After months of maintaining a dignified silence, the Duke of Sussex has spoken at length about “the good old-fashioned establishment stitch-up” that he believes led to the removal of his police security detail in Britain.
The BBC team, led by the interviewer Nada Tawfik, had expected ten minutes with the duke. In the end, Prince Harry spoke for about half an hour.
Sources close to the interview described Harry as “subdued” but “very keen to talk”.
On screen he looked tired and pale. Harry had chosen a property near his home in Montecito, California, for the interview. His wife, Meghan, was not present, nor did she join him in court at any point during the past three years of his bitter legal battle. What the duchess will make of the estimated £1.5 million bill for legal fees that Harry is now liable for is anyone’s guess.
The interview was organised by Meredith Maines, the chief communications office for the Archewell Foundation, Harry and Meghan’s company. Although, like his uncle Prince Andrew’s encounter with the BBC, it’s a wonder that anyone thought this would be a good idea.
Harry and Meghan at the late Queen’s funeral in 2022
TOBY MELVILLE/REUTERS
Unlike previous interviews with the duke, which have been heavily controlled, it is understood that this time nothing was off-limits.
So it seemed. His anger at his family, the government and the very establishment that he says he does not want or need was present throughout the broadcast.
Within moments of the interview being shown for teatime viewers in Britain and breakfast TV in California, the repercussions were felt at the Palace, as Harry spoke about his family, forgiveness and reconciliation.
At times contradictory, he launched further attacks on his father despite claiming “there is no point fighting any more”. He condemned the “establishment stitch-up” while maintaining that his establishment birthright should guarantee his police protection.
The prince said that he longed for “reconciliation”, while acknowledging that he will not be forgiven for his tell-all autobiography, Spare. Yet there appears to be little soul-searching as to why that might be.
Harry admitted, with sadness, that his father did not take his calls and he appeared resigned to the fact that he will never bring his children to Britain to meet the King.
It has been 15 months since the Duke of Sussex last saw his father and the verdict in the Court of Appeal suggests that it could be many more before they are reunited.
Shortly before Buckingham Palace announced the news that the King had been diagnosed with cancer, Charles phoned his younger son in California to break the news.
To his credit, Harry was on a plane to Britain within hours to see his father face to face.
The King with Kate, William, Meghan and Harry at Christmas in 2018
STEPHEN POND/GETTY IMAGES
The welcome was perhaps not as warm as Harry might have hoped.
Arriving at Clarence House, the King’s London residence, Harry was shown in to meet his father.
Harry’s stepmother, the Queen, joined them for the meeting, much to the duke’s chagrin.
Shortly after Harry’s visit, the King and Queen were seen leaving in a car to catch a helicopter flight to Sandringham for a planned weekend away. That was in February last year, and father and son have not been reunited since.
In May last year Harry tried to see his father when he returned to Britain to mark the tenth anniversary of the Invictus Games with a service at St Paul’s Cathedral. He appeared, however, to have been snubbed by his father who, despite being in London at the time, made it clear that a meeting was not possible.
A spokesman for the duke said at the time: “In response to many inquiries and continued speculation on whether or not the duke will meet his father while in the UK this week, it unfortunately will not be possible due to His Majesty’s full programme.”
The spokesman added: “The duke, of course, is understanding of his father’s diary of commitments and various other priorities and hopes to see him soon.”
CHRIS JACKSON/CLARENCE HOUSE/PA
Sources close to the King said that every effort had been made to make Harry comfortable during his stay in Britain and that the duke had even been offered accommodation within Buckingham Palace.
This offer, however, was rejected by the duke, who chose instead to stay in a hotel.
There have been other opportunities since the King’s diagnosis for Harry to see his father that have failed to turn into a meeting.
As the duke said himself, the “security stuff” meant that Charles felt he had nothing to say to Harry, in person or on the phone.
“There is nothing there,” a source said when asked about their relationship in recent months.
A source close to the King said: “His son suing the King’s government in the King’s court over a decision taken by a committee that decides on the King’s security makes it incredibly tricky for Charles.”
So now the case has concluded, should we expect a reunion?
Not any time soon is the answer and that is not just as a result of the latest outburst, which will not be welcome to a man still undergoing weekly cancer treatment.
This week, the Sussexes appeared to contravene the exit agreement they struck with the Palace when the duchess used “Her Royal Highness” on a thank-you note that was shown online.
Charles and Diana with Harry and William
PA
In April 2018
STEVE PARSONS/PA
When they left their royal roles five years ago, they agreed not to use their HRH titles as they were no longer working members of the royal family.
At the time, a statement issued on behalf of the late Queen, Harry’s grandmother, said: “The Sussexes will not use their HRH titles as they are no longer working members of the royal family.”
Perhaps foreseeing that there could be an issue over the couple’s security, Queen Elizabeth added: “Buckingham Palace does not comment on the details of security arrangements, There are well established independent processes to determine the need for publicly funded security.”
In Spare, Harry wrote that his brother, William, the Prince of Wales, had pushed him to the ground during a furious row and accused the Princess of Wales of behaving coldly towards Meghan.
In a high-profile television interview to promote the book, Harry described his stepmother, Camilla, as “dangerous,” and said that bodies had been “left in the street” to rehabilitate her image.
Now, he cuts a sad figure. He left for a better life but sadly does not seem to have figured out how to obtain that.
Harry may find that with so much goodwill eroded over the past five years, there may be very few blocks left from which to rebuild any meaningful relationship with his family.