Harry hams it up as the Prince of Bel-air
‘I’m way more comfortable with The Crown than I am seeing the stories written about my family, or my wife or myself’
THE Royal family delights in exchanging jokey, inexpensive gifts at Christmas.
But the Queen, it has emerged, prefers to buy her great-grandchildren something they truly want.
And in the case of young Archie Mountbatten-windsor, last year that meant a waffle-maker, duly ordered at Windsor Castle and delivered to the toddler in Santa Barbara, California.
The Duke of Sussex has revealed that his son, who turns two in May, now enjoys an organic waffle for breakfast every morning, courtesy of the doting monarch. Prince Harry, 36, who it transpires is called “Haz” by his wife, was interviewed by his friend, chat show host James Corden, discussing everything from his son’s first word – crocodile – to the “toxic” British media that have been destroying his mental health.
The Duke’s 17-minute segment on Corden’s The Late Late Show, which included a cameo appearance from his wife, the Duchess of Sussex, came ahead of the couple’s recorded interview with Oprah Winfrey, to be broadcast in the US next Sunday. It also coincided with the Queen’s first public comments about the Covid-19 vaccine rollout, illustrating that their engagements were no longer coordinated with those of the rest of the Royal family.
Reaction at Buckingham Palace was of resigned shoulder-shrugging as sources said there was no desire to comment or “create a drama” every time the couple discussed their former lives.
“They are getting on with their lives,” one told The Daily Telegraph. “Everyone knew about it and it was their own choice.”
A source close to the Duke said he considered it a good opportunity to have some fun while also opening up about his life and decisions over what had been “a bit of a heavy time”. The segment was filmed in Los Angeles on Feb 5, before it was confirmed the Sussexes would not return to royal life.
The bus tour
The bulk of the interview was filmed on the top deck of a sightseeing bus as it cruised around Los Angeles.
As the Duke jumped aboard, Corden told him to pay the fare, prompting him to quip: “You know us royals, we don’t carry cash.”
When the driver braked and a trolley holding their afternoon tea – “a little slice of home” – jolted into Prince Harry, he swore in shock before spitting out his tea in laughter.
Netflix
The Duke took the opportunity to make references to Netflix, the streaming service with which the Sussexes have signed a multimillion-dollar deal. He gave his seal of approval to The Crown, despite criticism about its portrayal of his family history. He said it was fictional and did not “pretend to be news”.
He added: “It’s loosely based on the truth. Of course, it’s not strictly accurate but it gives you a rough idea of that lifestyle and the pressures of putting duty and service above family and everything else – and what can come from that.
“I’m way more comfortable with The Crown than I am seeing the stories written about my family, or my wife or myself. Because that’s obviously fiction, take it how you will, but this is reported on as fact because you’re supposedly news. And I have a real issue with that.”
The Duke joked he would like actor Damian Lewis to play him in the show.
Royal duties
The Duke insisted that when he moved to California last year, he did not believe he was “stepping down” from the Royal family, rather “stepping back”. He said: “It was a really difficult environment, as I think a lot of people saw. We all know what the British press can be like and it was destroying my mental health, I was like, this is toxic.
“So I did what any husband and what any father would do. I was like, I need to get my family out of here. But we never walked away. As far as I’m concerned, whatever decisions are made on that side, I will never walk away. I will always be contributing.
“My life is public service, so wherever I am in the world it’s always going to be the same thing… Meghan signed up to that and the two of us enjoy doing that.”
Archie
The Duke said his son Archie, was “hysterical” and had “the most amazing personality”. He said: “He’s already putting three, four words together, he’s already singing songs.” Asked what his first word was, the Duke replied proudly: “Crocodile – three syllables.”
He said when the Queen asked what his son wanted for Christmas, the Duchess had said a waffle-maker. “Meg makes up a beautiful organic mix,” he said. “In the waffle-maker, flip it, out it comes. He loves it. Archie wakes up in the morning and literally just goes: Waffle? Done.”
He revealed both the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh could use Zoom and had seen Archie “running around”. He laughed as he added that the Duke would simply slam down the lid of the laptop to finish a call, rather than select the “End” button.
Meghan cameo
During a visit to the house that featured in the Nineties sitcom The Fresh Prince Of Bel-air, the Duke rapped the famous theme song, originally performed by Will Smith.
After Prince Harry popped inside to the bathroom, Corden tried to convince him to buy the sprawling mansion before calling his wife.
The pregnant Duchess, 39, made a brief appearance after Corden called her from the Duke’s mobile. When the presenter suggested they buy the house, she said she thought they had “done enough moving”.
Meghan revealed her husband’s nickname as she said: “Haz, how is the tour of LA going?” Corden later teased his friend, saying: “Haz? I didn’t know we were calling you Haz now,” to which the Duke responded: “You’re not my wife.”