AIDES for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex tried to gag teachers and pupils as young as five at a school used in their Netflix show.
Advisers for their Archewell foundation demanded the school sign a clause banning anyone from making negative comments.
This also related to any social media posts “now or in the future”.
Harry and Meghan went to Public School 123 — among the poorest in New York — in 2021, where Meghan read from her children’s book The Bench.
Reports at the time stated Meghan wore a £5,000 suit and Cartier jewellery at the school — where 95 per cent of kids are officially classed as in economic hardship.
Requests under freedom of information rules reveal the lengths Archewell advisors went to protect the couple’s image.
They also show how their team banned four British newspapers — including The Sun — from an event at the World Trade Center, despite it is being publicly owned.
Emails reveal the planning for the trip started six months earlier.
It was spearheaded by Toya Holness, one of the Sussexes’ PR team.
Three days before the school visit, Archewell representatives emailed the Department of Education with the “appearance release”, including the gagging clause, and asked them to run it by their lawyers.
An email from NYC schools press secretary Danielle Filson asked for the best way to get it agreed.
It is unclear whether it was signed.
The two sides also exchanged views over the language of the Department of Education press release.
Ms Filson wanted to take out The Bench, saying: “Just wanted to make it a bit less promotion-ey.”
Sources for Archewell said standard practice was followed.
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Dan Coombs
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