How These Meghan-Harry Moments In 'Escaping The Palace' Went Down In Real Life: Report

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's exit from royal life was retold in Lifetime's newly released third movie about the Sussexes, "Harry & Meghan: Escaping the Palace."

"Escaping the Palace," which premiered on Labor Day, picks up where 2019's "Harry & Meghan: Becoming Royal" left off. The third installment, which combines tabloid reports with the couple's own accounts, follows Prince Harry and Markle's story starting from their second anniversary through their bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey in March.

Following the release of the film, People compared the Lifetime movie's take on some of Prince Harry and Markle's most significant moments in the past two years with how they actually went down in real life. Read on to find out what the movie did and did not get right.

1. Trooping the Colour 2019

In one scene, Prince Harry (played by Jordan Dean) and Markle (Sydney Morton) can be seen standing on the balcony during the Trooping the Colour in 2019 in their first public appearance following the birth of their eldest child, Archie. Prince Harry tells his wife to "Turn around!" during the traditional flypast. Markle, who is still unused to the palace's rules at this point, does as her husband demanded while holding back tears.

In the movie, Prince Harry and Markle were positioned at the center, but in real life, they were not as prominent due to royal protocol.

Markle "was not as prominent perhaps as some people might have expected, but there's a pecking order," Joe Little, managing editor of Majesty, told People."There was no slight intended, but William being the older, more senior brother would go out [first] with his wife [Kate Middleton]."

The outlet also quoted a palace source as saying, "There's no one laying this out, telling her where to stand. And there were a lot of kids who everyone would want at the front."

2. The Sussexes' final royal appearance

"Escaping the Palace" suggests that Prince Harry and Markle were excluded from the royal procession during the Commonwealth Day service ⁠— their last engagement as working royals before their official exit ⁠— in March 2020, apparently as retaliation for their impending departure.

This sparks tension between Prince Harry and Prince William (played by Jordan Whalen), causing Kate (played by Laura Mitchell) to intervene. Prince William ultimately offers to also forego the procession.

In real life, the Cambridges and Dussexes did not join the Queen's royal procession at the time, but this didn't necessarily mean there was drama behind the decision. Prince Harry attended all four services prior to the one shown in the movie but only joined Her Majesty in her walk twice. His older brother and sister-in-law also skipped the procession for services in the past, People noted.

3. Sussexes' interview with Oprah Winfrey

Prince Harry and Markle made several shocking revelations and allegations against the royal family in their interview with Winfrey that aired on CBS in March. But while the script for "Escaping the Palace" appeared to be partially based on that interview, Lifetime's retelling only showed a very short scene of the sit-down.

"There's pressure to the Oprah interview, I think, because so many people had seen it," Dean told People ahead of the movie's premiere. "But I tried not to let that sway me or put any undue weight, tried to make my own interpretation of it and not be bogged down with like, 'Oh, well he crossed his leg on this word,' or 'He would have done this.'"

He added that they have to "live in the moment" and work with their director and team and make the story their own version.

Meanwhile, Morton had a different approach, admitting that she watched the interview a few times and listened to it.

"I really like listening to them speak more than watching because it can be a little more open to interpretation. Like Jordan said, we didn't just want to recreate every single movement and mannerism," she added.