In his upcoming memoir “Unleashed”, former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson reveals his unsuccessful attempt to convince Prince Harry to remain a working member of the Royal Family. The candid account, serialized in The Daily Mail, recalls Johnson being tasked with delivering a “manly pep talk” to the Duke of Sussex in January 2020, just as Harry was preparing to step down from his royal duties.
The conversation took place during the UK-Africa Investment Summit in London, where Johnson and Prince Harry met privately for around 20 minutes. According to Johnson, the mission was “totally hopeless” as the Duke had already resolved to leave royal life behind. A close friend of Prince Harry also confirmed that Harry was “unpersuadable” at that point.
Despite Johnson’s efforts, Prince Harry was firm in his decision. The meeting came just one day after Harry publicly stated he had “no other option” but to step down from his official role. Reflecting on the encounter, Johnson humorously noted that while he managed to lead the UK out of the European Union, he couldn’t convince Prince Harry to remain within the royal fold.
The memoir suggests that both Buckingham Palace and 10 Downing Street had enlisted Johnson to persuade Prince Harry, who was considered an asset to the UK. However, the former prime minister ultimately admitted that his attempt to sway the prince had been in vain.