Harry and Meghan relying on 'Diana's legacy' to boost careers again, says expert

15 August 2023 , 08:30

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Harry and Meghan relying on 'Diana's legacy' to boost careers again, says expert

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been accused of using Diana's legacy for their own benefit.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have reportedly bought the screen rights to adapt Meet Me at the Lake, a Canadian romance novel, through their company Archewell Productions for $3million. The book's author Carley Fortune Cconfirmed the news in a statement, saying: "I'm so thrilled about working with Netflix and Archewell to bring Meet Me at the Lake to the screen. Will and Fern’s love story is dear to my heart, and I can’t imagine a more perfect partnership."

The book, released this earlier year, tells the story of Fern and Will, who have a chance encounter and spend the day together in Toronto, Canada. They then promise to meet up a year later, but Will doesn't show and years later, Fern is running her mother's lakeside resort when she meets Will again.

Princess Diana died in a car crash in 1997 (Corbis via Getty Images)

Harry and Meghan purchased the film rights to a familiar tale (WireImage)

He offers to help her out, but Fern knows he’s hiding something and wants to find out what it is. The story is deals with mental health, postnatal depression and childhood trauma over losing a parent in a car crash - a relatable theme for the Duke and Duchess.

Royal biographer Tom Bower told New magazine that the film will grant Meghan had Harry the attention he claims they're looking for.

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"In my opinion the character having a parent who dies will appeal to them both and be exactly why they choose it. From the day they met Harry has kept referring to his mother's experiences with the press while Meghan seems to emulate Diana as often as possible," Tom said. "Turning this novel into a movie is just another part of this circus they've created."

He added: "This could work if they're clever, Meghan has got a good agent in Hollywood and I'm sure he can tell her who the best scriptwriter or producer is. In show business it's very hard to get bad publicity. Meghan and Harry want a lot of attention and with this film they'll get it."

Lauren Gordon