In order to boost her personal reputation, Prince Harry claims his stepmother Camilla, the queen consort, leaked confidential discussions to the public, implicating the royal family in his wife Meghan’s suffering.
Harry accused members of the royal family of “falling into bed with the devil” in interviews that were broadcast on Sunday. Harry singled out Camilla’s efforts to repair her reputation with the British people following her long-running romance with his father, now King Charles III.
“That made her dangerous because of the connections that she was forging within the British press. There was open willingness on both sides to trade information. And with a family built on hierarchy, and with her, on the way to being queen consort, there was gonna be people or bodies left in the street.”
Harry appeared on “60 Minutes”, “Good Morning America,” and Britain’s ITV to promote his book, “Spare,” which will be widely distributed on Tuesday. Its descriptions of sour familial animosities have already produced explosive headlines.
Harry frequently cited the media as the cause of the problems that the Sussexes and the rest of the family were experiencing. According to him, the press caused issues with his brother Prince William and his wife Kate, which led to the conflict.
“They always pitched us against each other,” he told Good Morning America. “They pitch Kate and Meghan against each other.”
Harry was also unrepentant about suing some British media outlets, and he stated that his father believes that trying to influence the media would be “probably a death mission.” Harry stated that it was “my life’s work” to alter the UK media environment.
He reiterated on ITV that after he wed multiracial American actress Meghan Markle, there was “anxiety” in the royal family over the skin color of their newborn kid. Harry and Meghan initially brought up the issue in a 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, but they haven’t revealed whose family member was concerned.
The experience, Harry said, was an illustration of unconscious bias, but he added that the royal family needed to “learn and grow” in order to be “part of the solution rather than part of the issue.” Harry insisted that the family was not racist.
“Otherwise unconscious bias then moves into the category of racism,” Harry said. He said that “especially when you are the monarchy – you have a responsibility, and quite rightly people hold you to a higher standard than others.”
In “Spare,” Harry’s sadness at the passing of his mother in 1997 is explored, as is his long-simmering bitterness at being the royal “spare,” overshadowed by William, his elder brother. He admits taking cocaine and cannabis, as well as fights and a physical altercation with William. He also discusses how he lost his virginity.
As an Apache helicopter pilot in Afghanistan, he also claims to have killed 25 Taliban militants, a claim that has drawn criticism from both the Taliban and former British soldiers.
“Spare” is the latest in a string of public pronouncements by Harry and Meghan since they quit royal life and moved to California in 2020, citing what they saw as the media’s racist treatment of Meghan and a lack of support from the palace. It follows the Winfrey interview and a six-part Netflix documentary released last month.
Harry, 38, writes of the couple’s contentious separation from the royal family following the denial of their desire for a part-time royal position in the ghostwritten biography.
The royal family will undoubtedly feel increased pressure as a result of the televised interviews. He will also be seen on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert”.
Royal officials have not addressed the charges, but sympathizers have responded to them, generally in an anonymous manner.
After years of “spin and distortion” by others, Harry has defended the biography, saying it is his attempt to “own my story.” Harry refuted claims that his book was written with the intention of harming his family in the “60 Minutes” interview.
Harry is giving the people the opportunity to see inside the palace walls, according to Omid Scobie, author of the book “Finding Freedom,” which is about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
“Of course, that does come with some downsides for those who have been part of his journey,’’ Scobie said. “We heard some sort of really startling confessions and stories about members of the royal family, particularly when it comes to Camilla and her relationship with the press.’’
Harry stated that despite not speaking with his father or brother in a while, he still wishes to make amends with them. Harry told ITV that the ball is in the royal family’s court, but he wants to make amends.
“They’ve shown absolutely no willingness to reconcile,” he said.