As Prince Harry turns 40 todayI find myself torn between admiration and disappointment. It’s an unusual dilemma – having covered the royal family for more than two decades, there is perhaps no other royal who has gone from beloved to divisive with such alarming speed. tormentThe once beloved rebel prince who captured the nation’s hearts has evolved into something of a high-profile enigma. I’m not here to throw tomatoes at the man – credit should be given where it’s due. However, despite my best efforts to remain impartial, I’m still scratching my head over the royal scoundrel’s journey since he met Meghan Markle.
Let’s start with the positives. Harry’s crowning glory over the past decade has undeniably been his two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. The Duke of Sussex said this week that becoming a father to his two children has given him a “new perspective on life” and made him more committed to making the world a better place. Let’s hope he can follow through on a similar promise with his family here in Blighty.
The Invictus Games were also a success. Helping wounded veterans and service personnel is a noble cause, and for that, I applaud it. But for every Invictus, there is an “Oprah Interview,” a “Harry & Meghan” Netflix special, or a bestselling memoir with a title so self-indulgent — Spare — that it could very well be the world’s longest subtweet.
Yes, this series of verbal grenades hurled at the royal family has left a scorch mark not only on Buckingham Palace but also on Harry’s reputation. His accusations, particularly around race, have undoubtedly deepened the rift with his father, King Charles, and his brother, Prince William.
The crux of the matter? The Sussexes never seem to say anything positive about the royal family. It’s a complaint on loop. And recently, when King Charles and the Princess of Wales were battling serious illness, Harry and Meghan’s interviews – perfectly timed on ITV and CBS – were about as useful as a bull in a royal china shop.
Harry, of course, still holds a notable place in the royal hierarchy – fifth in line to the throne, for what that’s worth these days. But alas, no HRH title for him or Meghan. However, their children, Archie and Lilibet, are now free to exercise their titles of Prince and Princess if they so wish, despite accusations levelled at the family as to why they would be uncommunicative. Just “call us Harry and Meghan”, or is it Prince, Duke or Duchess with a cherry on top?
The couple recent “almost real” excursions to Nigeria and Colombia, have attracted some positive attention, promoting causes like gender equality and combating online abuse. But it’s hard to shake the feeling that their goodwill tours have a “royals-lite” air, as if someone swapped the best champagne for Prosecco and hoped no one would notice.
Speaking of public backlash, Harry’s acceptance of both the Pat Tillman Award and the Living Legend of Aviation Award raised more than a few eyebrows. Over 70,000 people signed a petition against the former, which, in my opinion, was unnecessary. After all, Harry served his country and supported wounded soldiers at their Invictus Games. He deserved it, in my opinion.
Then there’s the curious matter of Harry’s safety. His ongoing battle with the Home Office over whether he and his family receive adequate police protection on British soil has become something of a farce. Despite flying to the UK with very little notice, Harry is still focused on fighting for his most important — er, safety. If he loses at a hearing scheduled for April next year, some say it could spell the end of what little relationship he has left with the UK.
Harry’s self-imposed exile in America is starting to feel like an extended sabbatical gone horribly wrong. Rumours of a possible return to royal duties occasionally circulate, but there’s little evidence to suggest the Sussexes are packing their bags for Heathrow any time soon. Meanwhile, Spare – which sounds like the world’s most scandalous therapy session – continues to make waves, with a paperback release due out next month. Its release has even led to the Sussexes being evicted from Frogmore Cottage. It seems Harry’s new life now comes with fewer royal privileges and more consequences.
On a personal front, Harry has made it clear that he considers America his home, although the minor visa snafu regarding his past drug use appears to have been resolved. As for the Sussexes’ financial future? Their $100 million Netflix the deal keeps them afloat, along with the supposed inheritances from relatives that Harry seems so intent on distancing himself from.
So here we are, with Prince Harry At 40: part humanitarian, part headline-maker and all-round controversial. His transformation from sassy royal to divisive figure leaves us wondering whether, in his quest to carve out a new identity, he has simply lost his way. Only time will tell whether this exiled prince will find his way back – or if he even wants to. For now, Harry remains a character as intriguing as he is polarising, forever caught between two worlds and seemingly at odds with both.