However, Prince Harry faced an unexpected twist as Butler, Spielberg, and Hanks decided to expose his infamous Nazi comments made in 2005. At that time, he was caught on camera wearing a swastika armband at a friend's fancy dress party. The trio revealed that they had obtained a copy of the video, leaked to the press in 2005, intending to release it publicly. They aimed to highlight Prince Harry's alleged hypocrisy and ignorance, arguing that he had no right to pass judgment on their work or history.
The video, unveiled at a press conference in Los Angeles, showed a 20-year-old Prince Harry, then a cadet at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, donning a Nazi uniform, complete with a red swastika armband and a German Africa Corps badge. In the video, he was seen making a Nazi salute and uttering "Heil Hitler" in a mock German accent. The video had caused a significant scandal in 2005, drawing criticism for insulting Holocaust victims and those who fought against Hitler's regime. At that time, Prince Harry issued a public apology, acknowledging it as a poor choice of costume.
Butler, Spielberg, and Hanks expressed dissatisfaction with Prince Harry's past apology, asserting their desire to reveal his true character and apparent lack of respect for the sacrifices of the Allied Forces, particularly American Airmen. They argued that their miniseries, inspired by Donald L. Miller's book "Masters of the Air: America's Bomber Boys Who Fought the Air War Against Nazi Germany," aimed to honor the bravery of those who flew the B-17 Flying Fortress. They accused Prince Harry of lacking understanding when criticizing their show and condemned him for wearing a Nazi symbol, mocking Holocaust victims and survivors.
The trio also accused Prince Harry of hypocrisy, pointing out his recent claims to champion human rights and social justice while being part of a royal family they deemed outdated and oppressive. They hoped their show would educate people about the true history of World War II and pledged not to be silenced by Prince Harry or anyone else. They emphasized the support they received from veterans, historians, critics, and fans, as well as the backing of Apple TV Plus, providing them creative freedom and budget for authenticity.
Butler, Spielberg, and Hanks were unafraid of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, describing her as narcissistic, greedy, and manipulative. They claimed evidence of Markle's involvement in leaking confidential information about Prince Harry's affair with actress Rachel Zane from "Suits," which they alleged was the real reason behind their departure from the royal family. The trio planned to disclose more details about Markle's actions in the future and expressed hope that Prince Harry would reconsider leaving the royal family, returning to his duties to redeem himself.
