'Prince Harry should leave the interviews to Meghan, he's just too awkward'

OPINION -- I feel sorry for Prince Harry, I really do.

The Duke of Sussex has made another attempt to endear himself to the American public, five years after he and Meghan chose the US as their new base after stepping back from royal duties

Since 'Megxit', they've been the subject of much criticism and mockery after pleading for privacy but making themselves available for interviews, podcasts, television appearances and documentaries.

Prince Harry's latest foray into the spotlight came overnight with an hour-long chat on a podcast hosted by the American comedian Hasan Minhaj.

The 41-year-old tried his best to come across as fun (which he did at times) but he just looked so... awkward.

The duke appeared rather uncomfortable when he was questioned about a number of topics ranging from the lighthearted, when Harry tried to speak in an American accent, to the more serious, when he spoke about protecting his children from the harmful effects of social media.

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Doing interviews is really not Prince Harry's thing and he typically appears at his best when he's meeting people during charitable events, with those off-the-cuff moments becoming some of his most memorable.

One of the most recent examples of this was Harry's appearance at the WellChild Awards in London, in September, an annual event in which he's always seen interacting playfully with the children and their families.

At the 2024 event, Harry appeared in his element alongside the children, beaming and playing and picking up toys that had been thrown on the floor and laughing when one of the children couldn't resist grabbing his beard.

But when he's put in front of the camera for a sit-down interview, serious or not, he usually looks as though he'd rather be somewhere else.

Prince Harry's disdain for the media is well-known, so it's often strange to see him voluntarily putting himself out there in front of a camera and microphone.

She certainly has a talent for being in front of the cameras and the camera, in turn, loves her.

In comparison, the duke just comes across as being awkward and uncomfortable despite trying really hard to show off his lighter side.

And he does have a sense of humour. During his appearance on the Hasan Minhaj Doesn't Know show, Harry was asked by the host what he needed to do "to get knighted".

Harry answered: "I mean, we can probably discuss this offline. If you have a sword, we can do it afterwards".

And Harry played along when Minhaj poked fun at him for writing about shopping at discount retailer TK Maxx in his memoir Spare.

It's been two months since Prince Harry met with his father King Charles, in person, for the first time in 19 months.

Since then, Prince Harry and Meghan have gone on what some might call a public-relations blitz with several high-profile appearances across the US.

Meghan even ventured out of America to attend Paris Fashion Week before later reuniting with her husband for events in New York City.

Their popularity in the US has experienced highs and lows in the five years since they moved to Montecito.

In April, a YouGov poll had Meghan with a favourability percentage of 41, with a net rating of plus 15. Prince Harry was at plus 35.

In comparison, the Princess of Wales was at plus 43, Prince William was at plus 53, King Charles was at plus 21 and Queen Camilla was at minus seven.

Thankfully, they have not resorted to mentioning the royal family during any of their recent outings, instead focusing their efforts on promoting causes that can help others.

Prince Harry's appearance on the podcast wasn't just a strategy to boost his image in the US, though that surely would have been a hopeful outcome for his team behind the scenes.

He joined the host to talk about the dangers of social media on children and young people, an issue their charitable organisation Archewell has focused on via its work with The Parents Network

The couple recently accepted a humanitarian award in New York because of their efforts.

Harry was asked why the couple chose to make the issue a core part of their work, after leaving the royal family.

"Myself and my wife, we've talked about this quite a lot... We've had our fair share of beatings on social media," Prince Harry said.

"I guess when we moved to the US one of the things that we both agreed... and what we were in search of was what is the root cause of so much pain and suffering in the world?

"And if we can identify that, how can we shine a light on that and support the people trying to change the industry? It was the tech industry and it was social media."

He and Meghan "talk about it a lot" when it comes to how their own children will experience social media, when they are older.

Harry said: "Because of what we know now, we would be way more cautious and hesitant about allowing our kids to have access to social media".

It's a worthwhile cause, and Prince Harry should be applauded for throwing his support behind it.

But what comes next for Harry? He did the The Late Late Show with James Corden back in 2021 and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in 2023.

Perhaps he could follow in Prince William's footsteps by appearing alongside Eugene Levy on a Montecito-themed episode of The Reluctant Traveller?

William's time on the travel show, which saw him take Levy on a tour through Windsor Castle, was widely praised for showing the future king at his most candid and down to earth.

It's the kind of good publicity that still seems to be out of Harry and Meghan's reach.

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