The Royal Family have been urged to brace themselves, as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's new Netflix documentary hits screens worldwide next week.
It comes as Prince William and Kate Middleton head back to the UK following a US Earthshot visit - with the Prince of Wales equipping himself for crisis talks with King Charles III over the show, set to air Thursday.
One source who is in contact with a Netflix production insider has dubbed the show 'very damaging' and 'utterly explosive'.
Read more: Piers Morgan criticises Harry and Meghan for 'kiss and tell' Netflix series after trailer release
The Mirror reports that the source, said: “I genuinely think it’s going to be worse than the royals can imagine. I’m told that it’s going to be utterly explosive and will be very damaging.”
The fuse was ignited earlier this week after a minute-long trailer for the show landed on YouTube, while the Prince and Princess of Wales embarked on a three-day trip to Boston, ahead of last night's Earthshot Prize ceremony.
However, as the couple began championing new efforts to conquer global warming, Harry and Meghan began turning up the heat on the Royal Family - with a sneak peak into what they describe as the inside story of why they stepped down.
The teaser went online during the second day of the Wales’ high-profile US trip. In black and white clips, intimate moments between Harry, 38, and Meghan, 41, were shared – from the pair kissing on the kitchen counter and joking around in California, to new footage of their wedding day.
Cameras then show a tearful Meghan on the phone and an image of the Princess of Wales looking stern - strongly suggesting Kate will not be painted in a positive light.
“No one sees what’s happening behind closed doors,” says Prince Harry, who then brings children Archie, three, and Lilibet, one, into the mix with: “I had to do everything I could to protect my family.”
Meghan, also adds at the end: “When the stakes were this high, doesn’t it make more sense to hear our story from us?”
Within hours the timing of the trailer’s release had been described as a 'declaration of war' by royal commentators. The insider told The Mirror that the series could even spark a groundswell of support for Harry, who moved to Hollywood with his wife in 2020.
Our source, added: “A lot of people are either pro-Sussex or pro-William and Kate, but there’s a belief that this documentary will bring people onside with Harry and Meghan. The big question is that, whatever the revelations are, who will people side with after seeing the show. It has that feeling like the public will have to choose.
“Whatever comes out, some people will think that Harry is betraying his family and that it’s unforgiveable. But if what finally airs is as seismic as we’re led to believe then it may be good for the Sussexes. There’s been some talk the documentary has been toned down but at the moment that’s wrong.”
Meanwhile William and Kate, both 40, were heading home yesterday after celebrating the success of the second annual Earthshot Prize awards and handing out five prizes of £1million each to entrepreneurs and innovators ‘spearheading groundbreaking solutions to repair and regenerate the planet’.
The couple are understood to have left on a British Airways flight which took off shortly after 9pm local time in Boston on Friday night.
Royal insiders say William is ready to discuss the coming series with his father King Charles, with the two men expected to put on a 'united front' in launching any potential response to Harry and Meghan’s TV show. Senior palace officials working for the King and Prince of Wales will watch the first three episodes going out on Thursday to ensure swift action can be taken if needed.
A royal source said: “The actual working royals are as ever focused on carrying out their duties and raising the profile of people doing amazing things in our communities as the public expects them to do, not doing things got their own personal gain.
“What we’ve seen in Boston and projects like the Earthshot Prize these past few days is exactly this in action.”
Buckingham Palace and the Sussexes were approached for comment.
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