English dailies react on Monday to interviews with Prince Harry broadcast on Sunday, new sources of embarrassment for the royal family.
Unsurprisingly, the British dailies give pride of place this Monday to the latest revelations from Prince Harry. Two interviews with the Duke of Sussex aired on Sunday ahead of the release of his memoir, The Alternate (Fayard), this Tuesday. These interviews (one granted to the American channel CBS, the other to the English channel ITV) brought their share of startling revelations … and triggered the wrath of the British press, very upset against the couple.
One of Harry’s statements occupies the front page of several tabloids. Almost two years after the prince and his wife Meghan gave an interview to Oprah Winfrey, in which they revealed that a member of the royal family had expressed concern about the skin color of their unborn son – Meghan being mixed-race – Harry said on Sunday that he had never accused the monarchy of being racist. He would have simply pointed out the “unconscious biases” of the royal family, and “the British press” would have seen an accusation of racism. A subtle nuance that did not convince the newspapers:
“Harry’s Bizarre TV Claim: ‘We Have Never Called The Royal Family Racists’,” writes the “Sun” on the front page, before ironically: “Uh… memories on this subject may vary”.
“Harry’s new bombshell: ‘I didn’t say the royals were racist’,” the front page read. DailyMirror. “Harry finally recognizes that the royal family is not racist”, rejoices the Daily Express.
the DailyMail, meanwhile, focuses on other things the Duke of Sussex has to say. “Harry: ‘my family participated in the exclusion of Meghan'”, can we read in One. King Charles’ youngest son reiterated his accusations of links between the royal family and the tabloid press on Sunday. According to him, his relatives actively collaborated with the media to paint an unflattering portrait of his wife.
The daily also features an editorial titled: “Diana would have been horrified by Harry’s petty desire for revenge”.
the Guardian only devotes a footer to Harry and focuses on his unkind words to his mother-in-law, Queen Consort Camilla. He claimed that some details of private conversations published in the media “could only have been leaked” by her, and writes in his book that she did “sacrificed on the altar of his public relations“. “Harry unleashes his fury with Camilla”, writes the daily.
A reconciliation? The press is skeptical
If Prince Harry claims to want to reconcile with his father and his brother, iNews doesn’t seem to believe it. For the British newspaper, “Prince Harry’s new interviews will deepen the rift between members of the royal family”.
For nearly a week, the revelations of the Substitute (put on sale Thursday by mistake for a few hours in Spain) make the monarchy and the British press tremble. The 38-year-old Duke of Sussex calls William a “beloved brother and sworn enemy” and accuses him of throwing him to the ground during a 2019 argument over Meghan.
He also accuses his brother and his wife Kate of having had “prejudices” towards Meghan, a mixed-race American actress, who “created an obstacle” to fully welcome her into the family. He also reiterates his accusations against certain members of the royal family whom he considers “accomplices” of articles hostile to him and his wife, according to AFP.
