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Netflix pushes back on ‘panicked’ Prince Harry, Meghan Markle over doc edits

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are at odds with Netflix and even their own production team, sources told Page Six, as they backtrack on what they want to show the public in their upcoming docuseries.

The couple allegedly wants to cut chunks from the doc — which they have been filming for more than a year now — but Netflix chiefs are standing by the Sussexes’ filmmakers who want to keep the content, according to insiders.

“Harry and Meghan are having second thoughts on their own story, on their own project,” a Netflix source told Page Six this week.

According to another industry source, “Harry and Meghan are panicked about trying to tone down even the most basic language. But it’s their story, from their own mouths.”

Page Six previously revealed how the Duke and Duchess of Sussex wanted to edit the show in the wake of Queen Elizabeth II’s death last month, as it’s believed to include a number of truth bombs involving King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla, as well as Prince William and Kate Middleton.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle allegedly want to cut chunks of their upcoming Netflix docuseries — but the streamer is pushing back, sources say. AFP via Getty Images
“Harry and Meghan are having second thoughts on their own story, on their own project,” a Netflix source told Page Six this week. MediaPunch/BACKGRID

Sources now say the couple actually started rethinking the show — which is being produced by their own company, Archewell — before the monarch died on Sept. 8 at age 96.

“They’ve made significant requests to walk back content they themselves have provided — to the extent that some Netflix staff believe, if granted, it will effectively shelve the project indefinitely,” the Netflix source said. “Netflix is standing by the filmmakers.”

While Harry, 38, and Markle, 41, want the show to launch next year, the streaming service — which has paid the couple millions of dollars — has long wanted it to debut it right after season 5 of “The Crown,” which drops on Nov. 9.

According to sources, the couple actually started rethinking the show before Queen Elizabeth’s death on Sept. 8. Getty Images
The Sussexes have been followed around the world by a camera crew for the past year, including in New York last September. Getty Images for Global Citizen

“Netflix has made it clear that the project is going forward,” said the industry source.

Netflix and a representative for the duke and duchess did not respond to requests for comment.

The Sussexes have been followed around the world by a camera crew led by Oscar-nominated director Liz Garbus for the docuseries.

Sources say that filming has included truth bombs about William and Kate, the Prince and Princess of Wales. Getty Images
King Charles reportedly will not make a decision on the Sussexes’ children receiving “Prince” and “Princess” titles until he knows what’s in the show and Harry’s upcoming memoir. POOL/AFP via Getty Images

So far, Netflix has yet to comment on the show, but when asked about the project in her bombshell interview with The Cut in August, Markle described it as, “The piece of my life I haven’t been able to share, that people haven’t been able to see — our love story.” 

She also called Garbus “incredible”

The filmmakers are not believed to have the final edit; that rests with the Sussexes and Netflix, sources said.

With Queen Elizabeth’s passing, the Sussexes’ children, Archie, 3, and Lilibet, 1, are now entitled to be called prince and princess, but the decision lies in the hands of their grandfather, the king.

But royal insiders have said that Charles will only make this decision once he has seen what Harry has written in his upcoming memoir, as well as what is included in the Netflix show.