UNACCEPTABLE:Prince Harry’s latest move beggars belief – yet again he’s just trying to outdo Prince William
Prince Harry appears quite happy copying the brother he doesn’t speak to if it means positive PR, argues Eleanor Burleigh.
Prince Harry appeared on a podcast during his trip to the UK this month (Image: Getty)
Prince Harry’s guest spot on ex-rugby legend Joe Marler’s podcast last week raised eyebrows for a number of reasons – not least the gaffe over his official title, apparently prince of a kingdom that hasn’t formally existed since the 18th century. As new details emerge from the sit-down, which was squeezed into Harry’s flying visit to Britain earlier this month, one thing stands out.
In a behind-the-scenes clip offering insight into Marler and co-host Jake Bhardwaj’s preparation for the episode, they revealed that the Duke of Sussex contacted them about collaborating, not the other way around. The interview has been praised by some for “humanising” the prince, but this revelation actually shows how calculated his PR strategy is.
It can’t be a coincidence that it was filmed hot on the heels of Prince William’s appearance on NFL player Travis Kelce’s podcast, which was released on July 3.
Harry contacted Joe Marler about appearing on his podcast, not vice versa
The Prince of Wales largely dodged personal disclosure in the episode, instead opting for sports chat, including about the World Cup, and playfully correcting Kelce and brother Jason’s use of “soccer” rather than “football”.
Harry’s, meanwhile, was much more of a personality showcase, revealing his favourite reality show, his sweary “grooming routine” and his advice for dealing with trauma.
Still, on the face of it, the two interviews bear many similarities – jokey, laidback formats hosted by a major sporting figure.
But while William’s slot aligned with his modernised, more relatable vision for the monarchy and felt like an authentic expression of his well-documented love of football, Harry’s was clearly aimed at doing one thing only: damage control.
He was able to reunite his two children with their grandfather during the UK trip, but otherwise it has been dogged by negativity, from the row over accommodation at Buckingham Palace to the humiliating loss of a major lawsuit against the Daily Mail.
Harry might have hoped his podcast debut would invite positive comparisons with his brother – two progressive royals, adapting to a new media landscape and showing they can have a laugh, despite their ongoing estrangement.
Instead, the antagonistic role the duke has cast himself in since stepping down as a senior royal, through allegations of mistreatment and even racism by the Firm, means rehabilitating his reputation is much easier said than done.
Rather than attracting positive attention, coverage has centred on Harry’s on-air blunder and wider accusations that the episode was “cringeworthy”.
The duke can claim to be genuinely passionate about his family’s security, rebuilding bridges with King Charles and the Invictus Games (all of which is surely true), but he just can’t escape the narrative that the most important thing to him is courting as much attention as possible, no matter how much he claims to despise it.
