Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's much anticipated Netflix documentary has dropped - and the first episode is just as amazing as we had anticipated. The episode premiered at 8am on Thursday morning in the UK (in the US it was midnight Pacific time) and promised to be an "unprecedented and in-depth documentary series" which would provide "the other side" of their high-profile love story.
WATCH: Harry & Meghan: How to watch documentary, episode timings and more
Read on for all the biggest moments in the first episode.
© Photo: NetflixHarry and Meghan shared a number of unseen photos
The introduction
The episode opened with the disclaimer that members of the royal family had declined to comment on the content within the series. It was also revealed that all filming had concluded by August 2022 – just one month before the Queen's death.
© Photo: NetflixThe couple spoke openly about the start of their romance
Harry and Meghan's early dating details
Harry and Meghan shared a number of intimate details about the start of their romance – from their first dates, to their email exchanges, to their nicknames for each other.
© Photo: NetflixHarry was 30 minutes late for his first date with Meghan
We found out that Prince Harry was actually 30 minutes late for their first date, which lasted an hour. One Twitter viewer remarked: "So you're telling me Harry and Meghan might not have happened due to Harry being late on the first date... Thankfully it all worked out!"
There were also behind-the-scenes photos and some video footage from the early days of their relationship – and we got a candid look inside their one-week visit to Botswana, where the couple went back to basics and slept in a tent amongst the wildlife.
© Photo: NetflixHarry in the couple's tent in Botswana
"It just felt so right and it felt so normal. We could both just be completely ourselves. There’s no mirror, there’s no bathroom. Thankfully we really liked each other," Meghan said.
"That was when it just hit me like, OK this girl, this woman is amazing, is everything I've been looking for and she's so comfortable and so relaxed in my company," Harry added.
We also found out that Harry had a secret 'checklist' for potential girlfriends. And at one point, we saw archive footage of Meghan being asked to choose between Harry and William!
© Photo: NetflixBaby Archie seen looking at a photo of Princess Diana
Harry talks about his mother Princess Diana
There was a big focus on Princess Diana and the huge impact she had on Harry. From discussing the death of his mother to comparisons made with Meghan, Harry spoke openly about his loss and heartbreak – and his subsequent difficult relationship with the paparazzi.
At one point, we saw Princess Diana directly approaching a photographer who had followed the family on a skiing break - and told him, "as a parent", to leave them alone.
© Photo: Getty ImagesHarry said he has 'blocked out' early memories of his mother
Harry also said he does not have many early memories of his mother, believing he has internally "blocked them out".
"My childhood, I remember, was filled with laughter, filled with happiness and filled with adventure," he said. "I don't have many early memories of my mum. It was almost like internally I sort of blocked them out.
"But I always remember her laugh, her cheeky laugh, her always saying to me, 'You can get in trouble – just don't get caught'. I'll always be that cheeky person inside."
WATCH: Prince Harry compares Meghan to his mum Princess Diana
Harry also spoke about his experience of facing photographers as a child. "The majority of my memories are of being swarmed by paparazzi," he said, adding that they rarely had a holiday without someone jumping out of a bush with a camera.
"Within the family, within the system, the advice that's always given is don't react. Don't feed into it," he said.
Rare family pics of Archie and Lilibet
We were treated to a number of glimpses of Archie and Lilibet – although their faces were largely hidden from view.
© Photo: NetflixViewers saw Harry as a doting dad
It included Meghan going to feed the chickens with her daughter strapped to her chest, as well as photos from Archie's birthday, and sweet moments showing the two siblings together.
We got to hear little Archie speaking and watched him toddle about on a family walk. And there was also brand new footage of baby Lilibet, too.
© Photo: NetflixThe couple shared sweet family moments in their docuseries
Viewers were given a glimpse inside Harry and Meghan's roles as parents, with the Prince seen pushing Lili in her buggy and playing around with his young son inside their Montecito home.
© Photo: NetflixHarry pushed baby Archie around their family home
Harry's fears
Harry admitted he was "terrified" he would lose Meghan like he did his other girlfriends - mostly due to the pressures that come with dating a member of the British royal family.
"The pain and suffering of women marrying into this institution... I remember thinking, 'How can I ever find someone who is willing and capable to be able to withstand all the baggage that comes with being with me?" he said.
© Photo: NetflixAn unseen photo of pregnant Meghan with Archie
"Every relationship that I had, within a matter of weeks or months was splattered all over the newspapers and that person's family was harassed and their lives turned upside down. So when I got to meet M, I was terrified of her being driven away by the media, the same media that had driven so many other people away from me."
Friends and family
We had a number of friends of the couple speak out in series one, as they recalled the start of Harry and Meghan's relationship. They included Lindsay Jill Roth, Lucy Fraser, Silver Tree and Jill Smoller, along with Harry's friend from Eton, Nicky. Professional polo player Nacho Figuera and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho also featured.
© Photo: NetflixMeghan feeds their chickens with daughter Lili
Their public romance
The couple spoke about the moment that news of the relationship went public, and revealed they spent that final night at a Halloween party with Princess Eugenie and her now-husband Jack Brooksbank. Viewers got to see behind-the-scenes photos from inside the party, complete with the couple's fun costumes.
© Photo: NetflixThe couple at the Halloween party
Princess Kate
Princess Kate and Prince William appeared a number of times in the docuseries. Footage used included snapshots of the royals on their public engagements, as well as a video showing Kate being pursued by paparazzi before her engagement to William. Her image was also used to accompany headlines about a 'Princess in crisis'.
© Photo: NetflixA sweet snapshot from their wedding day featuring George and Charlotte
Royal controversy?
There were a number of moments when Harry hit out at the 'institution' – including when he spoke about his attraction to Meghan. The Prince said there was a temptation for men in the royal family to marry someone who 'fits the mould' as opposed to someone "you are destined to be with". He also stated that he had "little help or guidance" following the death of his mother, Diana.
Harry said: "I think for so many people in the family, especially obviously the men, there can be a temptation or an urge to marry someone who would fit the mould as opposed to somebody who you perhaps are destined to be with.
"The difference between making decisions with your head, or your heart. And my mum certainly made most of her decisions – if not all of them – from her heart. And I am my mother's son."
© Photo: NetflixMeghan spoke about the intense scrutiny she faced
Royal ladies
Archive photos and footage showing the likes of Princess Kate, Queen Consort Camilla and Sophie Wessex were also interspersed throughout the episode. Much was made of the spotlight put on women in the royal family – at one point a photo of Kate and William was shown during comments that the royals have little choice when it comes to making their own decisions.
© Photo: NetflixPrince Harry pushing baby Lili in her buggy
King Charles
While much of the focus was placed on Princess Diana, Harry did also included footage of his father, King Charles. At one point, viewers saw the proud dad playfully interacting with baby Harry, putting a napkin over his head and pulling funny faces to make his son laugh.
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