I find myself emotional, wishing to offer him comfort and reassurance. Rarely have I witnessed such heartfelt and vulnerable words from a public figure, especially a prince. It seems evident that he is reaching out for support. Those who turn a blind eye to his plea must lack compassion.
Harry sat down with the BBC in LA after his latest legal bid to be granted police protection when in the UK had been rejected by the courts.
His demeanor was one of utter despair. The confidence of a soldier who served in Afghanistan, the charisma of a playful individual, and the empathy of the person behind the Invictus Games for injured servicemen and women were all absent.
To me, he came across as very, very sad. No longer bitter, but holding out a hand of friendship.
Harry looked a broken man. Gone was the swagger of the Afghan combat soldier and the charm of the cheeky chappie
He apologised for writing his memoir, Spare: ‘Some members of my family will never forgive me for writing this book’.
When he talked about his father’s illness, it was almost unbearably poignant to hear him say: ‘I don’t know how much longer my father has.’
He clearly loves Charles and wants to spend more time with him.
Sadly, his hopes are bound to be shattered. He is no longer communicating with his father, the only person capable of swiftly remedying the situation, as Harry pointed out, ‘This whole thing could be resolved through him’.
Many of us are thinking, well, if a king cannot help his son, what power, what compassion, does he really possess?
Harry described the denial of his security as a ‘good old Establishment stitch-up’. He was the bigger man. The grown up. ‘It would be nice to reconcile. I would love reconciliation with my family… It can’t come without truth. If they don’t want that, it is entirely up to them.’
I think this extraordinary, history-making interview is up there with the radio broadcast by Edward, renouncing the throne for Wallis Simpson. But, this time, Harry is clearly declaring his undying love for the Crown.
I believe that his wife Meghan has, with her Netflix show, her peddling of wares, her podcasts talking about her ‘busyness’ as a ‘Mom’, suddenly thrown his life into sharp relief.
It’s all too shallow, too sunny for him, standing on the sidelines like a waiter, cooing over a brunch party. He wants his life to really matter, as his mother’s did.
You can see the regret etched into his features, and the sorrow. If Charles and William do not reach out to him after this, then they will seem petty and vindictive. And, I believe, the British public won’t look kindly upon them.
I feel for Harry, I really do. His attempt in court to reinstate his official security in the UK, even pay for it himself, was an olive branch. But now I feel he is done fighting. He looks broken.
If the late Queen were still alive, she would be the bigger person and embrace him, her grandson. He is blood, he is family. Charles and William: reconcile with Harry, or I fear the British people will turn against you.
