Prince Harry and Princess Diana Leaked to the Media, Despite Netflix Swipe

Prince Harry says in his new Netflix documentary that "there's leaking but there's also planting of stories," according to a clip from a trailer, but he and Princess Diana were not averse to putting off-the-record stories out to the media.

The Duke of Sussex is seen in the second promo clip for Harry & Meghan saying that "there's a hierarchy of the family." In a follow-up clip, he says that "they were happy to lie to protect my brother but were never willing to tell the truth to protect us," although subtitles on the Netflix website suggest this may have been a reference to the British media rather than Buckingham Palace.

Either way, Harry, his mother and his wife, Meghan Markle, all leaked to the media in the past, including stories for high-profile royal biographies.

Harry, Meghan Cooperated With 'Finding Freedom' Authors

In their 2020 bombshell royal biography Finding Freedom, authors Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand accuse Prince William of snobbery and said a royal family member described Meghan as "Harry's showgirl."

The book also accuses the palace of racism and gave behind-the-scenes details of the Sussexes' lives and royal exit, including the revelation that paparazzi pictures published by MailOnline were taken at a medical appointment related to Meghan's miscarriage.

Neither Harry nor Meghan gave an interview to the authors, although a lawsuit Meghan filed against The Mail on Sunday revealed that in December 2018 she authorized then Kensington Palace communications secretary Jason Knauf to meet with the authors.

The duchess emailed Knauf some points ahead of the face-to-face briefing, some of which appeared in similar form in the book.

The former palace aide gave the Court of Appeal an email he received from Prince Harry that read: "Also, are u planning on giving them a rough idea of what she's been through over the last 2yrs? Media onslaught, cyber bullying on a different scale, puppeteering Thomas Markle etc etc etc.

"Even if they choose not to use it, they should hear what it was like from someone who was in the thick of it. So if you aren't planning on telling them, can I?!" the email said.

Harry later added: "Oh how I hope they report on it properly. Good luck!"

In an email to Knauf, Meghan wrote: "Thank you very much for the info below—for when you sit down with them [the book's authors] it may be helpful to have some background reminders so I've included them below just in case.

"I know you are better versed at this than most but assisting where I can. I appreciate your support—please let me know if you need me to fill in any other blanks," she said.

Meghan's "reminders" included material about her half-sister Samantha and half-brother Thomas and her experiences with the media, but they did not contain criticism of other royal family members.

There was a section rebutting a story published in The Sun that had suggested there was a dispute over which tiara she wore on her wedding day.

Meghan's email read: "The queen, Harry and Meghan were all present—she tried on five tiaras and the queen asked her which she preferred.

"Meghan asked the queen her preference. The queen said they all suited her and Meghan chose the diamond one, which the queen agreed was perfect. Shame to see such a beautiful sweet moment skewed in media.

"There was no conversation about any other tiara as a preference. Meghan loved the one she wore and it remains a very special memory," the email said.

According to Finding Freedom, "The Queen agreed with Meghan upon her choice of tiara for the wedding. Meghan tried on all five but knew right away which one she liked best. 'It was a special moment for both of them,' a palace aide shared."

Diana Cooperated With Biographer Andrew Morton

Fans of Season 5 of The Crown will know that Diana also worked with journalists to get her side of a particular story out.

The princess made tape-recorded confessions about her husband Charles' affair with Camilla Parker Bowles, now the queen consort, as well as her struggles with bulimia and her suicide attempts.

Dr. James Colthurst, a friend of Diana's, smuggled the tapes out of Kensington Palace and passed them on to Andrew Morton, who used them for his bestselling biography Diana: Her True Story.

Morton did not let on that Diana was his source until after her death. Later editions of the book include transcripts of the tapes themselves.

Among her major revelations, Diana said Charles' feelings for Bowles hung over their marriage from the start. "On our honeymoon, for instance, we were opening our diaries to discuss various things. Out come two pictures of Camilla. On our honeymoon we have our white-tie dinner for President Sadat [of Egypt].

"Cufflinks arrive on his wrist—two C's entwined like the Chanel C's. Got it in one; knew exactly. 'Camilla gave you those didn't she?' He said: 'Yes, so what's wrong? They're a present from a friend.'"

The princess went on: "My dreams were appalling. At night I dreamt of Camilla the whole time. Charles got Laurens van der Post to come and help me. Laurens didn't understand me.

"Everybody saw I was getting thinner and thinner, and I was being sicker and sicker," she said.

Speaking about her mental health, Diana said: "We had a few trying to cut the wrists, throwing things out of windows, breaking glass.

"I threw myself downstairs when I was four months pregnant with William, trying to get my husband's attention, for him to listen to me.

"But he just said: 'You're crying wolf,'" the princess said.

Do you have a question about King Charles III, William and Kate, Meghan and Harry or their family that you would like our experienced royal correspondents to answer? Email royals@newsweek.com. We'd love to hear from you.