Prince Harry Called Out for Turning His Back on Opportunities He Had with the Royal Family
Prince Harry is facing criticism for seemingly throwing away a golden opportunity to lead the Commonwealth when he had the "keys" to it during his time as a working royal.
Royal author Andrew Morton recently weighed in on Harry's actions before his move to the U.S., speaking on the *Pod Save the King* podcast. He revealed some surprising behind-the-scenes details, starting with Harry’s conversations with Oprah Winfrey. According to Morton, these talks took place in a London hotel in November 2018, just six months after Harry and Meghan’s wedding.
At one point, the couple even discussed moving to New Zealand and had conversations with the country’s Prime Minister about the possibility. Morton explained, “They had all kinds of plots and thoughts for their future.”
However, things didn’t pan out as planned. Morton believes that Prince Harry, despite being “cursed with charisma,” wasn’t happy with royal life. "He hates being a prince, and I think he saw Meghan as a way out," he added. “They didn’t have to leave the Royal Family in the way that they did, but they did.”
In the same interview, Morton also reflected on the unexpected way Queen Elizabeth ascended to the throne after her father’s sudden death. He highlighted how the Queen had become more understanding of anyone needing a break from royal duties.
Back in the late 1940s, after Queen Elizabeth married Prince Philip, the couple lived in Malta while he pursued his career in the Royal Navy. Many believed he was on track to become the First Lord of the Admiralty. Morton explained that they never expected King George VI’s death to come so soon, and they had hoped for at least 20 years of life on the fringes of the royal family.
This experience is part of why, according to Morton, the Queen was always empathetic toward those who wished to take a step back from royal duties for a while to enjoy family life. "You're a royal for a long time," he noted before concluding the conversation.
