Last year, the gossip in and around Finding Freedom kept us going throughout the summer. It was fun to cover all of that stuff, even if we knew at the time that authors Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand had largely pulled their punches. There was gossip, for sure, but the book was nowhere near the “royal tell-all” many of us expected. Especially now that we’re post-Oprah interview, we can now see that Finding Freedom really didn’t go that hard. Well, true story – there will be some updates and new chapters in the paperback edition of Finding Freedom. And as you can imagine, royal commentators are trying to make it into a big thing.
Fresh from the family-reunion-that-wasn’t at Prince Philip’s funeral between Princes Harry, William, and Charles, this summer will see an updated version of Finding Freedom: Harry and Meghan and the Making of a Modern Royal Family being published. Feel free to add the tagline: “And this time it gets even more personal at the worst possible time.”
The Sunday Times reports that authors Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand who wrote the bombshell biography of last year that intimately conveyed Harry and Meghan’s thoughts and grievances about, well, everything, intend that the new version will bring readers up to date with a new set of thoughts and grievances, dating to after the couple moved to America full-time. “They will cover their interview with Oprah Winfrey, allegations against Meghan over the bullying of royal staff, which she denies, and Prince Philip’s death,” the Sunday Times reports. “The updated edition is also expected to take in their new life in America, their multimillion-pound deals with Netflix and Spotify, and the queen’s decision to strip them of all royal patronages earlier this year.”
The Sunday Times doesn’t say if the book will resolve the mysteries left unsolved by the Winfrey interview—the identity of the royal family member who allegedly made racist remarks about then-unborn Archie’s skin color, or more detail about the lack of support Meghan allegedly received when she felt suicidal.
The book will be reissued on August 5. A senior courtier told the Sunday Times: “The Oprah interview detonated a bomb under the royal family and most of them are still reeling in shock. The book will not help.” Another senior royal source said: “After Oprah, what else is there to say?”
Scobie already tweeted out a curiously-worded denial, which I’m including below. The Times “falsely claim[ed] a paperback edition will feature new chapters that will ‘reopen royal rifts.’ Why let facts get in the way of a spicy story though, eh?” Is he saying there will be no new chapter/update or that the new chapter won’t reopen royal rifts? Very curious! I think there will be a new chapter or some kind of updated section which discusses what Harry and Meghan have been up to following the summer of 2020, and Scobie is just saying that the new chapter will not “reopen royal rifts.” Which is true – nothing Scobie and Durand write, at this point, will REOPEN royal rifts. The rifts are already open. They have not healed. William’s ass still hurts that his younger brother is successful and free.
A not-so-accurate report about Finding Freedom in the Sunday Times, who didn’t even bother asking for comment before falsely claiming a paperback edition will feature new chapters that will “reopen royal rifts”. Why let facts get in the way of a spicy story though, eh?
— Omid Scobie (@scobie) April 25, 2021
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.
I think he’s updating it with a chapter about their first year post royal life. No biggie.
If new chapters will be added i don’t think they will contain anything new to us.
No it won’t. It will just be filled with flowery exposition.
If “Finding Freedom” hasn’t yet been released in paperback form, it could just be that release The Sun is attempting to shade.
There is a canyon right now between the Sussexes and the RF, Omid and Carolyn cannot possibly worsen that. Unless they name the royal racist.
and provide hard copies and facts that William did in fact sell them out to whoever asked for it
It’s being made into a paperback right? I remember reading a paperback version would be coming out a year later when it first came out last year. So they could just be adding a bonus chapter or two on what the Sussexes have been doing so far
The publishers website where I went to look at the preorder details only mentioned a rewritten introduction. Nothing about new chapters which was also stated in tweets on Twitter by one author (Omid).
Either way how much truth of the last year does anyone thing they truly have? H&M surely are not opening up to them, and neither are the people they surround themselves with now. So to believe any of it is ridiculous.
My guess is they are just adding a few chapters to update us on their past year in California, it’s not going to contain any new bombshells. Just a “bonus” to try to get people to buy the paperback version who maybe didnt buy the hardcover the first time around or who did but want to read the new chapters. It’s a pretty common publishing thing, isnt it? To add “something” extra to a paperback version?
It’s a smart move considering the continued impact of the Oprah interview. Ride the wave, Omid. I ain’t mad at ya.
Or possibly he’s saying the new edition will be hardcover 😉
“After Oprah, what else is there to say?”
LMAO, those rota idiots really shouldn’t issue challenges like that against a couple who clearly saves receipts.
Sussexes: Challenge accepted
The book was published almost a year ago. So this is likely the paperback version which is typical. Robert Lacey is also having his book updated and published around the same time. Again not unusual. I think the reason Omid tweeted so quickly is because last year he remained largely silent when the tabloids made their claims last year which led to the book being used in Meghan’s court case which led to him having to give a deposition and Meghan’s lawyer publicly detailing all the inaccuracies in the book. He probably wants to avoid any potential legal issues since the Mail is seeking leave to appeal. Also, he is typically very popular with the squad but many called him out on his failure to counter false narratives about the Sussexes “authorizing” the book and felt that he didn’t mind the attention despite it hurting the Sussexes. So he probably wants to avoid that criticism also. I’ll be curious to see how the book sells because the Oprah interview established that these insider books don’t really enlighten at all. The thing that I find interesting is that the BM didn’t learn their lesson from last year. All their screaming about the book just promoted it and made it bigger than what it was. The tabloids reaction convinced people that the book was going to be ground breaking which it wasn’t. So you would think they would just ignore it. But I think they can’t resist trying to smear someone who they perceive as a Sussex ally.
It kind of sounds like the RRs are still mad that Omid has been riding the wave from the beginning. Omid has been on the right side from the start, and he has continued to be successful because of it. Most of those rats’ books can barley be sold, meanwhile Scobie is over here getting a paperback edition. And all he did was be fair. He’s continued to be interviewed in America, while the rest of the rota is starving. The Sussexes press offices still engage with him, so his stories seem fresh and are credible.
The Meghan Mania that was going on should have been a clue as to where the bread was buttered, but those fools chose the old a** sourdough not even fit for thanksgiving stuffing. Oh well. Omid is laughing all the way to the bank and I’m not mad at it.
Finding Freedom wasn’t the bombshell that the press and the Royal Family feared it would be and the Oprah interview proved that Harry and Meghan had nothing to do with the book. I’m guessing there won’t be any new chapters but the book will just updated to reflect what was said in the interview. Some people on twitter were saying that there’s going to be a new introduction. This could be true as well.
I haven’t read the book because I thought it would gloss over the role of the Cambridges – and it did. Also, just not a fan of royal biographies in general. It does seem like he is suggesting that there won’t be any new chapters. Generally, as a rule, if you’re going to call out someone or deny something, it’s better not to use language that will insinuate that you were lying.
On a side note, I will buy Meghan’s memoirs though as I’m positive she has kept journals during her time at the palace.
Meghan and Harry are not stupid, that interview with Oprah was just a warning shot.
They wanted to get their story out about why they left the Firm.
Agreed. I think there’s a lot more tea they didn’t spill.