Prince Harry has a history over making controversial comments that upset his family members.
The royal sparked controversy in April 2022 with a puzzling and contradictory statement during an interview at the delayed 2020 Invictus Games in The Hague, while discussing his grandmother, the late Queen Elizabeth II.
The interview occurred just one year after Harry’s initial return to the UK, following his and Meghan‘s visit to Windsor Castle to see the late Queen en route to the Netherlands.
Speaking with the American news program Today, Harry was questioned about the late Queen’s wellbeing, to which he responded: “Being with her, it was great. It was just so nice to see her, you know, she’s on great form, she’s always got a great sense of humour with me and I’m making sure she’s protected and got the right people around her.”
According to The Daily Mail, this particular remark didn’t sit well with the King, who was reportedly “at a loss” to understand his son’s conduct and the perplexing statement.
Today TV presenter Hoda Kotb reacted to Harry’s remarks, saying: “You make her laugh, that’s what she always says. Did you do it again?”.
Harry responded: “Yes I did. Both Meghan and I had tea with her so it was nice to catch up with her. Home for me now is for the time being is in the States and it feels that way as well. We’ve been welcomed with open arms and we have such a great community up in Santa Barbara.”, reports the Express.
The Duke faced ridicule from journalist Giles Coren over his “protection” remark. Coren penned in The Times: “If he doesn’t keep his grandmother on the straight and narrow, who knows what could happen? She could, say, marry someone unsuitable, or fall out with her entire family.”
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle abandoned their senior working Royal duties in 2020 and have since moved to Montecito, California where they now reside with their two children.
Although Harry declined to expand on the remark, the interview occurred just over a year following the Sussexes’ bombshell sit-down with Oprah Winfrey.
Since relinquishing their senior Royal roles, polling data has revealed a dramatic drop in Harry and Meghan’s favorability among the British public.
A YouGov survey in May 2025 revealed that merely 27 percent of the public maintained a favorable opinion of Harry, while only 20 percent of respondents viewed Meghan positively.
This marks a stark contrast to November 2017 when 81 percent of Britons indicated they held a positive view of Harry and nearly half expressed approval of Meghan.