unmarked car to George and his human rights barrister wife’s Villa Oleandra.

During the three-day visit, a source said, ‘Meghan and Amal spent a lot of time relaxing by the pool and playing with the twins while George and Harry checked out George’s motorbike collection. Harry took one of them out with one of his protection officers. George recently had an accident, so he wasn’t back on his bike yet.”

‘The duke and duchess weren’t the only guests that weekend. Eugenie and her fiance, Jack Brooksbank, were already at the villa when Harry and Meghan arrived, their visits overlapping briefly.’

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex claim they were not interviewed for the book and did not contribute to the tale by authors Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand, which provides a high level of personal detail and a dramatic account of the events leading up to the Sussexes’ departure from royal life.

But Scobie said today that while they did not interview the couple, ‘many’ friends gave them insights – providing ‘a lens to the couple through their friends and their circle of aides’.

Palace insiders have described the book as ‘score settling’ after Harry and Meghan left the Royal Family for a life in Los Angeles – after suddenly announcing their intentions in January in a move that left The Queen ‘hurt’.

It is one of a number of revelations made in the book. Among the fresh revelations in the book are:

• Meghan’s classmates thought she was ‘fake’ because ‘it was impossible for anyone to be that “perfect”‘
• Meghan Markle felt she was being asked to serve her son on a silver platter’ after row over private christening Harry and Meghan didn’t want a live-in nanny and lots of staff because they ‘had seen that situation at Prince William’s home 
•  Princess Eugenie was upset Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced the pregnancy at her wedding
• Meghan Markle formed such a close bond with Prince Charles that she considers him her ‘second father’;
• Meghan’s first marriage failed because her TV producer husband ‘didn’t like that’ she had found fame, 
• Meghan was often ‘seen carrying binders full of research on Royal protocol’ so she didn’t put a foot wrong;
• The Queen gave Meghan a royal masterclass in protocol and described Meghan as ‘very clever and good’;
• Harry felt he was ‘thrown under the bus’ by aides working for his brother Prince William;  
• Russian hackers stole hundreds of their personal photos in 2018 after gaining access to an online account

The authors went on to claim that the Clooneys, who have twins Alexander and Ella, aged three, had been staying at their twenty-five-room mansion a month before the Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrived.

They had previously hosted an array of high-profile friends – including Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerbe and Stella McCartney and her husband – not to mention David and Victoria Beckham and their children the previous summer.

According to the authors, the villa, which is located in the village of Laglio, boasts an outdoor theater, a swimming pool, and a garage to house the movie star’s five vintage motorbikes. 

They continued: ‘It also included a tennis court, a full gym, huge bathrooms, and a ‘pizza parlor’ complete with pizza oven. The ornately carved ceilings in each room were a talking point alone.’ 

And it seems the high-profile group did everything they possibly could to ensure they had the safest stay possible – and away from the limelight.

‘To maximize security, the group stayed in every night, well fed by rotating chefs,’ the authors claim. 

The book goes on to say Clooney hired the chelf from II Hatto Nero, one of his favourite haunts, to prepare a dinner for 15 neighbours and house guests.

Everyone was seated alongside long trestle tables in the landscape garden,’ it goes on, adding that live music was playing and that the guests enjoyed the party well into the early hours.   

The book goes on to claim that Prince Harry and the Hollywood actor had been friends for a long time before the royal met Meghan Markle and had first connected at a charity event.

‘The two men discovered that despite their age difference, they had a lot in common, including their love of motorbikes,’ according to the authors. ‘George had collections of bikes in Lake Como, LA, and Sonning.’ 

And apparently it wasn’t the first time the Hollywood power couple had hosted Prince Harry and the former Suits actress.

The authors reveal that the Clooneys hosted the Duke and Duchess of Sussex on at least two occasions in Sonning, which was a short way away from the Great Twe Estate in Oxfordshire.   

The book adds that Harry and Meghan brought their dogs with them, and that George and Amal loved to take friends out by the lake.   

‘There, they had a secluded decked area and inside was a lounge decorated with traditional club wood paneling, heavy drapes, dark velvets, plush chairs, and a bar.’

The Duke and Duchess and the Clooneys are understood to be close friends and Meghan and Amal are both said to use celebrity stylist Miguel Perez.

The Clooneys were among the 200 guests who partied the night away at Frogmore House to celebrate the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s wedding earlier this year.

Hollywood heartthrob George is said to have danced with Meghan at the reception.

Clooney, 59, fell in love with Italy and purchased the villa in 2002. At the time, the actor paid £10million (€11.7 million) for Villa Oleandra.

Lake Como is known for its expensive celebrity homes and one of Clooney’s neighbors is celebrity fashion designer Donatella Versace. The presence of the A-lsit actor led to the local council approving an ad hoc regulation to protect Hollywood star’s privacy.

George is known for sharing his multiple luxury homes around the world with friends during special occasions.  

Finding Freedom provides an intimately detailed and personalised version of the events leading up to the Sussexes’ dramatic departure from royal life, with co-authors Scobie and Durand insisting ‘all information in this book has at least two sources’. 

Protective Meghan Markle felt attacked over private christening

The Duchess of Sussex felt she was expected to ‘serve Archie on a silver platter’ by the same people who had ‘been abusing her’, new biography Finding Freedom claims.

Meghan Markle, 39, who welcomed Archie, now 1, with Prince Harry, 35, in May 2019, made sure the christening at Queen’s Chapel in Windsor Castle was strictly private, attended by just 22 guests last July. 

And according to authors Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand, the Duchess ‘didn’t care’ about the criticism she received over keeping their son out of the spotlight, as she felt her role as a protective mother should come first.

Speaking in the book, which was released today, an insider claimed Meghan said: ‘The same people who have been abusing me want to see me serve my child on a silver platter.

‘A child who is not going to be protected and doesn’t have a title. How does that make sense? Tell that to any mother in the world.’

Harry and Meghan released two pictures of the christening to the public on the day, while Prince William, who is second-in-line to the throne, and wife Kate Middleton, had members of the press at the christening of their children Prince George, 6, Princess Charlotte, 5, and Prince Louis, 1.

Some critics claimed the Duke and Duchess of Sussex should allow the public access to the christening, as the monarchy is part-funded by tax payers. 

Senior royals including Prince Charles, Camilla, Prince William and Kate Middleton were among the 25 guests at the intimate ceremony.

The Sussexes released two pictures – one in Windsor Castle’s Green Drawing Room, and a black and white snap of the occasion.

In the main picture, Archie was flanked by three of his proud grandparents, the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall and Meghan’s mother Doria Ragland.

Alongside the two pictures from the event, which only featured close family members, the Sussexes wrote: ‘This morning, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s son, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor was christened in the Private Chapel at Windsor Castle at an intimate service officiated by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby.

The book also revealed details of Meghan’s own baptism ahead of her wedding to Harry, telling how she was baptised into the Church of England ‘out of respect to the Queen’, with a ceremony held at St James’s Palace’s Chapel Royal.

The book also reveals the reasoning behind the couple’s decision not to give their son a royal title.

The new details about Archie’s life were revealed in explosive biography Finding Freedom, which went on sale today +4

The new details about Archie’s life were revealed in explosive biography Finding Freedom, which went on sale today

The authors write: ‘They decided to forgo a title for their son because they wanted him to be a private citizen until he was at an age where he could decide which path he would like to take.

The Duke and Duchess have never revealed their son Archie’s godparents, but rumours have long swirled about who the chosen few could be.

The book confirms that Izzy May is ‘Meghan’s close confidant and also one of Archie’s godmothers and she made regular visits to Frogmore Cottage.’

Izzy, who lives in West London, was introduced to Meghan by mutual friend Markus Anderson, a director at the A-list members’ club Soho House – who arranged Meghan and Prince Harry’s first dates together.

The former Burberry director of communications even attended the Royal couple’s wedding last May.

She was seated in the second row on the bride’s side – in front of Serena Williams, Oprah Winfrey and the Clooneys – perhaps signifying her closeness to Meghan.

Princess Eugenie was upset with wedding pregnancy announcement 

Prince Harry’s close friendship with Princess Eugenie has been detailed in a new explosive biography.

The Duke of Sussex, 35, felt the Queen’s granddaughter, 30, had ‘had always been more than a cousin’ and they were ‘also the closest of friends’, according to Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durant, who wrote book Finding Freedom, released today. 

The royal became one of the first to know of his relationship with Meghan Markle, 39, with the book detailing: ‘Eugenie who’d long wanted to see her cousin settle down and be happy, told friends she loved Meghan and thought she was “just the tonic” for Harry.’

However the decision taken by Prince Harry and Meghan to share the news of their pregnancy at the Princess’ wedding ‘did not go down particularly well’, according to the authors. 

They explained: ‘A source said [she] told friends she felt the couple should have waited to share the news.’ 

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex told close family members the news at the nuptials because it was the last time they saw senior royals before jetting off to Australia for the start of their royal tour.

Just four days later, on their arrival in Sydney, Meghan and Harry announced that they were expecting. At the time Meghan was just 12 weeks pregnant but the couple chose to announce early rather than to have the entire tour overshadowed by pregnancy rumours, which were already swirling.

The Duchess was also ‘already showing’, which would have been difficult to hide.

Russian hackers stole ‘hundreds’ of personal photos

Russian hackers stole ‘hundreds’ of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s personal photos including snaps of the Queen at their wedding in a security breach, according to the bombshell biography Finding Freedom.

The Duke, 35, and Duchess of Sussex, 39, say they were not interviewed for the book and did not contribute to the tale by authors Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand, which provides a high level of personal detail and a dramatic account of the events leading up to the Sussexes’ departure from royal life. 

A source told the authors that the data leak was a ‘wake up call’ for the couple after hackers were able to steal photos taken by wedding photographer Alexi Lubomirski in September 2018, after gaining access to an online account set up to hold photos of the couple.

Among those stolen were unseen photos of Harry and Meghan and the Queen taken at their wedding, some of which were leaked online, though they were dismissed as fake. 

The authors wrote about how the royals’ cloud storage, which contained 200 pictures of Harry and Meghan by Alexi Lubomirski, was hacked by a Russia-based computer programmer on September 2 2018.  

‘Among the stole images were pictures of the couple sharing personal moments during their engagement photo series as well as others from their wedding day reception( including some of the Queen).

The set of pictures also included outtakes and unflattering picture which had been meant never to be seen. The picture, the book explained, were leaked on the photo sharing site Tumblr.

The book went on to say royal fans assumed the picture had been photoshopped, however the incident concerned Kensington Palace, who caught wind of the breach.   

It went on the say that Harry and Meghan were ‘alarmed’ that their files had been hacked so easily.   

Only a handful of the official wedding photographs were eventually released.  

Meghan Markle’s first marriage failed because her ‘brash’ TV producer husband ‘didn’t like’ her newfound fame 

The book also revealed how Meghan Markle’s first marriage failed because her hotshot TV producer husband ‘didn’t like that’ she had found fame, her and Prince Harry’s bombshell new biography Finding Freedom claims.

The book, out today and co-authored by journalists Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand, claims the Duchess of Sussex’s first husband Trevor Engelson, 43, liked his actress wife to be ‘dependent on him’.

It suggests the American couple – who were married from 2011 to 2013 after seven years of dating – grew apart once Meghan ‘found fame’ in US legal drama Suits. 

According to the book, 23-year-old Meghan had fell for husband Trevor when he was an up-and-coming young producer whom The Hollywood Reporter named in its Top 35 Under 35 list in 2009.

But despite dating for seven years, the pair were only married for 23 months because their marriage coincided with Meghan landing a starring role in Suits as paralegal Rachel Zane – shifting the power in their relationship, the authors claim.

The authors wrote that Meghan questioned her then boyfriend was not more supportive of her acting career, even sometimes asking friends about the matter.

The book added Meghan felt Trevor enjoyed her being dependent on him 

‘She felt that he liked her being dependent on him. That was the dynamic of their relationship; Trevor was the dominant character.

‘”He was used to being the breadwinner, the one Meghan needed for introductions in the industry,” said a friend of their early courtship.’

The friend added that after Meghan landed her role in Suits, the dynamic of their relationship was changing, and Trevor ‘didn’t like that’.  

Meghan spending most of her time in Toronto, Canada, for filming while her partner stayed in the US also played a part in the decline of their marriage, according to the book.

By 2013, their visits with one another had dwindled and Trevor attended the Oscars in February that year alone.

He explained that he had only received one ticket, but the duchess apparently questioned if her husband didn’t want to share the limelight.  

Six months later, the couple were divorced – just 23 months after their romantic wedding in Jamaica in September, 2011 in front of 100 family members and friends. 

Their marriage officially ended in 2014 with ‘irreconcilable differences’ cited in their divorce papers.

Trevor has produced films including Robert Pattinson’s ‘Remember Me’ and the Bradley Cooper-Sandra Bullock comedy ‘All About Steve.’

He has since moved on, however, marrying nutritionist Kurland, 33, on May 11 last year, almost exactly a year after Meghan and Prince Harry tied the knot.

Trevor proposed to the multi-millionaire banker’s daughter in June 2018 while on a tour of California’s wine country after dating for a year.

The couple celebrated their engagement with a bash in October that year held at a private home in the exclusive Hidden Hills, California.

Trevor has remained incredibly tight-lipped about his marriage with the Duchess of Sussex. 

Meghan Markle’s classmates used to think she was being ‘fake’ because they thought didn’t think it was possible for anyone to be that ‘perfect’ and well-rounded, biography claims 

Another startling revelation in the book is how overachiever Meghan Markle was often deemed ‘fake’ by her schoolmates who thought it was impossible to be that ‘perfect’, new bombshell biography Finding Freedom has claimed. 

The book, co-authored by royal journalists Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand, reveals that Meghan’s willingness to help others, paired with her incomparable drive, meant her old classmates often thought she was not genuine.  

‘Meghan’s willingness to help others and her drive to excel meant she was often deemed “fake” by classmates at school who felt it was impossible for anyone to be that “perfect”,’ the authors claim. 

They go on to say that Meghan didn’t always know ‘where she fit in,’ which resulted in her feeling she had ‘more to prove.’  

‘Being biracial and not always knowing where she fit in, there was a part of her that just wanted people to see she was great at whatever she did,’ they alleged. 

Her drive to succeed continued on into high school where, the book explains, Meghan ‘joined every club, from the year book committee to the Genesian Playders Theater group.’ 

‘She was voted homecoming queen. A natural performer and someone who sought out praise, Meghan was coming into her own.’

Born in Los Angeles, Meghan was educated at several private schools, starting with the Hollywood Little Red Schoolhouse as a preschooler. 

As a teen, she attended an all-girl Catholic and private institution, the Immaculate Heart High School.

Then, at university, she studied at Northwestern’s School of Communication and joined the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, before graduating in 2003 with a double major in theater and international studies. 

It was during her time at Northwestern that the royal began taking on small roles in RV production – which in turn, kick-started her acting career. 

According to a source, Meghan’s faith also plays a central role in her life, while prayer and conversations with God have got her through the ‘darkest moments.’

The source, who is reportedly a close friend and has often prayed with Meghan, 39, and Prince Harry, 35, claims they have been on a ‘journey of faith together’ during their relationship. 

Meghan saw Charles as a ‘second father’ 

The book tells how Meghan formed such a close bond with Prince Charles that she considers him her ‘second father’.

She is said to have found her father-in-law ‘supportive and loving’ from the moment she was introduced to him. A source told the authors that Meghan doesn’t consider Charles a father in law but a ‘second father’.

Charles had walked Meghan down the aisle at her Windsor wedding when her own father Thomas Markle was forced to pull out due to health reasons.

He had also embarrassed the soon to be wed couple by colluding with a photo agency for a series of staged shots, leading to a rift between father and daughter.

The book says Charles was equally fond of Meghan who a friend of the Prince described as a ‘sassy, confident beautiful American.’

The authors write: ‘Meghan had her own reasons for admiring her father-in-law, who had poignantly walked her down the aisle when her own father let her down.’

At the time, a trusted confidant said Meghan ‘found such a supportive and loving father in Charles, which has really changed her life for the better.’

Not a father-in-law but a ‘second father,’ according to the source.

A friend of Charles’s said that the Prince of Wales had ‘taken a real shine to Meghan. She’s a sassy, confident, beautiful American. He likes very strong, confident women. 

‘She’s bright, and she’s self-aware, and I can see why they’ve struck up a very quick friendship.’

Charles liked Meghan’s energy. ‘The Prince of Wales has always been fond of people from the Arts, like Emma Thompson, who he’s been mates with for years,’ another source said. 

‘Meghan ticks the boxes. Most of all she’s married to his beloved’

The book says Meghan enjoyed a close friendship with Camilla and struck up a close rapport with the Queen with the former actress keen to learn everything about royal life.

They had their first engagement together on June 14th 2018 on a trip to Chester with a source telling the authors the Queen had confidence in Meghan as she is ‘very clever and good at understanding what’s required.’

Writing about the visit authors Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand wrote: ‘The Queen was wonderful, warm, and generous toward the new Duchess,’ a source close to Her Majesty said.

‘She made sure Meghan knew what was going on and made her feel very much at home because it was her first trip.’ Indeed, before the two stepped off the train, the Queen gifted Meghan with a delicate pair of pearl-and-diamond earrings.

Meghan, an avid learner studying all she could on royal protocol, was often seen carrying binders full of research so she didn’t put a foot wrong. She took her new role incredibly seriously. That day was different, though; she was getting a royal master class in training from the Queen herself.’

Meghan left the Royal Family ’emotionally bruised’ after frosty final encounter with William and Kate

Another revelation in the book is that the Duchess of Sussex burst into tears after the ‘raw emotion’ of leaving the royal family hit home on one of her final engagements, following a frosty final encounter with Prince William and Kate.

The authors of ‘Finding Freedom’ revealed that tears flowed as Meghan said farewell to close members of her support team after Harry had joined her at Buckingham Palace following a presentation ceremony.

It was her penultimate royal engagement and Meghan had met with 22 students who had received scholarships from the Association of Commonwealth Universities. Meghan was patron having taken over from the Queen in 2019.

After the ceremony Prince Harry quietly slipped into room 1884 – where the Queen often receives her most important visitors – to see his wife.

His appearance and the reality that ‘Megxit’ was happening led to all Meghan’s pent up emotion coming out, according to the authors.

The authors wrote: ‘After the meeting it was time to move on to the Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey. That was when Harry quietly slipped through the door of the 1844 Room to say hello, and the reality—and the emotions—finally set in

‘Meghan turned around to hug goodbye the last remaining people in the room, including an author of this book. With the state room almost empty except for a few familiar faces, the tears the duchess had been holding back were free to flow.

‘She embraced some of the dedicated team members whose tireless efforts—to promote the couple’s work, launch landmark projects, and deal with the near-daily crises brought on by the tabloids—had come to an abrupt end. ‘I can’t believe this is it,’ she said, hugging one the young female aides she had become close with. 

‘Though Team Sussex was a much smaller operation than the more sophisticated offices at Clarence House and Kensington Palace, in the short space of a year since setting up, they had become like family. 

At the end of the engagement, Harry joined Meghan and gave her a hug before she quickly changed into her clothes for the Commonwealth Service. ‘The last hat for a while, guys!’ Meghan said with a smile, her tears now wiped away.’ 

It was at the Commonwealth service that the frosty relationship between brothers William and Harry and their wives was laid bare.

Kate was said by the authors to have avoided eye contact with Meghan with her husband simply nodding towards Harry.

After the service Meghan booked the first flight to Canada and left the UK ’emotional bruised and exhausted’.

Meghan and Harry would ‘binge watch’ Game of Thrones

Harry and Meghan would snuggle up in a sofa and ‘binge watch’ the TV series ‘Game of Thrones’ as their romance blossomed

The couple also enjoyed watching the hugely popular crime drama ‘Breaking Bad’ and Disney movies such as ‘The Lion King’

The viewing tastes of the royal couple were revealed in the eagerly awaited biography ‘Finding Freedom’ which is published today.

The authors said the couple spent much of their time during the early days of their romance ‘curled up’ in Harry’s modest living room watching TV.

They said they would emerge ‘from time to time’ to visit a nearby cinema in Notting Hill and afterwards grab a bite to eat.

The authors write:’ London was starting to feel like home. On many nights, she and Harry curled up in his modest living room, binge-watching TV (Game of Thrones and Breaking Bad were favourites).

‘They also had the same taste in films. Fans of Disney, they loved to watch movies like Moana and The Lion King.

‘And thanks to the arrival of awards season in the United States, Meghan was also in possession of a stack of screeners sent out to voters and SAG-AFTRA members. Because Meghan was a member, the pair were able to view the year’s best cinema from the comfort of their own home.

‘They emerged from time to time, visiting the Notting Hill movie theatre the Electric Cinema to see Hidden Figures or grabbing a bite to eat.

They had their tried-and-true spots, including Soho House, the site of their first meeting, and the Sands End, a rustic style gastropub in Fulham owned by Mark Dyer. The former Welsh Guards officer—who accompanied Harry on his gap year—had always been on hand to offer the prince advice and support.’

The book reveals that while in London Meghan was able to fly under the radar and make regular shopping trips to Whole Foods in Kensington High Streetin West London.

But with huge press interest in their romance Harry was left ‘angry and shouting’ after a paparazzi photographer captured the couple in a ‘steamy embrace on their private balcony while attending a wedding in Jamaica.

The couple had flown out for the nuptial of Harry’s close friend Thomas Inskip and had purposely booked a secluded room at the Round Hill Hotel in Montego Bay.

As they embraced on the balcony a photographer was able to get his shots – despite Harry being assured all 110 acres of the resort would be closed to the public.

Meghan was also photographed in her tiny swimsuits’ frolicking in the sea with the prince, according to the book.

Harry was ‘apoplectic with rage and told palace aides to make sure the photos were never published.

‘Do whatever needs to be done’ Harry is reported in the book as saying.

The authors continue: ‘In their villa bedroom, Harry was angry and shouting while Meghan was concerned. She more than understood his feelings about media intrusion, how that deep distrust had formed after his mother’s death and had never gone away, bubbling up each time a reporter took their efforts to get a story too far.

‘But she had never seen him like this. In past incidents with the paparazzi, Meghan had usually been able to find the right words to soothe his anger.

‘Often, she was the only one able to calm Harry down when he got into one of his moods. In Jamaica, however, he remained frustrated for days. He was in such a state that even his buddies remarked on his dour mood.

‘Although Meghan had never seen this side of Harry before, she wasn’t put off by it. Instead, she was sad to see him so affected.’ 

The book also details how Harry cut off contact with his friend Inskip after he voiced concern that he was rushing into romance with Meghan.

The pair later got back on speaking terms. 

Harry and William blew ‘hot and cold’ with their father Prince Charles and his 70th birthday photo was a ‘nightmare’

The book also revealed the Prince of Wales’ official 70th birthday photograph with his family was a ‘nightmare’ to plan because his sons blew ‘hot and cold’ with their father.

But the book also comments on how when Charles contracted Covid-19, Harry immediately telephoned his father to find out how the 71-year-old was doing.

Co-authors Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand wrote in the book: ‘The boys can be hot and cold with their father’ disclosed a source, who gave the example of planning the photo session for Charles’ 70th birthday, which they called ‘an absolute nightmare’.

‘Neither William nor Harry made much of an effort to make themselves available’, the source said.’

Charles’ 70th birthday in 2018 was marked by the release of two official images, featuring the heir to the throne sat on a bench with Prince George on his knee, and sat next to him was the Duchess of Cornwall and Princess Charlotte.

Stood behind the prince and his wife were William and Kate, with the duchess holding Prince Louis, and Harry and Meghan.

The book also claims how the relationship between Charles and Harry was more complicated than a traditional father and son bond.

The authors wrote in Finding Freedom: ‘While Charles may be father to Harry, he’s also their boss, and that makes the relationship complex for a number of reasons’, a source added.

‘Charles is extremely focused on his public image, and there have been times Harry has felt that has taken precedence over everything else’, the source said.’

The book looks back over the events of the last few years, from when the couple first met and fell in love, their decision to step down as working royals in order to have financial freedom and the first few weeks of the coronavirus lockdown.

But the relationship between Harry and his father is understood to have moved on from the start of the year when the duke sat down to negotiate with the Queen, Charles and William about his future role.

When Charles caught coronavirus in March, the concern aroused in his son is thought to have brought the pair closer.

The book says: ‘The doctors described the Prince of Wales as in ‘good spirits’ and his symptoms as mild, it was still enough to fill Harry with worry.

‘He immediately called Charles at Birkhall, his Scottish home where he was now quarantined. Harry regularly checked in on his father until he was out of quarantine and recovered – as well as Camilla, who isolated herself as precaution.’ 

Meghan got SAS training 

The Duchess of Sussex underwent SAS training after being sent ‘absolutely terrifying and stomach churning’ threats when she joined the royal family, according to the sensational book Finding Freedom.

She took part in a mock kidnapping and taught how to establish a relationship with her abductors as well as being ‘saved’ from a hostage situation by officers firing fake guns.

The book, which is published today, revealed that Meghan was rushed into her two day training session after she and Harry received a large number of threats when their relationship became public.

A source told authors Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand that Meghan found the experience ‘ extremely intense and scary’.

Senior members of the Royal family such as Prince Charles and Prince William have undergone the training course at the SAS HQ in Hereford.

The authors said Meghan’s took place before she was officially a member of the royal family due to the high level of threats received by Palace staff.

An aide said: ‘There have been some absolutely terrifying and stomach churning threats made to Meghan since she started dating Harry.

‘Unfortunately, they continued for some time.’

The hate mail culminated with security teams intercepting an envelope that was feared to contain the deadly toxin Anthrax.

The authors write:’ While on the outside it seemed to be much like any other piece of mail received by the busy mail room based at Clarence House, this one was filled with racist musings and unidentified white powder.

‘The material feared to be anthrax, turned out to be harmless. At least physically.

‘The night of the incident, though, Meghan barely slept, later admitting to a friend that she worried the incident was her ‘new normal’.

‘A good friend of Meghan’s called her Grace Under Fire, because despite whatever pressure she was under, she didn’t fall apart.’

The bombshell biography also reveals how Russian hackers were able to steal hundreds of personal photos in September 2018 after gaining access to an online account set up to hold photos of the couple.

Among those stolen in the devastating data breach were unseen photos of Harry and Meghan and the Queen taken at their wedding.

While some of the images were leaked online they were dismissed as fake.

A source told the authors the data leak was a ‘wake up call’ for the couple and they improved security.

The authors wrote:’ On September 12 2018, a computer programmer based in Russia managed to hack an online cloud storage account that contained over two hundred unseen photos of Harry And Meghan that had been taken by the photographer Alexi Lubomirski.

‘Among the stole images were pictures of the couple sharing personal moments during their engagement photo series as well as others from their wedding day reception( including some of the Queen).

‘The large set also included outtakes with eyes half closed and other unflattering moments meant for the trash can.

‘The hacker leaked a handful of photos to Tumblr ( photo sharing site) Many fans assumed they were fake, photo shopped images but behind the scenes there was concern at Kensington Palace when they received a tip about the security breach.

‘Harry and Meghan were ‘alarmed to hear that it was so easy to get such personal files of theirs’.

Concern over their safety was also behind the move from rented country home in Oxfordshire to Nottingham Cottage,part of Kensington Palace in London.

A source told the authors pregnant Meghan felt ‘vulnerable’ in the countryside and it prompted their move back into London.

The source said while the area was safe ‘being out in the middle of the countryside, where you don’t know who is out there at night or if someone has managed to sneak nearby’ was enough for them to move out.

Meghan’ faith in God plays a ‘central role’ in her life and has got her through the ‘darkest moments’

Meghan Markle’s faith plays a central role in her life while prayer and conversations with God have got her through the ‘darkest moments’, a source claims in Finding Freedom.

In the hotly-anticipated biography by authors Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand, which is out today, the insider claims the Duchess of Sussex’s ‘spirituality’ saw her gather her Suits castmates for a ‘prayer circle’ before they began filming. 

According to the source, who is reportedly a close friend and has often prayed with Meghan, 39, both she and Harry have been on a ‘journey of faith together’ during their relationship.

The Sussexes, who stepped down as working royals in March after a series of final engagements in the UK, recently moved to a 14-acre estate in the famed 90210 postcode of Beverly Hills after flying from the Vancouver Island they were living on in March. 

Finding Freedom provides an intimately detailed and personalised version of the events leading up to the Sussexes’ dramatic departure from royal life, with co-authors Scobie and Durand insisting ‘all information in this book has at least two sources’. 

Discussing the perceived betrayal of her old school friend Ninaki Priddy, who claimed she wasn’t shocked at all by the news of Meghan’s engagement because ‘she was always fascinated by the Royal Family’, the friend of the duchess told the authors: ‘Part of what helped Meghan get through this difficult time was her faith. 

‘Her relationship with God and with her church is extremely important to her. That’s something most people do not know about her. It plays a central role in her life, as an individual, as a woman.’ 

They added: ‘When I talk about her faith being a big part of her life, it’s her faith in God. It’s her faith in her family. Her faith in the people closest to her.’  

A further source claimed: ‘It’s prayer and conversations with God that have gotten her through the darkest moments.

‘That’s something that plays a significant role in her life and her relationship with Harry. The two have been on a journey of faith together.’

The book also goes on to discuss the duchess’ regular meetings with the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby ahead of her baptism into the Church of England prior to her wedding, with whom she formed a ‘close bond’ according to a royal aide.

Meghan’s family wasn’t overly religious, however she was raised with an ‘awareness of God’, according to the book,

Her mother Doria Ragland was brought up Protestant and her father Thomas Markle became a confirmed member of the Episcopal Church at the age of 14, but Meghan attended a Catholic school for educational reasons.

According to Mr Markle, Meghan was not christened as a child because he and Doria did not share the same faith. A family friend claimed religion was ‘not pushed on her’, but her spirituality is ‘born out of her own individual experience’.

While studying at Northwestern, one of Meghan’s best friends came from a Christian family and the pair would reportedly ‘often pray together while at school’.

This cemented prayer as a tool for Meghan to help her face life’s challenges, write the authors.

‘She used to gather the cast and crew of Suits for a prayer circle before starting work,’ they claim. ‘Her invocations on set were never about a specific theology. Instead, she wanted to bring everyone together during moments of transition or difficulty.’

Meghan’s choice to be baptised before marrying Harry was apparently her choice out of respect for the Queen and a ‘step forward on her own spiritual journey’, according to a friend. 

During her meetings with the Archbishop, the pair would reportedly discuss ‘many personal matters’, including her previous marriage to producer Trevor Engelson, with Mr Welby asking her ‘what she learned from her divorce’.

Speaking about her baptism, one of the 18 guests described the service, held at St James’ Palace’s Chapel Royal in March 2018, as ‘uplifting’. 

Meghan Markle DID take offence to Princess Michael of Kent’s blackamoor brooch that she wore to Christmas lunch and thought it was ‘insensitive’ towards her African American heritage, biography claims

The Duchess of Sussex felt Princess Michael of Kent’s controversial ‘blackamoor’ brooch ‘sent a message’ after the royal wore the jewel to the Queen’s Christmas lunch, according to new biography Finding Freedom.

Princess Michael of Kent, 75, came under fire in for wearing the jewellery to the Queen’s event at Buckingham Palace in 2017, which was the first attended by Meghan Markle, 39. 

The book, out today and co-authored by journalists Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand, claims that ‘in the back of Meghan’s mind, she wondered if there wasn’t a message being sent in the pin of the torso of an African man wearing a gold turban and ornate clothing.’

Finding Freedom provides an intimately detailed and personalised version of the events leading up to the Sussexes’ dramatic departure from royal life, with co-authors Scobie and Durand insisting ‘all information in this book has at least two sources’. 

Princess Michael, who is married to the Queen’s cousin, Prince Michael, could clearly be seen wearing the jewellery on her coat as she drove through the gates days before Christmas.

She was not sat at the same table as Meghan but would have been introduced to her at the intimate, private gathering. 

Blackamoor are a genre of figurines, small sculptures or jewellery which depict largely men, but sometimes women, with black skin usually from the 18th century.

Many will be worth £10,000 or more.

The princess lives in an apartment at Kensington Palace, just a stone’s throw from Harry and Meghan’s cottage in the grounds. 

At the time, Princess Michael was roundly condemned on social media with comments ranging from: ‘Has no-one noticed the blackamoor pin that Princess Michael of Kent is wearing.? Really? Meghan Markle official meets the family and is greeted by THIS?’

Another attacked her for her ‘racist jewellery’, while a third added: ‘I hope the Queen is going to ban this horrible woman from any further gatherings. This woman is an embarrassment to the Royal Family. 

According to the book, the choice to wear the the brooch to the event was ‘at the bare minimum’ an ‘insensitivity to Meghan’s African American Roots and the racism she had encountered since pairing up with Harry.’

The authors write: ‘When it comes to royal fashion, much thought goes into every detail. 

‘Princess Michael’s choice of brooch could have simple been a mistake, but in the back of Meghan’s mind, she wondered if there wasn’t a message being sent in the pin of the torso of an African man wearing a gold turban and ornate clothing.’ 

A spokesperson for Princess Michael said at the time that she was ‘very sorry and distressed’ for wearing the brooch, adding it was a gift she’s worn many times before, without controversy.  

The full statement said: ‘The brooch was a gift and has been worn many times before.

‘Princess Michael is very sorry and distressed that it has caused offence.’ 

However, the authors of Finding Freedom write that Meghan felt ‘the damage was done.’

They write: ‘Regardless, the damage had been done, particularly since the Queen’s purpose had been to make Meghan, who had just moved to England, feel at home for the holidays.’

It was not the first time that the royal, dubbed Princess Pushy, has found herself at the centre of a racist row.

In 2004 she was accused of insulting a party of black diners at a smart New York restaurant by allegedly telling them to ‘go back to the colonies’ in a row over noise.

The princess strongly denied the allegations, claiming to have said she would be ‘ready to go back to the colonies’ during a dispute about noise with the other table.

But she subsequently went on to make a series of toe-curling remarks in a television interview about the incident, referring to African people as ‘adorable’.

Talking of her extensive travels through Africa she said: ‘I even pretended years ago to be an African, a half-caste African, but because of my light eyes I did not get away with it, but I dyed my hair black.

‘I travelled on African buses. I wanted to be a writer. I wanted experiences from Cape Town to right up in northern Mozambique. I had this adventure with these absolutely adorable, special people and to call me racist: it’s a knife through the heart because I really love these people.’ 

How the Sussexes are raising their son away from the spotlight: Biographers reveal Archie enjoys swimming lessons and FINALLY confirm the name of his godmother (and say Meghan Markle can’t help but ‘brag’ about her boy)

The explosive new biography Finding Freedom has shed some light on the life of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s fourteen-month-old son Archie Harrison. 

In one part, the authors describe how Archie became the royal couple’s ‘sole source of joy’ during a period when they felt ‘so much stress in their life.’

The book offers new insights into why the couple decided upon his unusual name, which means ‘bravery and strength’, after dismissing the more traditional Archibald ‘after considering it for a second’.

Meanwhile the authors also reveal a glimpse into the couple’s life with Archie, whom they welcomed last June, including the name of one of his illusive ‘secret’ godparents and the swimming lessons he has taken throughout his short life.    

ECSTASY AT BIRTH 

According to Omid and Carolyn, Meghan felt ‘relieved’ to have her ‘beautiful sweet little boy’ in her arms for the first time.

A source told the authors: ‘Archie was alert as soon as he arrived – eyes wide-open.

‘Meghan described the moment she first held him as “ecstasy…total bliss and contentment.”‘

Meanwhile another confidante of the royal said: ‘Like any mother, you can’t fully know what to expect until you have been through all of it.’

A BRAVE NAME  

Meanwhile Omid and Carolyn write that Prince Harry and Meghan wanted a name which was ‘something traditional, a name that was powerful even without a title in front of it.’

They write: ‘Archie, meaning strength and bravery, fit the bill.’

Meanwhile a friend of the couple revealed ‘with a laugh’: ‘They thought about Archibald for all of one second. He was always going to be little Archie.’

Meanwhile the book also reveals the reasoning behind the couple’s decision not to give their son a royal title. 

The authors write: ‘They decided to forgo a title for their son because they wanted him to be a private citizen until he was at an age where he could decide which path he would like to take. 

‘Meanwhile a source also told the authors how the pair both worried about the day Prince Charles would become king and Prince Harry’s children could inherit titles of prince or princess.’

The couple went on to share their views and ‘concerns’ with Prince Charles, who said he would ‘consider when he became king issuing a new letters patent, a legal instrument in the form of a written order issued by a reigning monarch, that would change this style.’

A source added: ‘To not have a senior role in the royal family but have a title is just a burden.’ 

Meanwhile the couple also sought approval from the Queen before announcing Archie’s name with the authors writing that this was ‘out of respect’ for the monarch.

SHARING NEWS OF HIS BIRTH

After Meghan gave birth, Prince Harry took to texting and calling friends (including Skippy, who he was speaking with more reg at this point) and family with the news.

He started with the Queen and Prince Philip, who were first to hear about Archie’s arrival.

According to the biography, the royal then sent his father and brother texts along with photographs of his new son, before notifying other family members through the special cousins-only Whatsapp group that all royals are a part of.

He also made sure to tell Diana’s family – Lady Sarah McCorquodale and Lady Jane Fellowes and Earl Charles Spencer, as well as Tiggy, whom he wanted to pick as a godmother long before he came a father.

Meanwhile the authors revealed that Meghan’s mother Doria messaged Thomas with the news, which Meghan had asked her to do because she didn’t want him to find out after the rest of the world. 

The authors write that Meghan didn’t want to know whether her father replied to her mother’s text.

A QUIET BOY

After welcoming their son to the world in June 2019, the couple began getting to know their son.

The authors explain: ‘The couple couldn’t quite get over how silent their new baby was. 

‘Meghan told a friend that Archie slept so quietly she sometimes wanted him to make noise so he knew she was okay.

‘Archie had a nursery but also slept in a bassinet in Prince Harry and Meghan’s bedroom.’

PROUD PARENTS

The authors write how Meghan ‘boasts’ to friends about her son, often telling friends about how the little royal is ‘ninetieth percentile for height.’ 

They detail: ‘She eagerly offered to pull out her phone to show some of the many photos she had of her boy.’    

SECRET GODMOTHER REVEALED 

The Duke and Duchess have never revealed their son Archie’s godparents,  but rumours have long swirled about who the chosen few could be.

The book confirms that Izzy May is ‘Meghan’s close confidant and also one of Archie’s godmothers and she made regular visits to Frogmore Cottage.’

Izzy, who lives in West London, was introduced to Meghan by mutual friend Markus Anderson, a director at the A-list members’ club Soho House – who arranged Meghan and Prince Harry’s first dates together.

The former Burberry director of communications even attended the Royal couple’s wedding last May.

She was seated in the second row on the bride’s side – in front of Serena Williams, Oprah Winfrey and the Clooneys – perhaps signifying her closeness to Meghan.

Meanwhile the authors write: ‘ She became one of the few people in the UK that Meghan felt she could trust with ‘anything.’ 

ROYAL NICKNAMES

From the Queen herself to the royal family’s bit-part players including Kate’s sister Pippa Middleton, no-one is apparently safe from a fun-poking moniker.

One of Queen Elizabeth II’s numerous nicknames is indeed Gary, given to her by Prince William in his childhood when he couldn’t correctly pronounce ‘granny,’ instead saying ‘Gary.’

Meanwhile Omid and Carolyn write that little Archie is no different, with his parents oft referring to the little boy ‘Bubba’ or ‘Arch’. 

SWIMMING LESSONS AND BABY CLASSES 

The authors write: ‘Earlier in the summer, Baby Archie started taking swimming lessons (after his parents anxiously looked up videos on YouTube about how babies hold their breath under water).’

Meanwhile they also detail how the little boy ‘loved being read to by his parents ‘ and ‘particularly enjoyed the riddle and rhyme book Is Your Mamma A Llama? by Deborah Guarino.’

Later, the authors write: ‘Like many new parents, Meghan enjoyed taking him to classes, like the Happy Clappy music class in Windsor she brought Archie to by herself in Cotober (protection officers stood outside).

‘All the moms and two dads in the room were wide-eyed as the Duchess of Sussex  joined their circle with Archie who went straight for the tambourine and according to his mom ‘loved it.’ 

ANIMAL NOISES IN AFRICA 

Baby Archie joined the royal couple on their final tour as working members of The Firm, with the authors writing how he continued to grow and learn during the trip.

They write: ‘After the trip he continued to achieve new milestones, including mimicking the sound of animals during their stay at the high commissioner’s residence in Cape Town.

BABY PROOFING THEIR CANADA HOME   

In autumn 2019, the couple decided to take some time away from their royal duty in the UK and travelled to North America.

Prince Harry and Meghan decided to stay aboard for Thanksgiving and Christmas, opting for a mansion on Vancouver Island to spend some well-earned time with their son.

The authors explain how the couple spent time ‘babyproofing’ their Canadian home, despite knowing it was a temporary set up.

They write: ‘Prince Harry and Meghan had done everything they could to make sure it was baby-friendly. Sharp corners were proofed with discreet rubber pads and certain items of furniture moved out of harms way.

‘With the six-month-old now standing and shuffling along the edges of furniture more than crawling, they didn’t want to take any risks.’ 

Meanwhile they also detail how the couple took ‘daily walks with Archie around the wooded landscape and sandy beachfront.’

Finding Freedom author Omid Scobie says Meghan was the victim of ‘racist and sexist tropes’ in Britain and blames the monarchy for Megxit row because Royals refused to accept the Sussexes’ demands

The Duchess of Sussex was the victim of ‘racist and sexist tropes’ in Britain from commentators and royal courtiers who were resistant to change, the author of the controversial new biography Finding Freedom claimed today.

Omid Scobie’s book was finally released today after weeks of revelations from its pages telling Harry and Meghan’s side of the Megxit story.

It offers highly personal insights – although Scobie and co-author Carolyn Durand claim they did not interview Harry and Meghan, and the couple did not co-operate.

They do say, however, that ‘many’ friends gave them details for the book and that every revelation is confirmed by at least two sources.

Scobie said the authors ‘had a lens to the couple through their friends and their circle of aides’ as well as covering the couple’s private and public engagements.

Scobie and Durand have also blamed the monarchy for the bitterness of the Megxit row, saying it was the institution’s resistance to change and refusal to accept Harry and Meghan’s demands that led to the row over their departure from royal duties.

Scobie told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme how he felt Harry and Meghan had ‘clearly tried to do their best to make it work’ before Megxit took place in March.

He added: ‘They even went as far as presenting a potential roadmap for how they would navigate their roles moving forward, and ultimately it was the institution that turned back on them and told them what they had presented just wasn’t an option.

‘And so this is a couple that really wanted to make it work, but ultimately I think the setup of the royal institution just isn’t built for change on that dramatic a level.’

Scobie also claimed that Meghan was the subject of a narrative calling her ‘Duchess Difficult’ amid reports of her disagreements with palace staff.

Among the aides who left the palace in the months after the royal wedding were communications expert Samantha ‘the Panther’ Cohen and assistant Melissa Toubati.

The book claimed the couple had ‘grown dissatisfied’ with Toubati and were ‘not disappointed when she left’, despite a royal aide praising her as ‘hugely talented’.

And it claims the couple were ‘forced to let go’ of their son Archie’s night nurse during her second shift ‘for being unprofessional’, without going into further details.

Senior aides were also said to have been unimpressed by Meghan’s lavish baby shower in New York in February 2019 with ‘what looked like carefully stage-managed paparazzi walks of the duchess in big black sunglasses from her hotel to her car and a laundry list of insider party details’.

Scobie also told ITV’s Lorraine that commentary about Meghan ‘used every kind of sexist and racist trope that we attach to successful women and women of colour’.