HARRY WHO?
A new documentary shows the prince, born into the spotlight, now preparing to marry, writes
A new documentary tells us all we need to know
The hit British movie Four Weddings and a Funeral stars a young Hugh Grant who falls for a free-spirited American and features a poignant funeral along with four weddings. Prince Harry’s Story: Four Royal Weddings, ahead of his marriage to Meghan Markle, is no romantic comedy but it also celebrates an American true love, four weddings and a shattering funeral. The impact on Harry was profound when, at 12 years old, he lost his mother, the beloved Princess Di, and was unable to grieve under the harsh spotlight of public attention. The scene of Harry walking in step behind the coffin with his father and brother is an undercurrent in the 45-minute documentary about the younger of the two princes.
Four Royal Weddings traces his development from a lost boy to a rebellious young man, to becoming the “royal family’s greatest asset”, as one of many talking heads observes in documentary, which has great historic footage.
His upcoming marriage to the divorced Markle irrevocably marks the evolution of the British royal family from a stifling traditional institution to a modern family. I’m not a royalist but I found this trajectory fascinating.
Barack Obama made history when he was sworn in as the first black president of the US. Markle will make history, too, as she becomes the first mixed-race American in the royal family.
She’s no princess stuck in a tower, but a successful and smart actress with a degree, and seems strong enough to cope with the relentless glare of the world media.
From birth, the prince was unable to escape cameras and scrutiny which meant, as singer Geri Halliwell says: “Harry hasn’t had it easy, you know. He’s had one hell of a journey.”
At about four years old Harry once said to Princess Di during a fight with William in the car that he didn’t have to behave like his older brother because he would never be king, a former bodyguard remembers.
The first time Harry had a reprieve from the media is when he started at Eton College. But when he began to act like an out-of-control teenager, his drinking, partying and errors were blazed across the tabloids.
His unravelling seemed to slow down after a trip to Lesotho during which he warmly engaged with orphans whose parents had died of Aids. It appears that the trauma of their lives perhaps gave him another perspective on his own.
The prince came across as generous and mature when his father, Prince Charles, married Camilla Parker-Bowles, the woman who caused his mother so much anguish, and was overjoyed when his brother married Catherine (Kate) Middleton.
In his late 20s, unresolved grief threatened to overwhelm the prince and the ITV documentary reflects his openness about this struggle and his wholehearted support for the mental health charity, Heads Together.
Prince Harry’s compassion and empathy, the qualities that made Princess Di one of the most popular royals, is evident in his involvement with disabled army veterans in the Invictus Games which he created.
For Harry, joining the army, however harsh the regime, offered his only true escape from always being a prince. In the army he was “Captain Wales” and he lived like any other soldier. He earned respect there, away from the expectations of the public.
Prince Harry served on the frontline in Afghanistan for months and excelled in his training as an Apache helicopter pilot, doing a tour of duty flying the chopper during fighting with the Taliban.
Off duty “Captain Wales” still liked to run wild, and once said of such behaviour: “It was probably a classic example of me probably being too much army and not enough prince.”
In 2015 he retired from the army after 10 years and returned to civilian life.
He has thrown his energy and charisma into charity and Markle will join him in this.
While he was on his quest for meaning (or just growing up), she was shining on her own in the real world. Now she has a 33year-old prince with stars in his eyes but his feet on the ground, and royal fans won’t want to miss this documentary — or their wedding on May 19.
Markle will make history too as she becomes the first mixed-race American in the royal family
Prince Harry’s Story: Four Royal Weddings airs today at 21:00 on Nat Geo. On May 20 Nat Geo is airing Operation Royal Wedding, about the preparation for the event.