Behind the scenes of explosive Prince Harry interview: ‘Subdued'
IN LONDON
It was the interview that sent shockwaves around the world – and reportedly through the halls of Buckingham Palace.
Prince Harry's explosive sit-down with the BBC, just hours after losing his appeal to overturn the decision to remove his police security detail in the UK, saw him brand the long-running legal saga a 'good old-fashion establishment stitch-up' and reveal his father 'won't speak' to him.
Given his Netflix docu-series, Harry & Meghan, and the many interviews he's given since quitting royal duties, it was far from the first time the Duke of Sussex had spoken so candidly about the personal issues plaguing relationships within his family.
However, according to the UK's Times, unlike those previous 'heavily controlled' settings, 'nothing was off limits' when he sat down with BBC journalist Nada Tawfik last Friday.
Sources added to the publication that while Harry was 'subdued', he was 'very keen to talk'.
The interview was reportedly co-ordinated by the chief communications officer for Harry and Meghan's Archewell Foundation, Meredith Maines, and was expected to last just ten minutes.
Instead, Harry opted to speak for around half an hour.
After it aired, Ms Tawfik opened up about what went on behind-the-scenes, describing how Harry arrived at the agreed meeting location, a few kilometres from his home with Meghan and their kids, 'without an entourage'. She wrote in an article for the BBC that he 'politely introduced himself' to the journalist and her production crew, making sure to shake everyone's hands.
'We began with some very brief small talk, which always helps to break the ice before a formal sit down, but we didn't touch the topic at hand until the cameras started rolling,' Ms Tawfik explained.
'Prince Harry was eager to share his feelings, despite the critical scrutiny that follows him. As the interviewer, I was also keenly aware of that scrutiny.'
She added that it was 'important' to address the major, but somewhat uncomfortable questions, including 'why taxpayers should pay for his security' and 'why a change of status wasn't warranted given he wasn't a working royal', among other sensitive topics.
'He wasn't defensive or combative, and he wanted to address each of those points,' Ms Tawfik recalled.
' … With his foot tapping frequently as he spoke, he was surprisingly candid and forthcoming.'
Harry told the BBC that the court ruling on Friday had left him in a position where he 'can't see a world' in which he'd bring Meghan or their two children, Prince Archie, 6, and Princess Lilibet, 3, 'back to the UK at this point'.
He added that 'there have been so many disagreements between myself and some of my family', but insisted that he'd 'forgiven' them and wanted 'reconciliation'.
'There's no point continuing to fight any more, life is precious,' Harry said, explaining that the security issue had 'always been the sticking point'.
The Montecito-based duke also admitted he was 'devastated' by the legal outcome.
'I'm devastated – not so much as devastated with the loss that I am about the people behind the decision, feeling as though this is okay. Is it a win for them?' Harry asked.
'I'm sure there are some people out there, probably most likely the people that wish me harm, [who] consider this a huge win.'
While there were plenty of jaw-dropping moments within the interview, it was Harry's remarks about his father's health amid his cancer battle that caused a major stir with many.
'I don't know how much longer my father has. He won't speak to me because of this security stuff,' Harry admitted.
According to the UK's Telegraph the comment about the King's lifespan was found to be in particularly 'poor taste' within the inner royal circle.
Following the court ruling and subsequent public reaction from Harry, the Palace took the rare step of issuing a response.
As a spokesman pointed out in the statement: 'All of these issues have been examined repeatedly and meticulously by the courts, with the same conclusion reached on each occasion.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
ABC News
an hour ago
- ABC News
Does Israel have its own nuclear weapons?
Mon 23 Jun 2025 at 12:30pm Monday 23 Jun 2025 at 12:30pm Mon 23 Jun 2025 at 12:30pm Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Play Duration: 16 minutes 40 seconds 16 m
News.com.au
2 hours ago
- News.com.au
The Paddington Bear Experience: Unusual rule behind the London attraction's magic
IN LONDON From concerts to social catchups to even just a relatively attractive sunset, there's not a lot we don't feel compelled to capture on our phones. But for the tens of thousands of people who enter the immersive world of Paddington Bear in the heart of London, it's as though they're back in the pre-screen era. The Paddington Bear Experience, which just celebrated its first birthday, takes visitors into a multi-sensory adventure through a series of rooms, all inspired by locations within the original stories. It's huge, and colourful, and fun – exactly the kind of place you'd usually be snapping endless pictures. But a huge part of the magic is the utter lack of screens – a policy forewarned on signs from the moment you board the 'Paddington Station train'. 'You're immersing yourself in it – for that [hour], you're just there and you're just living it. You're part of Paddington's world and you are a part of that experience,' Nathan Brine, the Path Entertainment Group producer behind the Experience, told 'What's lovely is when people actually say, 'you know what? I was there, and I wasn't there through a screen'. Because in truth, if you want to watch that on the animated series or the films, you can do that at home. 'This is about being there, and being visceral and being able to touch everything and be involved in everything.' Taking my exuberant four-year-old Paddington-obsessed son through the immersive, actor-led adventure, I myself quickly lost the urge to pull out my phone, as most parents are usually programmed to do during moments of excitement and joy. Instead, the pair of us just got swept up into the Brown's home in Windsor Gardens, Peru, and all the extraordinarily-detailed bits in between – a rare break from technological connection. Crafting the Experience to pay due tribute to the beloved franchise, first created by author Michael Brown in 1958, was no small feat – but with the help of a 'huge volume' of props from the films, loaned by Studio Canal, it basically feels like you're visiting the real Bear and his pals. The iconic home of the Brown family, featuring the painted tree snaking up the staircase wall, is where most of them ended up. Some pieces from the film sets though, according to Brine, were simply too valuable to borrow. '[Things that] cannot be touched, cannot be broken, basically need to be insured for a lot of money … some of those are like, 'Okay, you keep holding on to them',' he told with a laugh. Six years in the making, the effort behind the Experience is evident around every corner. Whether a diehard or medium fan, or even just remotely interested in Paddington Bear and its cultural significance in the UK, it's impossible not to smile at the charming curation of his world at every turn. Finding the exact right location for it, though, was initially quite a challenge, but it ended up nestled along the Thames in the tourist hotspot which also hosts The London Eye, Shrek's Adventure and the London Dungeon. 'It was a bit of a crazy space, but we walked out of what is now Mr Gruber's antique shop, and out onto the South Bank and looked directly at Big Ben and were like, 'this feels weirdly familiar',' Brine recalled. 'And then we revisited the [Paddington] film posters and one of them is Paddington sat on that exact wall outside our entrance, with Big Ben behind. So it felt a little bit like destiny, like this is where he should be.'
News.com.au
3 hours ago
- News.com.au
Miley Cyrus addresses claim she was ‘dismissive' of fans at record signing
Last week, the Flowers hitmaker and Naomi Campbell teamed up for a meet-and-greet in London to promote their new single, Every Girl You've Ever Loved. The disco song features spoken-word verses performed by Naomi, with the British supermodel also appearing in the accompanying music video. But after the record signing, some fans took to social media to accuse Miley of being "inconsiderate" and "dismissive" by chatting to Naomi instead of focusing on them. Taking to Instagram on Tuesday, the 32-year-old thanked all of the guests for attending.
