Meghan and Harry's biggest 2023 bombshells from split rumours to royal race row
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have had quite the year after finding themselves thrown into the middle of a number of royal controversies.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex kicked off 2023 with a string of negative headlines following the release of their bombshell Netflix docuseries, Harry & Meghan, in which they made a number of shocking claims about life inside the Royal Family. Things didn't get any better when Harry released his debut memoir Spare. Harry took no prisoners in the book and took aim at almost every member of the Royal Family. The Duke of Sussex alleged his brother Prince William "knocked me to the floor" during a physical altercation and claimed his father King Charles didn't hug him following the death of his mother Princess Diana.
Meghan and Harry were also surrounded by split rumours throughout the year and have recently found themselves at the centre of a royal race row following the release of Omid Scobie's new book Endgame. Here, we've taken a look back at some of the couple's most bombshell moments from 2023.
Shocking Spare claims
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Spare was released in January (Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images)Prince Harry started the year by releasing his debut memoir Spare. In the highly-anticipated autobiography, the Duke of Sussex issued a number of attacks on various members of his family. It also explored Harry's own life from his very public childhood, to the death of mum and his teenage struggles with drugs and sex.
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Harry laid bare his relationship with his brother and claimed the Prince of Wales pushed him to the floor during a row at his Kensington Palace home. Harry's necklace was ripped and he landed on the dog's bowl, which cracked under his back and cut into him, during the alleged incident.
He also claimed William and his wife Princess Kate encouraged him to wear a Nazi costume to a fancy dress party, which sparked outrage in 2005. Harry then opened up about his time in the military and admitted to killing 25 people in six missions while on his second year of Afghanistan.
The Duke of Sussex allegedly took cocaine aged 17 on a hunting party and claimed to have taken more since. However, Harry said in Spare that "it wasn't much fun". He also wrote about his experiences taking psychedelic drugs.
In the memoir, Harry revealed he lost his virginity to an older woman in a field behind a busy pub. His mature lover liked "macho horses" and treated him "like a young stallion".
Spare divided opinions among readers. When it was released in January 2023, the book broke the Guinness World Record for the fastest-selling non-fiction book of all time. However, sources claimed the reaction among family and friends caused Harry to feel "shunned".
The book also became considered as the "most discarded" book of the summer with readers abandoning their copies in hotels and resorts across Europe. According to On the Beach, hotels and resorts across Spain, Turkey, and Greece had so many copies turn up in their lost and found bins that they didn't know what to do with them.
South Park skit
South Park created characters coined 'The Prince and Princess of Canada' (South Park)On February 15, South Park released an episode titled The Worldwide Privacy Tour. The show mercilessly mocked Meghan and Harry as they were depicted as the "Prince and Princess of Canada". The title of the episode was a reference to repeated claims the Sussexes made about wanting more privacy whilst doing a number of high profile interviews.
On the cartoon, the royal couple, who looked and dressed like Harry and Meghan, stormed out of an interview after the host said: "Isn't it true, sir, that your questionable wife has her own TV show and hangs out with celebrities and does fashion magazines? Well, I just think some people might say that your Instagram-loving b**** wife actually doesn't want her privacy."
Meghan was also described as a "sorority girl, actress, influencer, and victim". Following the episode, there were some reports claiming the Sussexes were considering legal action, however, their spokesperson released a statement saying the claims were "baseless and boring".
The couple faced criticism for releasing a statement on the claims. Leading PR expert Andy Barr told The Mirror at the time: "Dare I suggest that they should take a leaf out of the Royal Family's PR book and remain silent."
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Frogmore Cottage eviction
King Charles evicted Meghan Markle and Prince Harry from Frogmore Cottage (Getty Images)King Charles evicted Harry and Meghan from Frogmore Cottage in March, before offering the property to Prince Andrew. Frogmore, which is in Windsor, Berkshire, has five bedrooms and a large garden.
The Sussexes finally handed back the keys to Frogmore Cottage at the end of June. Their remaining possessions were then shipped to their home in Montecito, California.
Meghan and Harry spend £2.4million renovating the property just four years ago. Harry repaid the money spent on the makeover to taxpayers.
New York car chase
Meghan received an award at Ms Foundation's Women of Vision Awards. (Getty Images Ms. Foundation for Women)
Harry accompanied his wife to the ceremony (Getty Images Ms. Foundation for Women)Meghan received a prestigious award at Ms Foundation's Women of Vision Awards in May, where she was accompanied by her husband Harry and mother Doria Ragland. Following the event, the Sussexes released a statement saying they were involved in a "near catastrophic car chase" involving their yellow cab taxi and US paparazzi.
In a statement, the prince's spokesperson said the "relentless pursuit" lasted more than two hours by half a dozen vehicles. They added it resulted in near collisions with other drivers on the road, pedestrians and police officers. The couple were said to be "extremely upset and shaken". At the same time, Meghan's mother was particularly "terrified" by the ordeal.
It is understood that Harry and Meghan believed the pursuit could have been fatal, as they said it involved six blacked-out vehicles with unidentified people driving recklessly and endangering the convoy and everyone around them. A member of Harry's security detail involved in the chase said the pursuit left the Prince and his wife "scared" and "exhausted".
A spokesperson for the Duke and Duchess said at the time: "Last night, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and Ms Ragland were involved in a near catastrophic car chase at the hands of a ring of highly aggressive paparazzi. This relentless pursuit, lasting over two hours, resulted in multiple near collisions involving other drivers on the road, pedestrians and two NYPD (New York Police Department) officers.
"While being a public figure comes with a level of interest from the public, it should never come at the cost of anyone's safety. Dissemination of these images, given the ways in which they were obtained, encourages a highly intrusive practice that is dangerous to all involved."
However, there were differing accounts from other people involved in the incident. At one point Meghan and Harry got out of their car and swapped into a taxi in a bid to lose the paparazzi. Describing his experience, the cabbie told the Washington Post: "I don't think I would call it a chase. I never felt like I was in danger.
"It wasn't like a car chase in a movie. [Harry and Meghan] were quiet and seemed scared but it's New York - it's safe. [Photographers] kept following us and were coming next to the car. They took pictures as we stopped and were filming us."
Spotify axe
Meghan hosted her own podcast (Spotify)
The couple's Spotify partnership came to an end this year (Getty)Meghan and Harry's Archewell Audio signed an exclusive $25million (£19million) deal with Spotify as they attempted to be financially independent after stepping back from the Royal Family. As part of the partnership, Meghan hosted the podcast Archetypes which ran for 12 episodes from August last year.
She chatted to celebrities, historians and experts about the history of stereotypes levelled against women. The former actress interviewed the likes of tennis star Serena Williams, singer Mariah Carey, Paris Hilton and actors Mindy Kaling and Constance Wu.
However, the Sussexes lucrative deal with Spotify came to an end back in June. A joint statement from Archwell and Spotify said: "Spotify and Archewell Audio have mutually agreed to part ways and are proud of the series we made together."
Not long after the podcast was axed, a top Spotify executive called the couple "f***ing grifters". Bill Simmons, Head of Podcast Innovation and Monetisation at Spotify, hit out at the pair in an episode of his own podcast.
"The f***ing grifters. That's the podcast we should have launched with them," he said. "I've got to get drunk one night and tell the story of the Zoom I had with Harry to try and help him with a podcast idea. It's one of my best stories."
Split rumours
Harry and Meghan were surrounded by split rumours this year (AFP via Getty Images)Harry and Meghan found themselves at the centre of split speculation back in July, with one source suggesting cracks started to show following the release of Spare. They claimed Meghan had been concerned about the contents of the memoir.
The source said: "Is this the way she would have approached things? Possibly not. But she will always back him and would never have got involved in promoting such a personal project." Speaking to the Telegraph, they added: "This was about his own life, his journey and his own perspective."
Speculation surrounding Meghan and Harry's marriage also grew amid reports they were embarking on their own career paths. It had also been claimed that Meghan was spending a lot of time partying with her friends in Los Angeles, while her husband preferred to remain at home and do his own thing. It was reported that Meghan and Harry were "taking time apart".
However, a friend of Harry and Meghan has hit back at the rumours. "It's not true, it's literally made up," they told Page Six.
Private jet controversy
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been slammed for the private jet trips (Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror)The Duke and Duchess of Sussex flew off on a private jet to enjoy a Caribbean holiday back in October and it didn't go down well with environmental campaigners. The journey came after the couple had attended a conference which warned of how the blight of climate change is damaging children's mental health.
The couple were branded "hypocrites" over their choice of vehicle. Private jets burn more fuel per passenger than airliners and the flights totalled over 4,000 miles with an estimated 9.6 tons of CO2 emissions.
Harry has repeatedly stressed his eco credentials, including to Oprah Winfrey two years ago, saying: "I believe even more that climate change and mental health are two of the most pressing issues we're facing, and in many ways linked." Harry and Meghan launched the Travalyst initiative in 2019 to urge the tourism industry to be more sustainable.
In 2019, the couple faced criticism for taking four private jet flights in 11 days, including to Sir Elton John’s home in Nice, France. And in 2021 Harry boarded a 20-seater plane for a trip home from a polo match in Aspen, Colorado.
A source said the private plane Harry and Meghan used for their Caribbean holiday is owned by a pal. They added that the couple took a commercial flight from California to New York ahead of the conference, before flying home on another commercial flight from Atlanta.
They later flew to a Katy Perry concert on a private jet. Harry previously said he travels on commercial planes “99% of my life” and occasionally needs to “ensure my family are safe”.
Invictus Games chaos
Harry set up the Invictus Games in 2014 (PA)The Invictus Games were said to be thrown into turmoil last month as two senior executives were believed to have been "dismissed for no apparent reason" just over a year before the next event. A whistle-blower told MailOnline that CEO Peter Lawless has left his job abruptly, with the source claiming the decision has left staff morale "at an all time low."
Also leaving the team was Bill Cooper, former Chief Commercial Officer, who left in October. Bill thanked colleagues for their support after several praised his "grace" and accused Invictus 2025 of making a big mistake by getting rid of him.
However, a spokesperson from the Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025 told The Mirror: "The entire team behind the Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025 is focused and diligently working to host an incredible Games in February 2025, welcoming up to 550 competitors from up to 25 Nations. Nick Booth has stepped in as interim CEO in support of our strong local team led by our Vancouver-based Deputy CEO and Chief Operating Officer. Since the award of the bid for the 2025 Games, Nick has been advising the team, and this transition allowed for a continuity of vision and no disruption to the team working to deliver the Games.
"We can confirm that Peter Lawless and Bill Cooper are no longer employees of Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025 and we thank them for their efforts to bring the Games back to Canada. We are delighted that Peter will continue to support the Vancouver Whistler 2025 Games as an Ambassador and CEO Emeritus. There are no budgetary issues relating to the Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025 and the organization is on track to meet its fundraising targets, thanks to a dedicated network of senior volunteers and our government partners."
Endgame's royal race row
Omid Scobie caused a lot of controversy with his book (BBC)Royal author Omid Scobie caused a lot of controversy with the release of his explosive new book Endgame. The book reignited the royal race row after a Dutch translation named King Charles and the Princess of Wales as the two who allegedly raised "concerns" about the skin colour of Meghan and Harry's then-unborn son.
Author Omid recently performed a U-turn and admitted he did name the alleged "royal racists" in an "early" version of his book. The writer said last week that "uncleared text" was provided to a Dutch publisher with plans that a translation "would be updated to reflect the final version of the book".
Dutch publisher Xander Uitgevers said an "error" had occurred which saw Charles and Kate named. Omid went on to repeatedly deny ever having named the royals.
He told the BBC : "The book I wrote, the book I edited, the book I signed off on, did not have names in it." But writing for the i online, he said: "The only publisher I worked directly with was the one covering the US and UK.
"Unbeknownst to me at the time, early and uncleared text was provided to the Dutch publisher for them to start on translation, with the understanding their translation would be updated to reflect the final version of the book I officially submitted." He said versions in other countries "perfectly replicated" the finished work, adding: "The finished book I submitted was not the version published in the Netherlands."
The Royal Family were said to be "united in outrage" after the King and Princess of Wales were dragged into the royal race row. The Sussexes originally made the allegations during a chat with Oprah Winfrey in 2021, but chose not to name the people involved.
When the Sussexes made their explosive allegations on Oprah, in an interview broadcast around the world, they set in train a public debate about who in the royal family might harbour such racially charged views. In a multicultural modern Britain such allegations against the monarchy generated debate on a matter of such public importance with Scobie's new book claiming to add to that public debate.
Wedding snub
The Duke of Westminster is getting married next year
Harry is believed to have declined the invite (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)Harry and Meghan declined an invitation to attend their friend's wedding to avoid an "awkward" encounter with the Royal Family, according to a source. There had been reports that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were excluded from the invite list for the next royal wedding as the Duke of Westminster, Hugh Grosvenor, is set to tie the knot with Olivia Henson at Chester Cathedral in June.
However, a source has now claimed Harry was sent a "Save the Date" card from his close pal. They claimed he declined the invitation due to his ongoing tense relationship with the Royal Family. King Charles, Queen Camilla and the Prince and Princess of Wales will be in attendance at the wedding.
It's believed Harry called Hugh personally to explain it would be "too awkward" for him and Meghan to attend. Harry has been friends with Hugh for years and the Duke of Westminster is godfather to Harry's son, Prince Archie.
"Harry actually got a ‘save the date’ card a few months ago but called Hugh and said it would be too awkward if he and Meghan Markle attended, so he made his apologies and Hugh understood," a source told Page Six. If Harry and Meghan were to attend the wedding, it would be the first time the Duchess of Sussex reunited with the Royal Family since the late Queen Elizabeth's funeral in September 2022.
The lavish wedding ceremony is set to be held at Chester Cathedral on June 7 when the Duke of Westminster will be exchanging vows with his long-time partner Olivia Henson. There had originally been reports that Harry was actually missed off the guestlist by the Duke of Westminster.
A friend of William and Harry's told The Times : "It's incredibly sad it has come to this. Hugh is one of very few close friends of William and Harry's who has maintained strong bonds and a line of communication with both. He wishes they could put their heads together and patch things up, but realises it's unlikely to happen before the wedding.
"He wanted to avoid anything overshadowing the day, especially for Olivia, and doesn’t want any awkwardness." A spokesman for Grosvenor told the publication: "We are not in a position to comment on the guest list."
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