A controversial new documentary film about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, titled ‘Harry – The Lost Prince’, is set to air on Germany’s ZDF network next month, sparking fresh debates about the couple’s role in the British monarchy.

Express.co.uk can reveal that the film, led by award-winning filmmaker Ulrike Grunewald, will premiere on December 3 at 8:15 pm, promising exclusive revelations about the Duke and Duchess of Sus𝑠e𝑥.

The documentary delves into Prince Harry’s struggles within the Royal Family following his decision to step back from royal duties.

It also explores his ongoing search for a meaningful role and the broader impact of this on the British monarchy.

According to ZDF, the show examines how the Royal Family is grappling with significant changes post-Megxit, including the death of the late Queen and challenges such as King Charles and Princess Kate’s cancer diagnoses.

In promoting the prime-time special, ZDF states: “The Royal Family has to deal with difficult developments and regroup after ‘Megxit,’ the death of the Queen and Charles and Kate’s cancer. What role will Harry play in the future?”

“Even in his self-imposed exile in Montecito, California, he remains a figure of public interest. His commitment to charitable organisations – such as the Invictus Games he founded for wounded servicemen and women – always puts him in the spotlight,” the description continues.

It also touches on Harry’s shift from being a beloved royal to a polarising figure: “King Charles’s second-born, once the Windsors’ most popular royal for a time, is now a controversial figure. He has always struggled with his role as a ‘reserve.’

“Paparazzi and the tabloids are a thorn in his side. In addition, his disclosures in recent years have caused a lot of trouble within the family.”

The film explores the divide in public opinion about Harry, 40, and Meghan, 43, with younger audiences viewing Harry as a modernising force while more traditional or conservative circles see him as a threat to the monarchy.

“Old versus young, traditional versus modern – the family conflict in the House of Windsor reflects the debate about the future of the British monarchy and its value for society,” the network adds.

Grunewald, who directed the documentary, shared additional insights into the project exclusively with Express.co.uk earlier this year. She emphasised that the film investigates some of the most controversial moments in recent royal history.

“Harry – The Lost Prince will look into one of the most heartbreaking periods of the Royal Family since the abdication of Edward VIII in 1936,” said Grunewald.

She added that damaging revelations about the monarchy stem directly from the Sus𝑠e𝑥es themselves: “The most damaging allegations can only come from within. Revelations that shock the Royal Family only come out of Prince Harry‘s or Meghan Markle‘s mouths.”

The documentary also scrutinises Meghan Markle’s evolving reputation.

“She [Meghan] might be embarrassed about the amount of criticism she now gets even in communities that used to back her after the decision to leave the Royal Family as a working member,” Grunewald said.

She noted that some individuals involved with Prince Harry’s Invictus Games have questioned Meghan’s role and attitude, while others remain hopeful about the couple’s potential.

“At the moment it is hard to see any big achievement of their Archewell Foundation, which claims to work for the improvement of communities. But there are still voices who see the high potential of the couple not only for the British monarchy but also for a liberal society.”

The documentary also addresses Meghan’s efforts to discuss racism and her experiences within the Royal Family in the context of American political debates.

Grunewald reflected on the late Queen’s perspective, saying: “I begin to understand the late Queen’s verdict that you can’t be ‘half in and half out.’”

Grunewald and her team conducted extensive research for the project, filming in California, where Harry and Meghan live with their children, Prince Archie, five, and Princess Lilibet, three.

They also travelled to New York to speak with sources close to the Sus𝑠e𝑥es.

The team behind ‘Harry – The Lost Prince’ is known for uncovering secrets about the British Royal Family, having previously aired a special on ‘Princess Kate and The Drama of the Windsors’.