Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are reportedly keeping a detailed record of their dealings with the Royal Family, with a source claiming the material could become significant if relations deteriorate further. The Sussexes have been quietly documenting communications with members of the Firm, with a source claiming they are doing so for their own “protection”.
Record-keeping for protection
This comes after a series of public developments involving Harry and the Royal Family, including a dispute over accommodation during his recent UK visit and a Palace statement making clear the Sussexes are no longer working members of the Royal Family. A source claimed Harry and Meghan have “learned the hard way” that they need to keep a record of what is said and agreed by members of the Royal Family.
The insider told Closer: “Meghan and Harry don’t want to react to every problem, but they say they’ve learned the hard way that they need to keep a record of what’s being said and agreed to by people within The Firm, because the goal posts constantly change.”
Conflicting instructions from courtiers
The source claimed the Sussexes deal with a number of people within the King’s orbit and said there can be conflicting instructions from different members of staff. “There is so much going on behind the scenes,” they said. “They’ve had some very tricky situations where one courtier has given them instructions, and another tells them to do the opposite, so they say they have no choice but to document everything the way they’re doing - it’s for their protection day-to-day.”
In their 2022 Netflix documentary, Harry and Meghan included footage filmed around the period of their departure from royal life, including Harry recording himself as the couple left for North America. Meghan was also shown filming herself in Canada and speaking emotionally about wanting to “get to the other side” of the turmoil surrounding their departure.
Potential for wider impact
Some of that footage was later allegedly shown to Netflix executives during early discussions about a potential partnership, although the purpose of the recordings at the time of their creation was unclear. Now, the source claimed the material being accumulated by Harry and Meghan could potentially carry greater significance if tensions over their royal status escalate.
“It’s not lost on anyone that this could very easily be used one day for protection on a much bigger scale,” the source said. The insider described the material as having “the potential to be really damaging to the royals”. They added that Harry and Meghan believe the King and Prince William’s teams are likely to keep records of their interactions, too. “They are very open about the fact that they document everything that happens just in case they need to prove something later on,” the insider said.
The claims come as the Sussexes continue to navigate their relationship with the Royal Family from outside the working monarchy. A letter issued to UK officials last week reportedly described Harry and Meghan as “no longer working members of the royal family”, instead referring to them as akin to “private citizens with commercial and charitable interests”. The couple were reportedly “a little bit surprised” by the wording.
Future implications
Harry and Meghan have also faced continuing speculation over their royal titles, with the latest report suggesting that the prospect of further changes could make their detailed records increasingly significant. The source said: “If and when they lose their HRH titles, it will inevitably change things. It seems inevitable they’ll want to fire back, and right now they’re collecting all the ammunition they’ll need.”
