Royal requests. Meghan Markle and Prince Harry filmed a plethora of appearances in 2021 for their eponymous Netflix documentary.
One special visit was to Harlem’s PS 123 Mahalia Jackson — a stopover that caused the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s aides to scramble and also provide a “gag order” for the educational institution.
Their Archwell team had to rush to make sure that the couple had a comfortable visit, including bringing cushions and a new carpet to the school, according to emails obtained by the Daily Mail. The availability of an outdoor space was also requested.
The files allegedly showed that the staff “had a say in which school they would visit” and “went through multiple edits of press releases to make their appearance sound ‘more substantial,’ ” the outlet reported.
Markle and Harry had arrived in Harlem to read her children’s book, “The Bench” to second-graders in September 2021.
The media list for Harry and Markle’s event was also “tightly controlled” and was “restricted to Meghan-friendly publications.”
Media that was able to attend included Vogue, but British tabloids were banned.
The Post has reached out to the school, the Department of Education and reps for the Sussexes for comment.
The files secured by the Daily Mail also allege that students and faculty at the elementary school were required to sign consent forms for filming.
The lovebirds’ Big Apple gathering planning began six months prior to their trip, and was helmed by one of their publicists, Toya Holness, who had also worked for the New York City Department of Education.
The emails state that three days before the Sussexes jetted to Manhattan, Archewell reps contacted the department “with a ‘location’ and ‘appearance’ release form for filming and asked them to run it by their lawyers.”
The gag order then barred the participants from talking about the Netflix documentary to others and didn’t allow them to make pessimistic statements about the former actress and her husband.
“I agree to not make negative, derogatory, or otherwise unfavorable statements about, or otherwise denigrate or disparage, any of the Released Parties,” the document reportedly read.
The form allowed the pair’s film crew to shoot content for their doc and also included a confidentiality clause. Students were then prohibited from posting on social media regarding the visit.
Dominique Cimina, a p.r. rep for Penguin Random House — the company that released “The Bench” — was also on the email chain for the event.
The Daily Mail unveiled that she wrote in a memo: “My team is looking into all things carpet, cushions, décor etc. More to come.”
Cimina had “debated extensively over the minutiae of the school event” in the message, according to the British outlet.
Sources close to the Archewell Foundation have since defended the move, telling The Post it’s a “standard practice” when minors are involved.
At the time, the “Suits” alum, who reportedly wore a $5,840 Loro Piana cashmere coat and matching $1,680 pants, was photographed squatting under a tent on the school’s playground on a blue box. Students, as well as Harry, sat on a mat and on comfy green pillows around her as she read from her book.
“It’s great to be back. We love New York,” Harry said at the time. When asked by a student if Meghan planned to write another book, she replied: “At the moment I don’t plan to write another children’s book, but never say never.”
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