LONDON: A Netflix documentary series about Prince Harry and his wife Meghan will begin airing on Thursday, amid speculation that they will voice renewed criticism of the British royal family.
Harry, King Charles's son, and Meghan stepped down from royal roles two years ago, hailed by some for standing up for their beliefs and forging their own career path but derided by others for using their status to make money while sniping at the royal family.
Here is a timeline of the couple's relationship with the royals, the media and the courts.
2016
July: Harry, now fifth-in-line to the British throne, and Meghan, an actress from Los Angeles best known for her role in TV legal drama "Suits", go on a blind date after being introduced by a friend. Weeks later, the prince takes Meghan, whose father is white and mother African-American, on a romantic holiday to Botswana.
November: Harry criticises the media for intruding into his girlfriend's private life, accusing some newspapers of abuse and harassment, some of which he describes as racist.
2017
November: Harry's father, then the Prince of Wales, confirms the couple are engaged.
2018
May: The couple marry in the medieval chapel of Windsor Castle and become the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Days before the wedding, Meghan's father Thomas Markle said he would not attend.
October: Harry and Meghan announce she is expecting their first child while in Australia on their first overseas tour.
2019:
March: Buckingham Palace announces Harry and Meghan will set up their own household, breaking from the operation they shared with his elder brother Prince William and his wife Kate. There are media reports of rifts between the two couples.
May: Meghan gives birth to a boy, Archie. The couple invite a small group of media to a photocall, prompting grumbling from parts of the press that had been increasingly critical of the couple.
October: Meghan says she is suing the Mail on Sunday newspaper for printing parts of a letter she wrote to her estranged father after the wedding. Harry announces he is suing other papers over allegations of phone-hacking.
In a TV documentary, Harry discloses a rift with his brother William. He accuses the media of bullying, comparing it to their treatment of his mother, Princess Diana, before her death in a Paris car crash in 1997.
Meghan says life had been hard as a new mother dealing with intense scrutiny.
2020
January: The couple announce their intention to step back from senior royal roles and become financially independent. They agree to give up their "Royal Highness" titles and in March they move to California.
September: Streaming service Netflix, which makes the hit drama "The Crown" based on the life of the late Queen Elizabeth, announces the couple have signed a multi-year deal to produce content.
2021
February: Harry, who served in the armed forces for a decade, wins an apology and damages from the Mail on Sunday over an article claiming he had turned his back on the military.
A London High Court judge rules the same paper breached Meghan's privacy by publishing extracts of her letter.
Buckingham Palace says the couple's split as working members of the royal family is permanent and they will lose their royal patronages.
March: Buckingham Palace says it is "very concerned" about a report in the Times newspaper detailing allegations of bullying made by former staff of Harry and Meghan and will launch an investigation.
The couple give an interview to U.S. chat show host Oprah Winfrey in which Meghan accuses one royal of raising concerns about how dark their son Archie's skin might be, and says she was pushed to the brink of suicide.
Harry says he had been let down by his father, and that he had been "trapped" in the institution.
Queen Elizabeth responds by promising to address the racism issues while remarking "some recollections may vary". William says: "We're very much not a racist family."
April: Harry returns to Britain for the funeral of his grandfather Prince Philip, Elizabeth's husband. Pregnant Meghan was advised not to travel.
May: Harry tells Winfrey in another interview how he had turned to drink and drugs to numb the grief he felt over the death of his mother, killed when her car crashed as it fled press photographers. He says the fear the same might happen to Meghan was one of the main reasons they quit royal duties.
June: Meghan gives birth to their second child, Lilibet Diana, named after Queen Elizabeth and Harry's late mother.
2022
January: Harry begins legal action to challenge a government decision that denied him police protection when in Britain. He later starts a libel claim against the Mail on Sunday over an article saying he had tried to keep the legal action secret.
June: Buckingham Palace says lessons have been learned after a review into the bullying allegations made by royal staff against Meghan, but declines to give details.
Harry and Meghan return to Britain for celebrations to mark Elizabeth's 70 years on the throne. They are greeted with cheers and some jeers.
September: Harry and Meghan are in Britain when Queen Elizabeth dies. They join William and Kate for a walkabout to meet mourners.
October: Harry joins singer Elton John and others in suing the publisher of the Daily Mail newspaper, alleging phone-tapping and other breaches of privacy.
Publisher Random House announces that Harry's memoir "Spare" will be published in January.
Reuters
Thu Dec 08 2022
A Netflix documentary series about Prince Harry and his wife Meghan will begin airing on Thursday, amid speculation that they will voice renewed criticism of the British royal family. - AP/Filepic
Iran's supreme leader says Hamas leader's death will not halt 'Axis of Resistance'
The "Axis of Resistance", built up with years of Iranian support, includes Hamas, the Lebanese Hezbollah group, the Houthi movement in Yemen, and various Shi'ite groups in Iraq and Syria.
Putin says Russia willing to seek compromises between Iran and Israel
Russia is ready to help seek compromises between arch-foes Israel and Iran, President Vladimir Putin said on Friday, saying these would be difficult but possible.
What proposals will Russia push at the BRICS summit?
The proposal is also to establish a BRICS reinsurance company to allow uninterrupted shipment of goods and key commodities between members.
Indonesia's free meals plan in the spotlight as Prabowo readies for office
Prabowo calls the programme one of the main drivers of economic growth, eventually set to add an estimated 2.5 million jobs.
Astro AWANI's revamped English news website, AWANI International, launches on Oct 21
Astro AWANI's revamped English platform delivers in-depth global news and expert analysis to keep you informed on key developments.
Israeli strikes kill 33 people in Jabalia refugee camp in Gaza, medics say
Residents of Jabalia said Israeli tanks had reached the heart of the camp after pushing through suburbs and residential districts.
Liam Payne's ex-partner calls for media restraint after 'painful' death
Cheryl Tweedy used her statement to urge the media to remember they had a seven-year-old son, Bear, who could read the reports.
Analysts: Indonesia's strong MoF leadership team to boost investor confidence
Sri Mulyani Indrawati as head of Indonesia's Ministry of Finance is expected to instil confidence among investors.
Biden offers both a carrot and a stick to Israel as his term nears an end
Israel has frequently resisted US advice and has caused political difficulties for the Biden administration.
Putin says BRICS will generate most of global economic growth
Russian President Vladimir Putin will host a summit of the group in the city of Kazan on Oct. 22-24.
ISIS Malaysia's perspective of Budget 2025
An excellent rakyat-centric budget under the overarching principle of a caring and humane economy.
Budget 2025: Record increase in STR, SARA aid initiatives
The government will provide a significant boost to the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) and Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) initiatives next year.
Budget 2025: EPF contributions to be made mandatory for foreign workers – PM Anwar
The government plans to make it compulsory for all non-citizen workers to contribute to the Employees Provident Fund (EPF).
What policies to expect from Indonesia's new President Prabowo
Prabowo will be open to foreign investment, his aide has said, such as by offering investors management of airports and sea ports.
Budget 2025: Govt allocates RM470 mil to empower women's participation in PMKS
The Women's Leadership Apprenticeship Program will be intensified as an effort to produce more female corporate personalities.
Israel sends more troops into north Gaza, deepens raid
Residents of Jabalia in northern Gaza said Israeli tanks had reached the heart of the camp, using heavy air and ground fire.
Indonesia ramps up security ahead of Prabowo's inauguration
Prabowo Subianto will be sworn in as Indonesia's president on Sunday with Vice President-elect, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, also taking office.
Immediate allocation of RM150 mil for local authorities, DID to tackle flash floods
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said this allocation is intended to address the recent flash floods that hit the capital and several major towns.
Budget 2025: Sabah, Sarawak to continue receiving among highest allocations - PM
Sabah and Sarawak continues to be prioritised under Budget 2025, with allocations of RM6.7 billion and RM5.9 billion respectively.
NFOF will be operational in November 2024 with funding of RM1 bil
PM Anwar Ibrahim said NFOF will support venture capital fund managers to invest in startup companies with RM300 million set aside for 2025.