Royal Expert Speaks Out About Prince Harry's Potential Impact On The Queen
During their bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey, the effects of which are still being felt, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle opened up about the harsh treatment they'd endured throughout their short tenure with the royal family. The former "Suits" star, in particular, garnered headlines worldwide after admitting to feeling suicidal at one point, due to the intense tabloid scrutiny in the U.K. Her hubby has now acknowledged similar issues, during an appearance on Dax Shepard's "Armchair Expert" podcast. As CNN reports, the Duke of Sussex described the intense generational trauma he'd suffered growing up in the public eye.
Harry revealed, "When it comes to parenting, if I've experienced some form of pain or suffering because of the pain or suffering that perhaps my father or my parents had suffered," adding firmly, "I'm going to make sure I break that cycle so that I don't pass it on." The outspoken former royal argued that everybody needs to be more aware of such issues and fight harder against them. In particular, he referred to how his own father, Prince Charles, raised Harry in a similarly destructive manner to how he'd been brought up. The Duke of Sussex admitted to hating growing up famous, particularly given what happened to his mother, the late Princess Diana.
Although Harry was making a passionate call for better mental health initiatives by speaking out, royal experts worry he might be making Queen Elizabeth feel worse.
Prince Harry's comments may be negatively affecting the queen
Appearing on U.K. talk show "This Morning," royal commentator Camilla Tominey acknowledged Prince Harry is, of course, entitled to share his personal experiences. However, as the Daily Mail notes, she pointed to "a degree of exploitation" with this latest interview, during which Harry compared his childhood to Jim Carrey movie "The Truman Show," and to being a zoo animal. As Tominey argued, "I think you can talk about your own mental health but you have to be aware of the consequences on other people's." In particular, she is concerned about Harry's grandmother, who just lost her husband, "and then [Prince Charles'] son is over across the Atlantic having a go about the way he's been brought up." As far as Tominey is concerned, American broadcasters don't understand, or even care about, the nuances of the royal family and how Harry's comments might affect their relationships going forward.
In reference to Meghan Markle, she said, "They both had a difficult time, neither of them have a particularly good relationship with a large portion of their families, and then you got people hosting podcasts thinking, 'Brilliant, this will get the ratings.'" The royal expert takes issue with Harry's approach in general, quipping, "I thought it was ironic that a man who wants to live a quiet life keeps on making so much noise." Although she understands the duke had a tough time growing up, she doesn't see the value in speaking out in this way.