Strahan's Royal Snub: Why He Missed Harry's Wedding

Michael Strahan interviewed Prince Harry in Los Angeles on January 3, 2023, ahead of the release of his memoir, Spare. The interview, which aired on ABC News on January 9, 2023, covered a range of topics, including Prince Harry's relationship with his family, his late mother Princess Diana, and his battle with the British press. Strahan, a former NFL player and co-anchor of Good Morning America, has been praised for his intimate and wide-ranging conversation with the Duke of Sussex.

Michael Strahan's interview with Prince Harry

Michael Strahan interviewed Prince Harry in January 2023, ahead of the publication of the Duke of Sussex's memoir, *Spare*. The interview aired on *Good Morning America* and ABC News Live.

In the interview, Prince Harry opened up about his relationship with his brother, Prince William, and how he thinks their mother, Princess Diana, would feel about the rift between them. Harry said that he believed Diana would be "sad" about the situation and that he had felt the presence of my mum more so in the last two years than I have in the last 30.

Strahan and Harry also discussed the Duke of Sussex's decision to step back from his senior royal role, his time in the military, and his role as a husband and father. Harry said that he felt his most important role was "being a husband and being a father."

The interview also touched on the media scrutiny of the royals and Harry's wife, Meghan Markle. Harry said that he believed the press had "de-humanized" him and that there had been "widespread propaganda and misrepresentation" in the way he and his family had been portrayed.

The interview was well-received, with Strahan reflecting on how Harry "didn't hold anything back" in the interview or his memoir.

Prince Harry's memoir, 'Spare'

Michael Strahan interviewed Prince Harry about his memoir, "Spare", which was released on January 10, 2023. The interview, which took place in Los Angeles on January 3, 2023, was aired on ABC News on January 9, 2023.

In the interview, Prince Harry opened up about his fractured relationships with his father, King Charles III, and his brother, Prince William. He also discussed his hope for reconciliation with his family and the impact of media scrutiny on his life and relationships.

Prince Harry described his belief that the British press tried to "drive a wedge" between him and William and that there was a competition between them that was played by the "heir/spare" dynamic. He also revealed that William broke a pact between them by allowing his office to brief the press against Harry and Meghan.

The memoir itself also made headlines for its candid revelations about the Royal Family. These included Harry's admission of drug use, his claim that he killed 25 people while serving in Afghanistan, and his accusation that William physically attacked him during an argument about Meghan.

The book was a commercial success, becoming the fastest-selling non-fiction book ever, with 400,000 copies sold on the first day of publication. However, its release came with controversy, as some considered it risky for Harry to criticise the Royal Family after the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

Harry's relationship with the press

Prince Harry's relationship with the press has been strained for most of his life. The intense media coverage of his parents' failing marriage and their subsequent divorce, along with the press hounding of his mother, Princess Diana, has left a lasting impact on the prince. Harry has also had a number of personal run-ins with the press, including a scuffle with reporters outside a nightclub in 2004, and an incident in 2007 where he was forced to cut short his time serving in Afghanistan after his location was leaked by an Australian outlet.

Harry has been particularly vocal about the press's treatment of his wife, Meghan Markle, and the impact this has had on her mental health. In a 2016 statement, Harry condemned the press for a "wave of abuse and harassment" directed at Markle. He has also claimed that the royal institution fed stories to the press about Meghan and refused to set the record straight on false reports, thereby shifting the negative spotlight onto her to protect other royals. In their interview with Oprah Winfrey, Harry and Meghan spoke of an "invisible contract" between the Royal Family and the press, where orchestrated public exposure and a level of scrutiny are offered in return for privacy. However, this contract did not prevent what Meghan described as a "media frenzy", which ultimately contributed to their decision to step back from royal life.

Harry has also taken issue with the press's coverage of his relationship with his brother, Prince William. In his memoir, 'Spare', Harry refers to William as his "beloved brother and arch-nemesis" and recalls verbal and physical disputes between them. He has also alleged that William broke a pact between them not to let their offices fight or brief the press against each other. Harry believes that the British press continues to try to "drive a wedge" between the brothers, but he hopes for reconciliation.

Harry's approach to the press differs significantly from that of his brother. While William appears less resistant to the media, Harry has made it clear that he will not accept any behaviour from the press that he deems unacceptable. The prince has also stated that he wants to change the media landscape in the UK, giving less status to tabloid newspapers.

Harry's relationship with his family

Prince Harry's relationship with his family has been a topic of much discussion in recent years, especially following his decision to step back from his role as a senior member of the British royal family. In January 2020, Harry and his wife, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, announced their plans to "step back" and carve out "progressive" new roles for themselves, which included moving to California and becoming financially independent. This move strained Harry's relationship with his family, particularly with his father, King Charles III, and his brother, Prince William.

In his memoir, "Spare," and in various interviews, Harry has opened up about the rift with his family and his hopes for reconciliation. He has described feeling "barriers" between himself and his father, King Charles, due to their age difference and their different personalities. He also revealed that his father did not show much emotion when informing him of his mother's death and that he felt his father was jealous of Meghan and feared she would "dominate the monarchy." Harry further claimed that King Charles cut him off financially after his move to California. Despite the tensions, Harry has expressed his love for his father and his desire to heal their relationship.

Harry's relationship with his brother, Prince William, has also been strained. In "Spare," Harry referred to William as his "beloved brother and arch-nemesis" and recalled verbal and physical disputes between them. He attributed their rivalry to their positions as the "heir" and the "spare." Harry also accused the royal institution of pitting him and Meghan against William and his wife, Kate, now the Prince and Princess of Wales. Despite the rift, Harry has expressed his wish to reconcile with William and has stated that he misses him.

Since stepping back from royal duties, Harry has made a few trips back to the UK to attend royal events, including King Charles' coronation, but their relationship remains complicated. While Harry has expressed a willingness to heal the rift, it seems that there is still a long way to go in repairing the relationship between Harry and his family.

Harry's relationship with his brother, William

Prince Harry and Prince William's relationship has been the subject of much media speculation, with the brothers' bond described as "complicated" and strained by Harry's decision to step back from his senior royal duties.

Harry and William's relationship has been under scrutiny since the former's 2020 announcement that he and his wife, Meghan Markle, would be stepping back from their senior royal roles. This decision was met with surprise and disappointment by William, who, according to sources, felt "blindsided" and hurt by the news. The brothers' relationship was further strained by the release of Harry and Meghan's biography, "Finding Freedom," and their tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021. In the interview, Harry confirmed the rift between the brothers, saying they were on different paths and that their relationship was "space at the moment."

However, there have been efforts to repair the relationship. In May 2021, the brothers came together to unveil a statue of their late mother, Princess Diana, and issued a joint statement honouring her memory. They also reunited publicly in September 2022 following the death of their grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, greeting mourners outside Windsor Castle with their wives. Despite these gestures, the relationship between Harry and William remains fragile, with William reportedly feeling betrayed by Harry's decision to step back from royal duties and share details of his life publicly.

In his memoir, "Spare," Harry refers to William as his "beloved brother and arch-nemesis" and recalls verbal and physical disputes between them. He also alleges that William broke a pact between them by allowing royal officials to brief the press against Meghan and spread negative stories about her. Harry claims that this widened the rift between them and that William was jealous of his freedom as the "spare." Despite their differences, Harry has expressed hope for reconciliation, saying, "I hope that we will be joined at the hip again."

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