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FROM Prince Harry’s explosive Spare memoir to Meghan Markle snubbing the Coronation, it’s certainly been another bombshell year for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

When he quit his royal role, Harry said he hoped to have a “more peaceful life”, but arguably 2023 has been anything but harmonious.

Royal author Phil Dampier told Fabulous: “The ongoing saga of Harry and Meghan filled more column inches than any other aspect of the royal soap opera.

“Instead of drawing a line under his life, Harry has carried on playing the victim.”

And there have been a number of Sussex scandals that have rocked the royal family - and put further strain on their relationship with King Charles, Prince William and Kate Middleton.

Here, Fabulous looks at some of their controversial moments and what could be in store for them next year…

Omid Scobie naming the royal racists 

In their dramatic interview with Oprah Winfrey, Prince Harry and Meghan sparked a race row by alleging an unnamed family member had spoken about their unborn son's skin colour.

Royal author Omid Scobie, who is a pal of the Sussexes, claimed English laws prevented him from revealing the identity in his new Endgame book.

But in a passage in a translated version in the Netherlands, the legal excuse was missing and instead a royal was named.

Meanwhile, a second person was also named elsewhere in the book, which was frantically pulled from shelves.

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Scobie denied responsibility for the Dutch translation of his new book "accidentally naming” a member of the Royal Family. 

He was later attacked by The Sun columnist and TV host Piers Morgan who described him as a "lickspittle making money from peddling garbage."

Harry releasing Spare 

In January, Prince Harry released his Spare memoir and it shocked the world, with the Duke of Sussex launching savage attacks on the royals.

Spare sparked fury over his claims that William physically attacked him, while his admission he killed 25 Taliban members during the Afghanistan war generated protests in Helmand province.

And Harry was said to have “crossed Charles’s red line” after attacking the monarch’s wife while promoting the book.

We shared seven of Prince Harry’s most explosive claims and savage attacks on royals from his book.

Meghan snubbing the coronation 

All eyes were on the royal family as King Charles had his glittering coronation in May, which was watched by millions around the globe - but Meghan was noticeably absent.

On the day of the first coronation in 70 years, Meghan stayed at home in the US while Harry travelled solo to support his dad.

Phil added: “Harry’s fleeting visit to the Coronation, and Meghan’s absence, spoke volumes, and the year is ending with the royal rift between them and their families as wide as ever.”

The ceremony fell on the same day as the royal couple's son Archie's fourth birthday - and is understood to be the reason Meghan decided against making an appearance.

However, a royal author has since said she "felt sorry for Harry" having to show up on his own since Meghan was happy to "snub" the Firm.

Angela Levin told The Sun: "Of course it is a snub.

"It’s saying ‘I don’t need you anymore now that I’ve gotten what I want’.”

Interview with the woman Harry lost his virginity to  

In Spare, Harry raised eyebrows after revealing how he lost his virginity to a horse-loving older woman — in a field behind a pub.

He said she “treated me not unlike a young stallion”, but branded his first bonk an “inglorious episode”.

In a cringeworthy account of the al fresco romp he says: “Quick ride, after which she smacked my rump and sent me off to graze.”

The story got even more juicy when the “older woman” came forward and did a tell-all interview.

Sasha Walpole, who is just two years older than Harry, told The Sun on Sunday they had a passionate five-minute romp while the royal’s security searched for him in a blue Ford Fiesta.

Sasha admitted the booze-fuelled sex came after the pair downed ten shots of tequila, Baileys and sambuca.

Harry and Sasha, who now works as a digger driver, knew each other from when she worked as a stable girl at Highgrove, the country retreat of King Charles, and previously enjoyed trips to polo matches together.

Sasha said: “I am the woman who took Harry’s virginity. It was ­literally wham-bam between two friends. 

“The sex was passionate and sparky because we shouldn’t have been doing it.

“One thing just quickly led to another. We ended up on the floor.”

Meghan and Harry dropped by Spotify

Harry and Meghan suffered a blow after they were ditched by Spotify after releasing just one series of a podcast.

The Sussexes pocketed an estimated £18million in a deal with the streaming giant.

But it yielded only 12 episodes presented by Meghan and a “Holiday special” in 31 months.

Sources in the US claim the couple were let go after failing to meet “productivity requirements”.

Spotify and Archewell released a joint statement claiming that the deal was ended by “mutual agreement”.

What is next for Harry and Meghan?

Phil shared: “Harry and Meghan’s constant moaning has seen their popularity slump in the US, and Spotify cancelled their deal as the couple failed to come up with viable projects.

“They have hired new PR people but until they find different ways to earn money other than slagging off the royals, they are in freefall.”

Phil gave his predictions for the couple’s 2024 year, and said Meghan could create a Goop-style wellness website.

He explained: “I think Meghan will relaunch herself in the New Year with some sort of lifestyle business, along the lines of Gwyneth Paltrow, who she admires.

“Meghan has experience of this from her website The Tig, which had a healthy following before she met Harry.

“I think the penny is starting to drop with her that she needs to do something different.”

Meanwhile, Prince Harry may need to focus on repairing his relationships, according to the royal author.

Phil said: “Harry’s only success story is the Invictus Games, which was held in Germany this year, and for which he deserves credit.

“If I was advising the couple I would start by getting them to visit Meghan’s father and patch up their relationship before it’s too late. but I doubt they will do it.

Read More on The US Sun

“Harry may come back to the UK but it wouldn't surprise me if Meghan never returns.

“She knows she is very unpopular and the public could turn against her in a very embarrassing way.”

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