Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's team has issued a statement defending their new Netflix series arguing Megxit was not about privacy.
It comes after their explosive series dropped on the streaming platform yesterday and featured many intimate snaps of the couple from key moments of their lives including never-before-seen images and videos of their children Archie and Lilibet.
It led some to question why they would share such personal photos and footage in the show given their decision to quit their roles as working royals back in January 2020.
But the couple's global press secretary Ashley Hansen has hit back, saying their move from the UK to the US did not mean they wanted to lead a more private life.
She told The New York Times: "Their statement announcing their decision to step back mentions nothing of privacy and reiterates their desire to continue their roles and public duties.
"Any suggestion otherwise speaks to a key point of this series. They are choosing to share their story, on their terms, and yet the tabloid media has created an entirely untrue narrative that permeates press coverage and public opinion. The facts are right in front of them".
Among the highly personal moments shared in the first three episodes of the series are photos and text exchanges between the couple in the early days of their romance.
There are also photos from when Harry proposed, video diaries from when they quit the UK and several clips of their children, including Meghan showing Archie a photo of his late grandmother Princess Diana and Harry reading to one-year-old daughter Lilibet.
The statement comes ahead of the release of parts four, five and six, which will land on Netflix on Thursday. The second release date clashes with the Princess of Wales' Christmas carol concert, which will be a tribute to the Queen. Royals are expected to be out in force for the event, putting on a united front amid Meghan and Harry's expected bombshell allegations against The Firm.
A trailer for the second set of episodes suggests the latter half of the series will be even more dramatic than the first.
It starts with a voice that can be heard referencing their decision to "take a step back from their royal duties", while footage plays of the couple on royal engagements followed by a shot of Meghan walking while holding a baby.
Meghan follows on, saying to the camera: "This is when a family and a family business are in direct conflict" - after a snap of Archie's christening is shown.
Harry then says "everything that’s happened to us was always going to happen to us", as images of Buckingham Palace and newspapers being printed flash across the screen.
Meghan adds: "Suddenly what clicked in my head was, it’s never going to stop."
The couple released the sensational statement they would no longer be full-time working royals after the so-called Sandringham Summit between Harry, the late Queen, his father King Charles and brother Prince William.
At the time, they said: "After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution.
"We intend to step back as 'senior' members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen.
"It is with your encouragement, particularly over the last few years, that we feel prepared to make this adjustment. We now plan to balance our time between the United Kingdom and North America, continuing to honour our duty to The Queen, the Commonwealth, and our patronages.
"This geographic balance will enable us to raise our son with an appreciation for the royal tradition into which he was born, while also providing our family with the space to focus on the next chapter, including the launch of our new charitable entity.
We look forward to sharing the full details of this exciting next step in due course, as we continue to collaborate with Her Majesty The Queen, The Prince of Wales, The Duke of Cambridge and all relevant parties. Until then, please accept our deepest thanks for your continued support.”
