Prince Harry is just weeks away from being an average Joe. There's been a ton of speculation as to how that transition will play out for someone who has spent 35 years as part of a larger-than-life institution.
Critics of Harry's decision to step back as a senior royal felt vindicated last week when we learned that Harry was the target of a prank call. Harry spoke with Russian hackers posing as Greta Thunberg and her father on two separate occasions.
Many believe Harry's prank call could have been avoided if the palace would have been there to intercept. This is historically untrue, however, as similar things have happened to both Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles.
It does beg the question of what Harry's new normal will look like. Will he struggle to navigate life as he chooses to live it without the resources he's used to? In these strange times where nothing feels quite normal, can Harry live the life he's always dreamed of?
Prince Harry suffered a bit of public embarrassment last week when news that he fell for a setup by Russian pranksters was released. The pranksters posed as Greta Thunberg and her father. They spoke to Harry on two separate occasions and have publicized his comments.
We've learned more about how they were able to get access to Prince Harry. The Telegraph reports that the pranksters were connected to Harry by former Royal Foundation head Lorraine Heggessey. They reached out via email posing as Greta's team, and Lorraine unknowingly passed the information along to Harry.
Many believed Harry would be mortified that his candid comments were set loose, but royal reporter Omid Scobie says that isn't the case. Omid discussed the incident in conversation with foreign correspondent Maggie Rulli on his podcast, The HeirPod.
"I spoke with a source close to Harry earlier in the week," he noted. "He wasn’t so concerned about what was said on the call and that being out there."
"He stands by what he says, he’s not there to hide anything from anyone," Omid continued to explain. "But it’s that feeling of violation, it’s not a pleasant feeling to experience."
That feeling of violation is compounded by the fact that unlike other pranks, it didn't just go to the pranksters' YouTube channel.
"I think the fact that the audio didn’t just go out through the usual channels to this duo’s YouTube channel," Omid noted. "It got sold to this British tabloid who were eager to exploit the contents of it for sales so to make Harry look stupid."
Maggie agreed, dismissing the timing of the release as "malicious" and "gut-wrenching."
Indeed, the news of the prank calls was pointedly timed. The news came out when Harry was alone in the UK, after Meghan had returned to Canada to be with Archie as Harry tied up loose ends.
"They had just had this huge trip back to the UK, all eyes were on them," Maggie noted. "So to have it come out when the trip was still wrapping up and Harry was by himself and vulnerable was bad."
The prank reportedly necessitated Harry changing his phone number and email address.
"It perhaps highlights that there is a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes, never publicly spoken about, to ensure things run smoothly and are hitch-free," a source told the Telegraph.
"As they move forward, they do need to invest in proper resources and have the right management, rather than adopting an approach more familiar in show business," the source continued.
"Perhaps this incident will highlight that. Let's hope it's a wake-up call."
Harry knows enough of the workings around the royal family to know that life within the institution isn't what's best for his family. Critics question whether he knows enough about life outside of it to make the best choices. Certainly, every decision he makes will be watched by the world around him.
Harry and Meghan, like all of us, have a bit more on their plate right now. With their next steps on hold as they figure out the structure that allows them to engage in philanthropy and service on their terms, their day-to-day lives have also been impacted by the coronavirus concerns mounting worldwide.
Because Canada has closed its borders, Harry cannot travel out of the country, or he will not be able to reenter. It would require permanent residency or citizenship, neither of which he has obtained. This means that Meghan can travel to the US and back, but Harry and Archie would be unable to join her.
The outbreak also calls their summer plans with Queen Elizabeth into question. Harry and Meghan accepted an invitation from the Queen to spend time at Balmoral Castle with Archie in tow. Of course, they have to take extra precautions due to the Queen and Prince Philip's ages and vulnerabilities.
Like so much in the world right now, the road ahead for Harry and Meghan is uncertain. The couple has so much influence and so many opportunities at their fingertips. While some see losing the royal structure and support as a major hit, for them it could be the freedom they need to shine.
Harry and Meghan have proven themselves industrious, capable, and charming. Yes, Harry fell for a prank and shared some of his hot takes. Doesn't that just humanize him further? The new approachable Harry isn't afraid of making mistakes. He's not here to win a popularity contest, but for anyone keeping score, he seems to still be on top of his game.
