Chris Jackson, Getty Images
When Prince Harry sat down to speak to NBC’s Hoda Kotb in The Hague, he had one thing on his mind – the Invictus Games. Unlike when he and Meghan bared it all with Oprah last year, this latest TV interview was never meant to be a confession about the life of the royal family. The prince was there to promote his games for wounded soldiers and the network was granted the interview in connection with the event.
Still, Harry has done enough interviews in his time to know that there are plenty of other things people will ask, especially if you commit to sitting down for a chat. And so he can’t have been totally surprised when Hoda started questioning him about his private life. Beginning with “How’s a Wednesday for you?” the journalist quickly moved on to the Prince’s recent meeting with the Queen, which had garnered so much attention just before the Games. And in answering, Harry would also have been aware that his every word would be broadcast, analyzed and discussed around the world.
The prince seemed willing to answer most questions, but it was noticeable that he refrained from revealing anything too personal about himself or his family. In stark contrast to revelations he’s made in previous interviews about his traumatic feelings and seeking therapy, the prince spoke in more opaque terms when asked about mental health. He opened up about meeting the Queen (“She’s in great shape. She always has a great sense of humor with me”) but didn’t reveal how the nearly 96-year-old monarch is really doing or what he thinks about it And he was noncommittal when asked if he would be attending the Platinum Jubilee events this June, citing the already known issues he has with his safety in the UK.
Perhaps the biggest takeaway from the interview, however, came in what Harry didn’t say. When asked if he missed his brother and father, his complete avoidance of the question and change of subject made it very clear that there were significant bridges to be built. His somewhat confusing statement that he wanted to make sure the Queen was “protected and surrounded by the right people” mostly shed light on his own apparent feelings of unease about who is influencing his grandmother. And when the prince said his home is “in the States” for now, there was no need to explain what that means for his future in Britain.
Since making a spate of revelations last year, the Sussexes have been significantly more discreet in expressing their thoughts and feelings towards the royal family in recent months, and this latest interview is no exception. There will be those who might think Harry is simply saving his true feelings now for his autobiography, which is expected to be out later this year. Others may wonder if his discretion is an indication that reconciliation and a united front are more likely in the future.
As is so often the case when it comes to royal watching; only time can tell.
This content is created and maintained by a third party and imported to this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may find more information about this and similar content on piano.io