📖 Novel of The Week: Finding Freedom by by Omid Scobie & Carolyn Durand

"Finding Freedom" has been probably one of the most anticipated books of this year, with a high coverage from media all over the world, speculating this was the book that the Palace didn't want you to read, that the revelations it contains were going to shake up the British monarchy and so on.
Well, let me tell you...it was marketing at its purest and highest level!

I don't know what I was 'hoping' to find in it, maybe some revengeful confirmations (or denials) about the episodes she and her husband Prince Harry have been through, but that was and is wishful thinking.
It is true that the book sheds light on disputes from a friendlier perspective, for example, on Meghan's relationship with her father Thomas Markle or how and why William and Harry, once so united against the world, have drifted apart. 

There are some 'behind the scenes' moments that were really interesting and frankly to cause goosebumps, like Meghan's two-day security training with the SAS (British Army's most elite regiment). Kate as well underwent the same training BUT way after her marriage with Prince William, while Meghan had to do it straight away because of the underwhelming amount of THREATS she and Prince Harry received.

The topic of racism is very present in the book and what really horrified me (and everyone else who read the book, I hope) was the fact that for Meghan was no news while it was for Prince Harry. Being white, male, and Royal, the Prince never had to deal with it, besides a few occasional jokes about redheads. Meghan, on the other part, had several experiences both in the USA and UK.
It may be clichè of me saying that British people are snob and posh, but it was clear that the press and some of the Palace staff were biased about Meghan due to her being mixed race, American, and an actress.

From the endless comparisons between Meghan and the Duchess of Cambridge (always in favors of the latter) to the successful tours Down Under and in South Africa, the Sussex couple has been mostly left alone to deal with defamations and accusations, were they real or fake, and that's what ultimately made them do what they did: step down from that environment and seek a new life, first in Canada and then in the USA.

There's one phrase that made me sympathize with the couple and it's this

Despite her [the Queen's] sadness at the thought of losing the Sussexs as WORKING ROYALS...

It basically states that she wasn't sad because his grandson and acquired granddaughter reached the breaking point but because she was losing her employees. 
I've never picture Queen Elizabeth II as the caring and loving grandmother, it is obvious her priority is, and will always be, her duty as sovereign and at then, at the bottom, her family. I don't blame her, she has been raised like this, in the 'duty first' policy, and maybe it's her nature...nevertheless it really sadden me reading such a statement, which could still be made up.
It was extremely sad to read about the Cambridges couple's disinterest in helping them or, at least, comforting them.

All that's written in "Finding Freedom" is based upon sources near to the couple, friends, and researches and since they were not confirmed or denied, I'll take them as they are: one side of the story.

There are no 'big exclusives' or 'groundbreaking revelations' but it still put under the flashlights the hardship and criticisms the Sussex duo had to go through and that's a fact: they've been crucified for no better reason than selling magazines.

Ph: goodreads.com