Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's highly anticipated Netflix docuseries has been delayed - according to reports from outlets stateside.
The popular streaming platform has already faced harsh criticism from royalists, for controversial storylines in the upcoming series of The Crown - which is set to air November 9.
US website Deadline, has now revealed that the Sussex documentary - which many were hopeful of catching in December - is now looking more likely to premiere next year.
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The Daily Express reports that a source told the outlet: "They’re rattled at Netflix, and they blinked first and decided to postpone the documentary."
While the series had not been given an official premiere, sources suggested in the past that it would have aired before Christmas - following on a matter of weeks after series five of the Crown is launched. And amid delays, further controversy has also entangled itself in the new programme - with Netflix producers raising concerns that comments made by Harry and Meghan appeared to contradict what he wrote in his memoir.
The up and coming season of the Crown has also sparked backlash, after former Prime Minister John Major slammed a number of storylines set to debut - including a scene which shows King Charles III - then the Prince of Wales - complaining to major about having to take over the throne.
Mr Major claims that such conversation never occurred, describing the plot as 'malicious nonsense'.
And many others have also questioned the timing of the release, being particularly disrespectful given the recent passing of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II just last month. Official royal biographer of the Queen Mother William Shawcross, told The Telegraph that the series is 'odious and deliberately hurtful'.
He said: "The Crown is an odious series, filled with lies and half-truths encased in lace and velvet. It is astonishingly and deliberately hurtful to individual members of the Royal Family, public servants who cannot answer back, let alone sue for damages."
A Netflix spokesperson had said: "Series five is a fictional dramatisation, imagining what could have happened behind closed doors during a significant decade for the royal family - one that has already been scrutinised and well-documented by journalists, biographers and historians."
Netflix told Deadline on Monday that 'there's never been any documentary from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex confirmed'.
The Express has approached the Sussexes for comment for its report.
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