The Royal Remarks that Blew Up NBC Interview
It was 14 words. Just 14 words. But in that sentence, Prince Harry scored what may be a season-defining own goal, as he has been increasingly prone to do. After a brilliant week championing the Invictus Games, rallying the veterans, basking in glowing media coverage, he decided to sit down for what turned out to be a truly bizarre, and frankly unnecessary, television interview with NBC.
It’s still not quite a week since Harry and Meghan made headlines for their surprise Windsor Castle visit with The Queen. It was the first time they were back in the UK together since they spectacularly walked out on Royal life.
There’s something people will tell you about meeting Her Majesty. They feel it’s like an out-of-body experience, to be remembered and treasured. Her visitors are almost always exceptionally discreet, as if talking too much about their meeting will cheapen it, make it more ordinary, let too much daylight in on that magic.
If only her grandson felt the same. Prince Harry sat down for an interview with NBC about the Invictus Games, but seemed to talk of nothing but The Queen. As journalist Patricia Treble noted on Twitter, in an eleven minute interview, only two minutes or so were actually about the Games. Rather than redirecting the interview, he gladly responded to questions about Queen, country, and family. And in doing so, may have burned down any last thread of a bridge that could have brought them back together.
The most astonishing remark, a mumbled sentence just after the interview began, that, incredibly, was left unchallenged by the reporter.
NBC: How did it feel being back, being with her? (The Queen)
Harry: Being with her, it was great. It was just so nice to see her. You know, she’s on great form. She has always got a great sense of humour with me and I’m just making sure she’s protected and has got the right people around her.
What?
A couple of things to point out here, if you’re wondering, what’s the big deal?
The Queen is Head of State. Some European countries have Prime Ministers and Presidents, others, like the UK, have Prime Ministers and a Monarch. Is Harry implying she’s not of sound mind and needs protection? From an estranged grandson in California? That the people around her are perhaps trying to manipulate the Head of State? Imagine a British interviewer letting that response slide. “Sorry, why do you believe The Queen needs protection? What is wrong with the people around her that you must step in?”
Frankly, imagine any interviewer letting that question slide IF it had been the child or grandchild of another Head of State, let’s say, the President of the United States. “Why do you think the President needs protection? Is something wrong with him? Are you suggesting the President is surrounded by the wrong people?” The Queen is not just some British celebrity to follow or fawn over, she has an important constitutional role as Monarch and Head of State, nationally and globally. It was an incredibly arrogant comment for Harry to make, and astounding for a newsperson to ignore.
It was such an astonishing comment, that Number 10 were asked to respond, the Prime Minister’s spokesperson saying “Yes” — when asked if he was confident about her current welfare arrangements. Harry also went on to say, for good measure, that when he’s with the Head of State, “we talk about things that she can’t talk about with anybody else.” NBC described him in their interview as The Queen’s “closest confidant.” Oh boy.
There are two, tight, loyal circles of people around The Queen at almost all times. First, members of The Royal Household, who consider it a true vocation, the honour of a lifetime, to be able to serve her and work at the palace. That goes for everyone from household staff to her senior aides. They will consider Harry’s comment a massive, personal slight; ignorant, rude, and most of all, inaccurate.
Second, her family. You know, her eldest son and heir, Prince Charles? Her three other children, Princess Anne, Prince Edward (and his wife Sophie, said to be as close as another daughter to The Queen) and Andrew, are all in regular contact with their mother, personally or by phone. Not to mention her many grandchildren who are close by and regular visitors, including one future King, Prince William. Most of whom just spent a long Easter weekend with her.
The Prince of Wales has the added professional element of daily (sometimes hourly) interaction, the lines of communication are said to be open and constant between Clarence House and Windsor Castle. Being prepared to take over is more important than ever.
Harry admitted to Oprah, that he didn’t have much interaction with his grandmother before their conversations about him leaving the Royal family, “I’ve spoken more to my grandmother in the last year than I have done for many, many years.” Then he admitted to NBC he’s only seen his grandmother twice in the last few years. Yet he’s the one to “protect” her, to make sure “she has the right people around her” ?
As Australian journalist Peter Ford said, “I can’t decide if he’s narcissistic or just delusional.” Harsh words, but not surprising.
When asked about his father and brother, a suddenly glaring Harry decided it was time to redirect and ignored the question completely. Which spoke volumes. That bridge is crumbling into the river as we speak. His only mention of his brother, William, was that their mother, Diana, “had done her bit with my brother.. got him set up.. he’s got his kids.” Hard to know what that even meant, or that Prince William will appreciate being mentioned.
It’s as if Harry just can’t help himself. That he can’t appreciate or enjoy positive press coverage, and has to take immediate steps to blow it up. Once again he was riding a PR high when he gave this interview. Consider similar actions in the past, the explosive announcement of legal action after an immensely successful official tour in 2019, where the couple had been basking in near-universal praise. The self-pitying interview granted about themselves, after seeing awful, real human suffering on the ground. You have to wonder sometimes, do they actually crave the chaos?
Much was made after the Oprah interview, about speaking “your truth” and though I personally think there is only one truth, there are certainly different sides, and people can express how the truth affects them. Harry would be wise to stick to his own issues and matters when discussing them in public.
Right now, what any friend or savvy adviser should tell him: Move on.
You felt trapped, and now you’re free. You live in an amazing home, in a fantastic community, that, in your words, “opened its arms to you.” You have a loving wife, healthy children, an income others can only dream of, and the chance to take the world by storm and do some real good in it. That is a rare and special place to occupy.
Move on from your Royal life, move on from discussing that Royal life, move on from challenging decisions that were made because you chose to leave it. Most of all, move on from discussing other people, especially those in the Royal Family. You have your story, they should be allowed theirs.
The world is yours, Harry. Onward.