In a recent televised interview on ABC’s Good Morning America, Prince Harry has once again found himself at the center of a royal controversy. Speaking with host Will Reeve, son of the late Christopher Reeve, Harry candidly discussed King Charles’ cancer diagnosis, suggesting that it could potentially act as a unifying force within the fractured royal family.
This statement has ignited a backlash among friends of the royal family, who believe that Harry should have maintained discretion on such a sensitive topic. “It seems Harry has taken it on himself to use the diagnosis to publicize his own agenda. If it wasn’t so sickening it would be funny,” one palace insider told The Daily Beast, expressing a sentiment that has echoed across royal circles. The conversation about the King’s health was part of an interview primarily intended to promote Harry’s ongoing project, the Invictus Games.
The discussion on Good Morning America also ventured into personal territory, including Harry’s potential plans for U.S. citizenship and his life in California. When asked by Reeve if he would consider becoming a U.S. citizen, Harry responded, “I have considered it, yeah,” though he noted that it’s not a high priority at the moment. This casual acknowledgment has also captured global media attention, adding another layer of public scrutiny to his statements.
Throughout the interview, Harry spoke about the role of his children in keeping him grounded. “The kids are doing great,” he shared. “They’ve got an incredible sense of humour and make us laugh and keep us grounded every single day like most kids do. I’m just very grateful to be a dad.” His comments highlighted a normalcy and joy in his personal life that starkly contrasts with the ongoing public and familial tensions.
Harry also addressed his visits to the UK, indicating a desire to maintain connections with his family despite the evident rifts. “I have my own family. As we all do. So my family, and my life in California, is as it is,” he explained, but noted that he has other trips planned which would take him back to the UK, allowing him to “stop and see my family as much as I can.”
Yet, it was his response to Reeve’s question about the impact of illness on family dynamics that has caused the most uproar. Reeve, drawing from his personal experience, pondered whether illness could have a “galvanizing or sort of reunifying effect for a family.” Harry agreed, saying, “Absolutely. Yeah, I’m sure. Throughout all these [Invictus] families I see it on a day-to-day basis, again, the strength of the family unit coming together. I think any illness, any sickness brings families together.”
This interview comes on the heels of previous public disclosures that have strained Harry’s relationships with the royal family. Just last year, during another Invictus Games-related interview, Harry’s comments about ensuring Queen Elizabeth had “the right people around her” sparked considerable palace discomfort.
Buckingham Palace has not issued a comment regarding Harry’s latest interview, maintaining their usual stance of silence on personal disclosures made by the Duke of Sussex. This ongoing saga continues to unfold, reflecting the complex interplay between public personas and private lives in the modern royal family.
