Behind the scenes footage from Harry and Meghan BBC interview Duchess claims ... trends now
Banter-filled behind the scenes footage from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's 2017 engagement interview with the BBC appears to undermine their claims it was 'orchestrated' and 'rehearsed'.
The British public and media were enchanted with the Duke of Sussex's easy relationship with his then wife-to be who had had told interviewer Mishal Husain: 'His family's been so welcoming'.
The couple looked deeply in love on their Kensington Palace sofa five years ago, describing how the 'stars were aligned' when they met and both waxed lyrical about how much the 'wonderful' Prince William and his wife Kate had embraced their relationship.
At one point Meghan rested her chin on her fist while looking adoringly at her now husband, who could not help but smile back while being filmed for their first TV interview together. They also burst out laughing, pulled funny faces and played up to the BBC cameras as Harry joked about Meghan finishing his sentences.
But in the third episode of the Sussexes' Netflix documentary, released yesterday, Meghan referred to the interview an 'orchestrated reality show' and declared: 'It was, you know, rehearsed', much to the chagrin of Ms Husain.
Harry and Meghan's engagement excitement in a BBC interview was clear for all to see in a series of candid and funny shots not shown to the millions who watched in Britain and later around the world in 2017
There was lots of horseplay in between takes where Meghan fit her hand on her chin and smiled mischievously when Harry, who also mucked about, joked about his then fiancée finishing his sentences
Meghan said in the docu-series released yesterday called the engagement interview 'orchestrated reality show' and said: 'It was, you know, rehearsed.
The BBC broadcaster gasped when she heard the claim on live radio yesterday morning before declaring: 'Recollections may vary' - the same carefully chosen words used by the Queen to dispute allegations made by her grandson and his wife to Oprah in 2021.
BBC royal correspondent Nicholas Witchell then waded in on the debate around the Sussexes' allegations, branding it 'absurd' that the media were 'out to destroy' her.
When footage between takes of the 2017 interview emerged, MailOnline lifted the lid on Harry and Meghan's off-mic antics including a number of tender jokes about the Suits star not letting him get a word in edgeways.
The couple's engagement excitement was clear for all to see in candid and funny footage never shown to millions in Britain and around the world when the interview went out on a November evening five years ago.
Harry and Meghan were shown laughing, joking and chatting with each other, interviewer Mishal Husain and other people off screen.
The microphones were switched off but expert lipreader Tina Lannin told MailOnline that Harry was ribbing his then fiancée for interrupting him.
While he was believed to be describing their safari in Botswana last year Meghan cuts across the prince and says: 'It was five days, yeah'.
Showing their relaxed relationship Harry then told her: 'She wants me to say something' and saying 'Goddammit' while slapping his leg in faux outrage. After apologising Meghan barks jokingly: 'Do it again!'.
Ms Lannin also revealed the happy couple describing the moment they fell in love.
Miss Markle said: 'Six months. We both knew.' Before Harry added: 'The relationship there, we both knew there was something there that was solid, so solid, so powerful. We were willing to have a go.'
The interview itself contains accounts of their courtship that appear different in the new Netflix docu-series.
Harry told Mishal Husain that he proposed in the kitchen during a 'standard, typical night' in their cottage at Kensington Palace, with Meghan recalling: 'We were just roasting chicken. Trying to roast a chicken. And it just was an amazing surprise. It was so sweet and natural and very romantic. He got on one knee.'
She added: 'As a matter of fact I could barely let you finish proposing, I said - can I say yes now?'
They were unable to contain their laughter and excitement in footage cut from the interview with the BBC
Harry makes a funny face and makes Meghan laugh out loud in footage not shown at the time
But in episode two of the Netflix show, Harry reveals that he actually proposed in the garden outside the cottage, on a picnic rug surrounded by 15 electric candles. Meghan not only had time to record herself calling up a friend named Jess to say 'Oh my God, it's happening!' but was also able to shoot a souvenir video of the 'joyful' scene.
Harry and Meghan's relationship with William and Kate is strained, but at the time the thanked their thenm neighbours at Kensington Palace, with Meghan calling her sister-in-law 'wonderful'. Harry said both William and Kate had been 'amazing'.
Harry talked about how he kept the relationship secret before introducing Meghan to them. He said: 'It was exciting. I'd been seeing her for a period of time when I literally didn't tell anybody at all.
'And then William was longing to meet her and so was Catherine, so you know, being our neighbours, we managed to get that in a couple of, well, quite a few times now, and Catherine has been absolutely amazing, as has William as well,
