So what's the big deal about Harry, now?
The Duke’s Good Morning America interview had everyone speculating about his future plans and wishes for a family reconciliation
Here we are again, with another headline about Harry. We all know the story, Harry the self-proclaimed Spare finding freedom with Meghan, thanks to their Megxit manoeuvre. In January 2020, the couple announced they were stepping down, by March 2020 they were living in California, Meghan’s home state. The Royal Family were left reeling, missing two beloved senior working royals. And ever since, everything the Duke and Duchess of Sussex say or do provokes either outrage or adulation (depending whose team you may be on. FYI, taking sides is not compulsory).
Already besieged by negative headlines about their relaunched coat-of-arms-adorned website, Sussex.com, the decision to change Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet’s surname to Sussex from Mountbatten-Windsor, plus Meghan’s new podcast deal; the couple turned up on Whistler’s Blackcomb Mountain. They were on a three-day trip to Canada for an Invictus Games countdown, due to be held in February 2025.
This Friday, Harry gave an interview to Good Morning America - and again the press lost their collective minds with hysterical op eds and double-page spreads.
When Will Reeve (son of the late Superman actor Christopher Reeve) asked him for his “outlook” on the King’s health, Harry said, “that stays between me and him.” To be fair, we thought Harry was polite and measured as he spoke for the first time since his dad announced he had cancer. Asked how the short trip back to see Charles was for him “emotionally”, Harry said: “Um, look, I love my family. The fact that I was able to get on a plane and go and see him and spend any time with him, I’m grateful for that.”
When Reeve asked if the illness in his family had brought them together, Harry replied: “Absolutely. Yeah, I’m sure. Throughout all these 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.”
Will Charles’s cancer diagnosis have a “reunifying effect”? Harry publicly hopes so and so do we. However, with many family secrets and the Duke’s grievances laid bare in that seismic memoir, a reconciliation with all the family, particularly William, seems a long way off. Although Harry did reveal in the GMA interview, “I have got other trips planned that would take me through the UK or back to the UK. I will stop in and see my family as much as I can.”
Harry also revealed he has “considered” becoming an American citizen, saying he had “no idea” what was stopping him. He added: “American citizenship is a thought that has crossed my mind but not a high priority for me right now.” He also admitted he was “loving” his life in America. “It’s amazing, I love every single day,” he said.
However, if Harry does eventually apply for US citizenship, the immigration policy states that “any applicant who has any titles of heredity or positions of nobility in any foreign state must renounce the title or the position”. It would be one way to resolve criticism of the Duke and Duchess, who continue to use their titles (ahem, that newly relaunched website for instance) despite their public condemnations of relatives and the institution of monarchy.
Camilla takes centre stage
While Charles recuperates, the Queen attended a ‘Celebration of Shakespeare’, with her high-profile mates. Camilla also met stars of stage and screen, and representatives of the National Theatre and The Royal Shakespeare Company.
The Wednesday evening event, part of ongoing celebrations marking 400 years since the Bard’s first folio, was hosted by Camilla’s longtime friend, Gyles Brandreth and wrapped up with performances by Gary Oldman, Robert Lindsay and Dame Judi Dench. Something the King, a lifelong Shakespeare fan would have loved. In 1991, as Prince of Wales, he became President of the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Earlier in the week, Camilla was made an Honorary Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Fan Makers and met artists at Kindred Spirits in Shepherd’s Bush, where she admired a gorgeous portrait of Princess Charlotte.
Eugenie’s top Valentine
This loved-up couple are fast catching up with Zara and Mike when it comes to giving The Royal List all the feels. This Valentine’s Day, Eugenie celebrated with a sartorial tribute to husband Jack Brooksbank. Wearing heart-shaped glasses, she was sporting Jack’s face all over her top. She also shared this cute pic.
Diana’s new ‘Revenge Dress’ jumper
This Saturday 24 February marks the date in 1981 that Lady Diana Spencer and Prince Charles announced their engagement. Sadly, we all know their fairytale romance was not to last, but as the marriage imploded, Diana’s fashion credentials exploded and a style icon was born.
She famously wore her most revealing dress, designed by Christina Stambolian, to the Serpentine Gallery on 29 June 1994, on the very evening that Charles, her then-separated husband, confessed adultery with Camilla during a TV interview with Jonathan Dimbleby. It was forever known as the “Revenge Dress”.
Now, that spicy bit of royal history has been recreated by Knitwrth, for a London Fashion Week mini-collection. It isn’t cheap, we’re talking £365 for a seriously cool addition to your wardrobe. Other jumpers feature a young David and Victoria Beckham and a black and white portraits of singer Sade. Buy them here.
Last week, a copy of the revenge dress created for Elizabeth Debicki to wear in The Crown sold for £12,800 at Bonhams. And talking of that fabulous auction…
Buck Palace gates find new home
First seen in The Crown’s debut season, the replica of the Buckingham Palace gates sold for £12,800 at The Crown’s huge auction at Bonhams last week. The gates were part of a treasure trove of lots, featuring 473 costumes, sets and props from the Netflix series. When The Royal List previewed the auction last month, we had our eye on two Beswick corgis. They sold for £3,328 (wildly over the pre-sale estimate of £200-300). Barking mad!