A contentious new documentary about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, named ‘Harry – The Lost Prince’, is due to be broadcast on Germany’s ZDF network next month, reigniting discussions about the pair’s position within the British monarchy.
The film, directed by acclaimed filmmaker Ulrike Grunewald, will debut on December 3 at 8:15 pm, with exclusive insights into the Duke and Duchess of Sussex promised.
The documentary delves into Prince Harry’s struggles within the Royal Family following his decision to step back from royal duties. It also explores his ongoing search for a meaningful role and the broader impact of this on the British monarchy, the Express reports.
According to ZDF, the show examines how the Royal Family is grappling with significant changes post-Megxit, including the death of the late Queen and challenges such as King Charles and Princess Kate’s cancer diagnoses.
In promoting the prime-time special, ZDF states: “The Royal Family has to deal with difficult developments and regroup after ‘Megxit,’ the death of the Queen and Charles and Kate’s cancer. What role will Harry play in the future?”
The description continues: “Even in his self-imposed exile in Montecito, California, he remains a figure of public interest. His commitment to charitable organisations – such as the Invictus Games he founded for wounded servicemen and women – always puts him in the spotlight”.
The book also discusses Prince Harry’s transition from a beloved royal to a contentious figure: “King Charles’s second-born, once the Windsors’ most popular royal for a time, is now a controversial figure.
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“He has always struggled with his role as a ‘reserve’. Paparazzi and the tabloids are a constant annoyance. Moreover, his revelations in recent years have stirred up significant family drama.”
The book delves into the public’s divided opinion on Harry, 40, and Meghan, 43, with younger audiences seeing Harry as a modernising influence while more traditional or conservative circles view him as a threat to the monarchy.
The network adds: “Old versus young, traditional versus modern – the family conflict in the House of Windsor mirrors the debate about the future of the British monarchy and its societal value.”
Grunewald, the director of the documentary, shared further insights into the project exclusively with Express.co.uk earlier this year. She stressed that the film examines some of the most contentious moments in recent royal history.
She stated: “Harry – The Lost Prince will delve into one of the most heart-wrenching periods of the Royal Family since Edward VIII’s abdication in 1936”.
Grunewald added that damaging revelations about the monarchy come directly from the Sussexes themselves: “The most damaging allegations can only come from within. Revelations that shock the Royal Family only come out of Prince Harry’s or Meghan Markle’s mouths.”
The documentary casts a critical eye on Meghan Markle’s shifting public image. Grunewald commented: “She [Meghan] might be embarrassed about the amount of criticism she now gets even in communities that used to back her after the decision to leave the Royal Family as a working member.”
She observed that while some associated with Prince Harry’s Invictus Games have raised questions about Meghan’s involvement and approach, others maintain optimism regarding the couple’s promise.
“At the moment it is hard to see any big achievement of their Archewell Foundation, which claims to work for the improvement of communities. But there are still voices who see the high potential of the couple not only for the British monarchy but also for a liberal society.”
The film also delves into Meghan’s attempts to address issues of racism and her personal experiences within the royal household amid American political discourse.
Reflecting on the late Queen’s stance, Grunewald noted: “I begin to understand the late Queen’s verdict that you can’t be ‘half in and half out.'”
In preparation for the documentary, Grunewald’s team conducted thorough research, including filming in California where Harry and Meghan reside with their children, Prince Archie, five, and Princess Lilibet, three.
Their investigations also took them to New York to interview individuals close to the Sussexes. The creators of ‘Harry – The Lost Prince’ are recognised for their investigative work on the British Royal Family, having previously released a feature on ‘Princess Kate and The Drama of the Windsors’.
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