The long-awaited book detailing the Sussexes' rocky road in the royal family is finally here. Now one of the co-authors of Finding Freedom: Harry and Meghan and the Making of a Modern Royal Family is speaking out on another relationship of interest that the book touches on.
Carolyn Durand spoke with Today about the tumultuous relationship between Prince William and Prince Harry. Frankly, a lot of analysis of Harry's struggles with the royal family has happened in recent years. The public, as well as royal experts, have weighed in on so much. It makes it hard to remember what's an opinion, what's a rumor, and what's a fact when it comes to the two dukes.
Carolyn acknowledges that the narrative about the brothers has taken on a life of its own. So what's the truth about William and Harry? Carolyn's hope is that with this book, she and co-author Omid Scobie can set the record straight.
The distance between Prince William and Prince Harry was hard to hide. Early in Harry's relationship with Meghan Markle, Harry stopped appearing faithfully by the side of William and Kate Middleton. Though the idea that they would be the Fab Four was briefly noted, the uncomfortable energy between the two couples was always palpable to close followers of the family.
British tabloids picked up on it pretty quickly, and the narrative against Meghan was established. Each story that would come out about her latest faux pas or other offensive interests and traits would be a little more vicious than the last.
The undertone was clear. The tabloids were othering Meghan, making sure people knew she didn't belong. After a while, it became hard to discern whether William and Harry were spending more time apart as each grew into their roles as husbands and fathers or if they were really in the midst of an ugly feud.
Finding Freedom co-author Carolyn Durand hopes that she and Omid Scobie have cut through the noise to the truth of the matter in their book about the Sussexes, out now.
"I think that we have attempted to correct a lot of the misperceptions that we've seen over the last several years," she told Today.
"I think that the book hopefully tells their honest story from their perspective."
The book details the relationship between Harry and Meghan from the very beginning. They acknowledge that William was concerned about the speed at which things were progressing.
"He expressed to him, maybe he wanted to take some more time getting to know Meghan," Carolyn explains.
Contrary to popular belief, however, this had nothing to do with a lack of trust for Meghan in particular.
"It wasn't because people didn't trust Meghan. This was simply because the boys had watched out for each other since they were young children," she added.
Whatever the exchange was, Harry was hurt. He talked to his brother less in the time after the conversation. After he married Meghan, that distance between them grew. The decision to step down as senior royals certainly furthered matters along, as well.
What Carolyn and Omid want to make clear is that these emotions didn't come from a place of anger.
"It was hurt," Carolyn points out. William was hurt that Harry wouldn't take what he said to heart. Harry was hurt William couldn't trust his judgment.
Things have made a turn for the better in the time since, however. Prince Charles coming down with COVID-19 was certainly a huge concern for both William and Harry. That, coupled with concerns for Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip due to their age, has brought the entire family closer together.
"Like in any family, there have been some ups and downs, but the brothers are making their way back to each other," Carolyn notes.
"And that will take some time." Distance does help heal some wounds, so it may be easier to get back now that the dust around the situation has settled, in many regards.
Carolyn and Omid spoke with more than 100 sources for Finding Freedom. They did not speak to Harry and Meghan directly, but they have covered them for some time as journalists. Fellow royal expert Victoria Arbiter told Today she believes the book has an air of the Sussexes' influences.
"There were a lot of very personal texts that are mentioned in this book, personal feelings, personal accounts that really only could've come from Harry and Meghan," Victoria says.
"So though not directly, there's a suggestion here really that their friends were given permission to talk," she explained.
"I don't think anyone that's a close friend to Harry and Meghan would want to talk without permission, so yes, I say that Harry [and] Meghan's fingerprints are on this, just not directly."
Their biggest focus these days is humanitarian work and taking in the moments with 1-year-old Archie.
"When they do video-conferencing calls with their team and with members of the community, you will often see Archie pop into the camera," she said.
"He's now walking a bit. They're very, very hands-on parents."
