In a surprising turn of events, Prince Harry received a ‘manly pep talk’ from an unexpected source in an attempt to persuade him to remain in the UK instead of relocating to the United States. The then-prime minister, Boris Johnson, revealed that both Downing Street and Buckingham Palace requested his intervention in January 2020, shortly after Harry and Meghan announced their intention to step back from royal duties. Johnson described the encounter as a “ridiculous business” and admitted that the attempt to persuade Harry was “totally hopeless”, as reported by The Daily Mail in advance of the serialisation of Johnson’s upcoming memoir.
The meeting between Johnson and Prince Harry took place on the sidelines of a UK-Africa investment summit in London’s Docklands, lasting for approximately 20 minutes. As the Conservative Party conference kicks off, Johnson’s memoir is set to delve into various aspects of his political career, including reflections on his departure from office in 2022, thoughts on his successors Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak, and key events like the Brexit referendum, Covid-19 pandemic, and the Partygate scandal.
Johnson, who faced consequences over the Partygate scandal and subsequent ministerial resignations, became the first sitting Prime Minister to receive a criminal penalty during his tenure. In teasers for his memoir release, Johnson hinted at revealing intriguing anecdotes about senior political figures and personal quirks he observed during his time in office.
The revelations about the ‘manly talk’ with Prince Harry offer a glimpse into the behind-the-scenes efforts to navigate the complex and tumultuous period within the Royal Family. With the upcoming memoir promising further insights into pivotal moments in UK politics, readers can anticipate a candid and enlightening account from one of the key figures in recent political history.