has accused the royal family of being complicit in his wife MeghanBԪַs anguish, claiming his stepmother Camilla, the queen consort, had to the media in order to burnish her own reputation.
In interviews broadcast Sunday, Harry accused members of the royal family of getting BԪַinto bed with the devilBԪַ to gain favorable tabloid coverage, singling out CamillaBԪַs efforts to rehabilitate her image with the British people after her longtime affair with his father, now King Charles III.
BԪַThat made her dangerous because of the connections that she was forging within the British press,BԪַ he told CBS. BԪַThere was open willingness on both sides to trade information. And with a family built on hierarchy, and with her, on the way to being queen consort, there was gonna be people or bodies left in the street.BԪַ
Harry spoke to BritainBԪַs ITV, CBSBԪַs BԪַ60 MinutesBԪַ and BԪַGood Morning AmericaBԪַ to promote , BԪַSpare,BԪַ which is due to be widely released Tuesday. It has already generated with its details of bitter family resentments.
Harry repeatedly blamed the media for the troubles that afflicted the Sussexes and the rest of the family. The coverage contributed to the rift with his brother, Prince William, and his wife Kate, saying it created tensions.
BԪַThey always pitched us against each other,BԪַ he told Good Morning America. BԪַThey pitch Kate and Meghan against each other.BԪַ
Harry was also unapologetic about launching legal battles against some parts of the British media, and said that his father feels it is BԪַprobably a suicide missionBԪַ to try and change the press. Harry described changing the media landscape in the U.K. as being BԪַmy lifeBԪַs work.BԪַ
He repeated his claim on ITV that there was BԪַconcernBԪַ in the royal family about his unborn childBԪַs skin color after he married biracial American actress Meghan Markle. Harry and Meghan first mentioned the incident during an interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021, but they havenBԪַt identified the family member who expressed concern
Harry insisted the family wasnBԪַt racist, but said the episode was an example of unconscious bias, adding that the royal family needed to BԪַlearn and growBԪַ in order to be BԪַpart of the solution rather than part of the problem.BԪַ
BԪַOtherwise unconscious bias then moves into the category of racism,BԪַ Harry said. He said that BԪַespecially when you are the monarchy BԪַ you have a responsibility, and quite rightly people hold you to a higher standard than others.BԪַ
BԪַSpareBԪַ explores HarryBԪַs grief at the death of his mother in 1997, and his long-simmering resentment at the role of royal BԪַspare,BԪַ overshadowed by the BԪַheirBԪַ BԪַ older brother William. He recounts arguments and a physical altercation with William, reveals how he lost his virginity and describes using cocaine and cannabis.
He also says while serving as an Apache helicopter pilot in BԪַ a claim criticized by both the Taliban and British military veterans.
BԪַSpareBԪַ is the latest in a string of public pronouncements by Harry and Meghan since they quit royal life and moved to California in 2020, citing what they saw as the mediaBԪַs racist treatment of Meghan and a lack of support from the palace. It follows the Winfrey interview and a six-part Netflix documentary released last month.
In the ghostwritten memoir, Harry, 38, describes the coupleBԪַs acrimonious split from the royal family after their request for a part-time royal role was rejected.
The television interviews are certain to pile more pressure on the royal family. He is also appearing on BԪַThe Late Show with Stephen Colbert.BԪַ
Royal officials havenBԪַt commented on any of the allegations, though allies have pushed back on the claims, largely anonymously.
Harry has defended the memoir describing it as his effort to BԪַown my storyBԪַ after years of BԪַspin and distortionBԪַ by others. In the BԪַ60 MinutesBԪַ interview, Harry denied that his book was intended to hurt his family.
Omid Scobie, author of BԪַFinding Freedom,BԪַ a book on the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, said Harry is offering the look behind the palace walls that the public has always desired.
BԪַOf course, that does come with some downsides for those who have been part of his journey,BԪַ Scobie told the BBC. BԪַWe heard some sort of really startling confessions and stories about members of the royal family, particularly when it comes to Camilla and her relationship with the press.BԪַ
While Harry said that in a while, he hopes to find peace with them. Harry told ITV that he wants reconciliation with the royal family, but BԪַthe ball is in their court.BԪַ
BԪַTheyBԪַve shown absolutely no willingness to reconcile,BԪַ he said.
BԪַDanica Kirka, The Associated Press