Harry and Meghan recorded more than 15 hours of video diaries documenting Megxit

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex recorded more than 15 hours of personal footage for their Netflix documentary series, it has been revealed.

Prince Harry said he thought it was a "really sensible" thing to do, when it was suggested to him by a friend to document the couple's split from the Royal family.

So, he and his wife did just that - with video diary-type pieces to camera using their mobile phones.

Now, the Harry and Meghan Netflix docuseries director Liz Garbus said that more than 15 hours of footage from the early months of 2020 alone - when Megxit was finalised - was filmed.

The Sussexes then shared all of it with Ms Garbus and her husband, the producer Dan Cogan.

Harry and Meghan signed lucrative deals, thought to be worth more than £100 million, with Netflix and Spotify after quitting as senior working royals, with the docuseries the first major output for them on the streaming giant.

In the opening scenes, Harry is shown at Heathrow airport in footage he filmed himself in March 2020 at the culmination of the Megxit crisis and as he prepared to leave the UK for the last time as a senior royal.

"This is about duty and service and I feel as though, being part of this family, it is my duty to uncover this exploitation and bribery that happens within our media," he says.

Meghan is seen separately, filming herself in Vancouver wearing a towel on her head and saying: "Unfortunately, in us standing for something, they are destroying us."

Discussing the reams of selfies, Ms Garbus told the New York Times: "You’re right there with Harry in the Windsor Suite processing the fact that he’s leaving the royal family for the first time in his life."

"Then there was another clip with Meghan at home, alone, fresh out of the shower, her hair in a towel, no makeup, processing on her end what their life might actually be like.

"It’s very personal and raw and powerful, and it made me appreciate the incredible weight that went into their decision,” she said.

"It also affirmed the choice I had made about wanting to unravel how this historic break came to be."

In the first episode of Harry & Meghan, the Duke of Sussex said a friend told them they should document this particular period of their lives.

He said: "A friend of ours actually suggested that we document ourselves through this period of time.

"With all of the misinformation that was going on out there, especially about us and the departure, it seemed like a really sensible idea."

Meghan is then seen speaking into her phone camera and seems to ask if this is the first video she has filmed, saying: "I don't know. We've talked about it. We keep talking about it, because we know that, right now it might not make sense, but one day it will make sense."

In interview footage, she says: "We've been really conscious of protecting our kids as best as we can and also understanding the role that they play in this really historical family."

As the piano music continues to play, Harry says: "This isn't just about our story. This has always been so much bigger than us.

"No one knows the full truth. We know the full truth. The institution knows the full truth. And the media know the full truth because they've been in on it.

"And I think anybody else in my situation would have done exactly the same thing."

Meghan appears with a towel wrapped around her hair, appearing to speak into her phone camera, saying: "H is in London and I'm here."

She shakes her head and says: "I don't even know where to begin."

Footage of the couple introducing son Archie to the media then plays with Harry's voice saying: "My job is to keep my family safe. By the nature of being born into this position and with everything else that comes with it and the level of hate that is being stirred up in the last three years especially against my wife, and my son, I'm generally concerned for the safety of my family."

Meghan can then be seen again, towel wrapped around her hair, saying: "I just really want to get to the other side of all of this."

There is a pause where she sits silently and then she appears emotional and says: "I don't know what to say anymore."

Ms Garbus was asked repeatedly if Harry and Meghan had control over the final product, and whether or not the couple saw the end product before it was signed off.

"It was a collaboration. You can keep asking me, but that’s what I’ll say," she said.