Harry in battle with Netflix over release date of docu-series – claim

Prince Harry is reportedly pushing for his and Meghan Markle’s docu-series to be released after Christmas, around the same time his anticipated memoir hits the shelves, it has been claimed. While US streaming platform Netflix reportedly would like to release the programme next month, Harry wants the series to remain on hold until after the festivities, according to a source.Speaking about the docu-series, the source told The Sun: “Harry simply does not want it coming out before Christmas.”The news outlet also wrote the Duke’s team have been “frantically asking Netflix to postpone the production”.Netflix initially resisted the Sussexes’ attempts to push the series back, adding it isn’t known if a final decision has been taken, according to reports. Large parts of this docu-series are believed to have been filmed before the death of Queen Elizabeth II.  Prince Harry’s memoir will be released in January (Image: GETTY) Meghan Markle mentioned filmmaker Liz Garbus is working on a docu-series for the Sussexes (Image: GETTY)The programme at the centre of this reported argument appears to be a docu-series yet to be officially announced by either the streaming giant and Archewell Productions – the production powerhouse launched by Meghan and Harry in late 2020.Following months of speculation regarding this programme, described in May by Page Six as an “at-home” docu-series, the Duchess of Sussex briefly mentioned working with award-winning filmmaker Liz Garbus during two interviews.In August, asked by The Cut whether she and Harry were filming a documentary about their love story, Meghan said: “What’s so funny is I’m not trying to be cagey. I don’t read any press. So I don’t know what’s confirmed.”I will tell you Liz Garbus is incredible. Liz Garbus also worked on Pearl.”Pearl was an animated series announced by Archewell last year that was later scrapped by Netflix due to a wider cost-cutting move following a dip in the number of its subscribers. READ MORE: Diana family photo shared by brother ahead of The Crown release Prince Harry and Meghan launched Archewell Productions in 2020 (Image: GETTY) Prince Harry and Meghan Markle during their first public appearance in Toronto in 2017 (Image: GETTY)In her interview with Variety magazine published in October, Meghan said when asked what to expect from Ms Garbus’s docu-series: “It’s nice to be able to trust someone with our story – a seasoned director whose work I’ve long admired – even if it means it may not be the way we would have told it.”But that’s not why we’re telling it. We’re trusting our story to someone else, and that means it will go through their lens.”Prince Harry and Meghan’s production branch is officially known to be working only on Heart of Invictus, a docu-series focusing on the inspiring stories of some of the athletes who have taken part in the Invictus Games held at The Hague in April.The production of this show was announced in the spring of 2021, months after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex had announced to have signed a multi-year contract with Netflix to create programmes that uplift, entertain and inform the public. DON’T MISS Prince Harry ‘not pleased’ with Meghan’s ‘clingy’ behaviour [INSIGHT]Mike Tindall once tried to punch Prince Harry as part of a prank [REPORT]Doria Ragland speaks to Meghan Markle ‘like a child’ on podcast [ANALYSIS] Prince Harry and Meghan signed a deal with Netflix in 2020 (Image: GETTY)The couple also signed a deal with Spotify, for which Meghan is currently hosting a popular podcast series, Archetypes.On the other hand, Prince Harry struck a deal with Penguin Random House for a memoir, which will be released on January 10.Titled Spare, the publisher has promised the book will feature “raw, unflinching honesty” by Harry, who was given the chance to tell his story in his own words.The Duke has pledged to donate his proceeds from the memoir to charity and has already given $1.5million to Sentebale, which he co-founded in 2006.Express.co.uk has contacted Netflix and representatives for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex for comment.