THE secret meaning behind Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Netflix show release date has been revealed by royal experts.
The show, which will give an insight into the Sussexes' "love story", will hit screens on December 8.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex reportedly requested a delay to the show – putting them at loggerheads with Netflix chiefs.
But now royal experts have claimed the streaming giant denied their request for one key reason.
Royal biographer Angela Levin believes Netflix chose the date to make sure it gets better ratings.
Speaking to The Sun she revealed: “I suspect the date is what Netflix wanted. It’s the timing Netflix wanted and needed.
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“It may be because it will have allowed royal fans to have finished up watching The Crown.”
The latest season of the hit TV show came out on November 9 – so it means Harry and Meghan’s show is coming out exactly a month later.
Ms Levin explained: “It means fans will have been able to watch two episodes a week of The Crown and have the whole season wrapped up just before Harry and Meghan’s show comes out.
“It means those who are hooked on royal shows will have something new to start right away.
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And royal author Phil Dampier believes the timing will hit the palace hard.
He explained: "Netflix execs have weighed up all the pros and cons on the timings of the show after The Crown.
"They will have been taking financial considerations and looking at when to put it out for maximum affect and ratings
"They will also have thought about how people watch a lot of TV before and around Christmas.
"It means people, especially young people who don't know the story of the royals so much will finish the crown and then want to watch Harry and Meghan's show.
"The royal family’s hope has always been that Harry and Meghan would eventually run out of ammunition but at the moment they're not."
It comes after the fifth season of Netflix's bombshell Royal drama sparked fury over its wild plot lines, with claims of insensitivity so soon after the Queen’s death.
Bosses are also under fire over scenes suggesting Prince Philip had an affair with a female friend.
And the show recreates Diana's final tragic moments in Paris.
The big-budget drama, starring Dominic West, 53, as Harry’s dad Charles, defended their decisions – saying it is a “fictional dramatisation”.
The Sun previously revealed that Harry was trying to make late edits to his £35million book in the wake of the Queen’s death, fearing parts were “insensitive” and needed “refining”.
A source told the New York Post: “A lot in the show contradicted what Harry has written (in his book), so that was an issue.
“Then Harry and Meghan made significant requests to walk back content they themselves have provided for their own project.”
Harry and Meghan are said to discuss other royals — including King Charles, Camilla and Prince William — on their documentary, directed by top US documentary maker Liz Garbus.
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Sources said late edits are unwelcome as it needs translating into other languages.
One explained: “Netflix needs a couple of months to do all of the formatting and dubbing, subtitling and audio — the stuff that enables it to launch.”
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