NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Lifestyle

Harry & Meghan Netflix doco: How world newspapers reacted

NZ Herald
9 Dec, 2022 10:41 PM3 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Harry and Meghan lay into the British press in their Netflix show and they gave it right back. Photo / Netflix

Harry and Meghan lay into the British press in their Netflix show and they gave it right back. Photo / Netflix

The first three episodes of Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex’s bombshell Netflix docuseries dropped on Thursday night.

While it’s not yet known how many people tuned in to watch the three 55-minute episodes that slammed both the monarchy and the media while simultaneously telling Harry and Meghan’s love story, the docuseries successfully sent ripples through the world’s media.

Arriving exactly three months after the death of Harry’s beloved grandmother, Queen Elizabeth and amid criticism for Netflix’s at times shocking fifth season of The Crown, the docuseries has arrived at a terrible time for the royal family.

The family are yet to respond to the documentary and isn’t expected to until at least the final three episodes are released next week, or even when Harry’s memoir, Spare hits shelves in January.

However, royal sources and royal experts have been speaking to the media revealing Prince William’s fury and how King Charles reacted to the series.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Those conversations, alongside details from the Californian-based royal’s documentary, have landed the front page of countless newspapers all around the world.

The Herald looks at them below.

The Sun’s first edition front page on Friday boldly branded the Duke of Sussex “Harry the nasty” and insisted the show “betrays monarchy”.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

With content covering nearly the entire first nine pages of the paper, the Sun made a dig at the couple by placing the comment “how low can they go?” right beside the headline.

Friday's The Sun - Harry the nasty.@TheSun | #TomorrowsPapersToday | #FrontPages pic.twitter.com/axFv6pa08E

— First Edition (@FirstEdition) December 8, 2022

On Friday, the Mirror’s front page read “Stop This Royal Circus”, and featured a story slamming Prince Harry for “bemoaning” his treatment by the royal family again.

Royal editor Russell Myers also noted in his story that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex “reignited” the war with the royals.

Friday's Mirror: Stop This Royal Circus #TomorrowsPapersToday #DailyMirror #Mirror pic.twitter.com/E7jCjlirJL

— Tomorrows Papers Today (@TmorrowsPapers) December 8, 2022

The Daily Mail’s Friday front page claimed the Netflix series - which is due to release another three episodes on December 15 - is a “direct hit” on Queen Elizabeth’s legacy.

Royal editor Hannah Furness noted that many royal sources found the series to be “deeply offensive” to Her Majesty’s legacy.

Friday's Telegraph: Sussexes' TV show claims are a 'direct hit' on late Queen's legacy #TomorrowsPapersToday #DailyTelegraph #Telegraph pic.twitter.com/MHcxwwjKyJ

— Tomorrows Papers Today (@TmorrowsPapers) December 8, 2022

UK newspaper the Daily Express noted on its Friday font page that the couple had “deeply upset” the royal family with their series.

Many reports have since claimed the royals “hate” Meghan and that Prince William is “furious” at his brother.

Friday’s Express: "So hurtful! Royals 'deeply upset' by Harry's slurs" #BBCPapers #TomorrowsPapersToday https://t.co/quIuPB5Pmt pic.twitter.com/8tJZOfAS1z

— BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) December 8, 2022

The Daily Star seemingly called out the hypocrisy of the couple with its Friday front page.

Noting the couple are “publicity shy”, the publication called Harry and Meghan out for sharing the “most intimate secrets” with the entire world.

Friday’s Star: Publicity-shy couple share most intimate secrets with 8bn people” #BBCPapers #TomorrowsPapersToday https://t.co/7FuHsAa3Vz pic.twitter.com/8C0nGrwKJw

— BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) December 2, 2022

Following the release of the documentary, Buckingham Palace hit back at the opening line where Netflix claimed Kensington and Buckingham Palace did not reply to their request for comment.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

The Times’ Friday front page revealed the clash between the palace and Netflix. It has since been revealed the palace received an email from a “third party” about the docuseries.

Friday's The Times - Palace and Netflix clash over Sussexes soap opera.@thetimes | #TomorrowsPapersToday | #FrontPages pic.twitter.com/0tc6LPStcx

— First Edition (@FirstEdition) December 8, 2022

Metro made its front page about Harry’s comments on the royal family and how they marry women that “fit the mould” rather than marrying for love.

Harry’s comments were interpreted to be a dig at his father, King Charles, and brother, the Prince of Wales.

Friday’s Metro: "Royals don't marry for love" #BBCPapers #TomorrowsPapersToday https://t.co/QTWsHCpYYe pic.twitter.com/eZaZM3LHYG

— BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) December 8, 2022

The Daily Star used its Friday front page to compare the couple’s show to Homes Under the Hammer and claimed “it’s not as good”.

They added, “With sincere apologies to Martin, Martel, Dion, Jacqui and Tommy”, and called the Duke and Duchess “Z-lister reality stars”.

Friday's front page: It's not as good as Homes Under The Hammer.#TomorrowsPapersToday https://t.co/lyHC5Ocjx3? pic.twitter.com/eO2MvWAskG

— Daily Star (@dailystar) December 8, 2022
Save

    Share this article

Latest from Lifestyle

Lifestyle

The three tools leading the charge in arthritis pain relief

18 Jun 11:12 PM
Premium
Lifestyle

Exactly what long car journeys do to your body

18 Jun 08:00 PM
Royals

Princess Kate unexpectedly cancels appearance at Royal Ascot

18 Jun 06:57 PM

Sponsored: Embrace the senses

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Lifestyle

The three tools leading the charge in arthritis pain relief

The three tools leading the charge in arthritis pain relief

18 Jun 11:12 PM

Experts stress staying active to manage arthritis and slow its progression.

Premium
Exactly what long car journeys do to your body

Exactly what long car journeys do to your body

18 Jun 08:00 PM
Princess Kate unexpectedly cancels appearance at Royal Ascot

Princess Kate unexpectedly cancels appearance at Royal Ascot

18 Jun 06:57 PM
Premium
Society Insider: Property titan’s luxury car storage club; Eric Watson’s son's MDMA business

Society Insider: Property titan’s luxury car storage club; Eric Watson’s son's MDMA business

18 Jun 05:00 PM
Help for those helping hardest-hit
sponsored

Help for those helping hardest-hit

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP