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Betrayal, loss and reconciliation: Prince Harry’s revelations about the breakdown in relations between himself and the British royal family continue in two forthcoming media interviews with ITV in the UK and CBS News.
“I want my father back, I want my brother back,” he says in the trailer of an interview with ITV’s Tom Bradby, set to air on Sunday, two days before the release of Spare, Harry’s new memoir.
In an interview with Anderson Cooper on CBS’ 60 Minutes, also airing Sunday, Harry attacked Buckingham Palace over negative media leaks against him and his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. He blames the royal family for the bitter feud that was playing out in public, he said.
His comments follow Harry and Meghan, a Netflix documentary released in December that targeted Buckingham Palace, including allegations against Harry’s father, King Charles III, and his brother, Prince William, heir apparent. Charles’ coronation is scheduled to take place at Westminster Abbey in May.
Though the trailer hints at a desire from Harry for reconciliation, his comments imply that family relations may be at a point of no return.
“Can you imagine a day when you would return as a full-time member of the royal family?” Cooper asks Harry briefly abstract posted by CBS News.
The Netflix documentary “Harry & Meghan” directs the anger at the palace
Harry and Meghan have criticized the royal family for not supporting them and allegedly sabotaging them with stories in the media. The couple have also shared their grievances with millions of viewers around the world — from an interview with Oprah Winfrey to her Netflix show.
Buckingham Palace did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Some critics are skeptical that the upcoming interviews will bring new insights.
Daniela Relph, the BBC’s royal correspondent, wrote that the subjects of the interviews “are largely what we’ve heard” and that the story so far has been told “from Harry and Meghan’s perspective”.
“Without commentary from Buckingham Palace, it’s difficult to present a different side of the story,” she wrote.
Most recently, the family appeared together at Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral in September, sparking speculation about a possible rapprochement. Charles recognized the couple in his first national address. “I also want to express my love for Harry and Meghan as they continue to build their lives abroad,” he said.
But the tone of Harry’s interviews suggests otherwise.
“They have shown absolutely no reconciliation,” Harry said in the ITV interview, which was filmed in California, where the couple live with their two children.
“They feel like it’s better to kind of keep us as villains,” he added.
On “60 minutesCooper questioned Harry about the couple’s decision to go public with their differences with Buckingham Palace.
“Every time I’ve tried privately there have been briefings and leaks and stories against me and my wife,” Harry replied.
There comes a point when “silence becomes treason,” he added.
The interviews are expected to promote Harry’s memoir, which is due to be released on January 10. Publisher, Penguin Random House, says it is a “seminent publication” written with “raw, unflinching honesty.”