The Daily Telegraph

Face for radio: Harry shows Barry a serious side

Usually a pair of jokers, Prince greets Obama with his best stern look on Today show interview

- By Victoria Ward

THE pair are firm friends and have fostered a so-called “bromance” with numerous public appearance­s together over the years.

But when a slightly awkward Prince Harry came to interview Barack Obama for his stint as a guest editor on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, he admitted he was nervous, prompting the former US president to reassure him it was all a bit of fun.

As the pair came face to face on camera, sitting across a table from each other behind the radio microphone­s, Mr Obama jokingly asked the Prince if he should speak with a British accent. He also wondered if he should speak faster than usual because he was a “slow speaker.”

The Prince replied: “No, no not at all. But if you start using long pauses between the answers you’re probably going to get the face.”

When Mr Obama asked to see “the face” The Prince gave him a stern look, prompting the US politician to laugh: “I don’t want to see that face.”

The interview took place in Toronto in September, when the Prince was in Canada for the Invictus Games. The conversati­on covered topics including Mr Obama’s memories of the day he left office and his hopes for his post-presidenti­al life, including plans to focus on cultivatin­g the next generation of leadership through the Obama Foundation.

As the Prince began explaining how part of the interview would be packaged for his guest stint on the Today programme, to be broadcast on Dec 27, a more relaxed Mr Obama appeared keen to crack on. “It’s going to be fine,” he said. “Excellent. I’m ready whenever.”

Prince Harry noted: “You’re excited about this, I’m nervous about this – that’s what’s quite funny.” Mr Obama reassured him it was all “fun” but offered to turn the tables and interview him instead, to which the Prince quickly replied: “No no, let’s keep it this way, I’d much prefer that.”

The last member of the Royal family to guest edit the Today show was Sarah, Duchess of York, in 2004. The BBC confirmed Sarah Montague will be one of two presenters who will host the Prince’s edition from the BBC studio. It will mark her return after a planned period of absence which has coincided with a battle with BBC bosses over the pay gap with her male colleagues.

The Obamas, who have had close ties to the Royal family since their state visit to Britain in 2009, have been touted as likely guests at the Prince’s wedding to Meghan Markle.

Their friendship was cemented in 2015, when they met in Washington for an informal chat at the White House to promote the Invictus Games in Florida.

The following year, the Obamas had dinner at Kensington Palace and met Prince George, then two, who was brought down in his pyjamas and dressing gown. The young prince charmed them by playing on a rocking horse they had given him for his first birthday and with a toy dog they had sent him as a gift when Princess Charlotte was born.

At the Invictus Games, Mr Obama was overheard asking the Prince about his relationsh­ip with Ms Markle, and was one of the first to congratula­te them, on Twitter, when the engagement was announced. Michelle Obama has called him “Prince Charming” and more recently, “my friend”.

While the Prince has never publicly voiced an opinion on Donald Trump, Ms Markle has been less restrained – calling him “misogynist­ic” while he was campaignin­g and threatened to move out of the US if he was elected.

‘If you start using long pauses between the answers you’re probably going to get the face’

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 ??  ?? Barack and Michelle Obama with the Queen in 2009. Top, Prince Harry and the former US president record their talk
Barack and Michelle Obama with the Queen in 2009. Top, Prince Harry and the former US president record their talk
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