has given a rare television interview 鈥 and it鈥檚 to a Canadian outlet, no less.
In less than ideal circumstances for a conversation (bless the poor sound person trying to capture audio as the crowd roars around them; subtitles were often needed) CTV鈥檚 Omar Sachedina first sat down with the Duke of Sussex on the sidelines of a wheelchair basketball game at this week鈥檚 Invictus Games, held in Vancouver. 聽Markle sat on Harry鈥檚 other side, clapping and watching the game as the men spoke, or in conversation with the person seated on her other side.
That location, there in the thick of the games, may have been strategic on the prince鈥檚 part.
鈥淥ne of the things I care most about is the atmosphere,鈥 Prince Harry told Sachedina when asked how he was feeling at that moment. 鈥淏ecause maybe it doesn鈥檛 mean that much to them, but for me to be able to create the atmosphere for them makes them feel like superstars.鈥
Letting the entertainment of it all take centre stage, highlighting how much fun these games are for competitors and spectators alike 鈥 rather than Harry seated in what looks like a hotel room, where the more formal interview later took place 鈥 almost emerges as a key reason he gave this interview at all.
鈥淭he harder to thing to do is merge the general public with the military, and for them to feel like, 鈥業 don鈥檛 have any connection to military families and it was incredible!鈥欌 Prince Harry continued. 鈥淲e never knew how good the sport was going to be in the early days, and every iteration of the games has gotten better and better.鈥
Here are the most interesting tidbits from Prince Harry鈥檚 interview with CTV News.
1. Canada has been 鈥渞eally good to us鈥
In 2020, sought refuge on Vancouver Island in the aftermath of their decision to step down as working royals. Back in the province five years later, Harry reflected on his gratitude to Canada.
鈥淐anada has been really good to my wife over the years,鈥 he says, a nod to Meghan鈥檚 time spent living in 海角社区官网filming Suits. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been really good to us as well. Certainly in 2020, it was amazing to be in Canada, Vancouver Island, and be in the local town and feel protected.鈥
The couple, with their then-toddler son Archie, were apparently there for 鈥渕ore than six weeks before anybody found out,鈥 says Harry. 鈥淲e were bumping into people the whole time. Nobody told anybody 鈥 there鈥檚 not too much of a media, or a pop culture, on Vancouver Island.鈥
2. Harry talks to his kids about his mother鈥檚 legacy
When asked he talks to his kids about an event whose backdrop is the legacy of war, Harry says that it can be 鈥渉ard, because kids don鈥檛 always ask the right questions, there鈥檚 no filter.鈥 He says he鈥檇 never shut that line of questioning down. Instead, he tries to explain it.
鈥淎rchie was asking about landmines, because I was talking about how some of these guys were blown up,鈥 says Harry. 鈥淚 found myself talking to him about mines at five years old. Interestingly, it gave me a chance to talk about my mum.鈥
Here, Harry is referring to Princess Diana鈥檚 narrative-shifting work, where she walked through a field loaded with landmines in Angola, to raise awareness around the issue.
鈥淗e then wanted to see videos and photographs of his Grandma Diana doing her thing for landmines all those years ago,鈥 he says.
Prince Harry chats with a young Invictus Games attendee.聽
Canadian Press3. Parenthood is 鈥渁mazing,鈥 but 鈥渋t鈥檚 a journey鈥
On the subject of being a parent, Harry鈥檚 words to Sachedina (expecting his own first child soon) are that 鈥渋t鈥檚 amazing 鈥 I think one or two kids is probably enough. I know some people who鈥檝e got five and I just say, well, that鈥檚 your own fault.鈥
More seriously, he continues: 鈥淗aving kids is amazing, but it鈥檚 a journey. Every single day, every single week they grow and change. And I love the questions that they ask, and the experiences and the challenges that they give you.鈥
4. The Invictus games give Harry a sense of purpose
As a veteran who has served two tours in Afghanistan himself, Harry calls the games his 鈥渇ix,鈥 praising the supportive community it creates. 鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of weight that gets taken off your shoulders,鈥 he says. 鈥淎 lot of these individuals have felt very lonely 鈥 you鈥檙e led to believe that the problems you have encountered, or the issues you鈥檙e carrying, are somewhat unique to you in that service. When you come to the games, you realize that鈥檚 not the case at all.鈥
Prince Harry cheering on the games.
Canadian PressHe says 鈥渋t might sound weird,鈥 but he gets a great deal out of hearing the stories of the people who are competing. 鈥淚 get my own cure and confidence from them, knowing that what we鈥檙e doing is working, being able to serve part of my purpose 鈥 and being able to use the position, the platform, the spotlight in giving these guys all the attention and the opportunity.鈥
5. Harry did some online education on Indigenous issues before the games
These games are co-hosted by four First Nations, in addition to Vancouver and British Columbia. Harry, who started his opening speech with thanks to those nations, told Sachedina that he spent 鈥20 hours online鈥 educating himself before this game. 鈥淎nd I鈥檝e had many, many conversations 鈥 and my wife joined us for some of them as well 鈥 with the First Nations. That鈥檚 been incredible.鈥
The ultimate goal, he added, was to 鈥渟hare this platform for them to continue the work of the reconciliation process.鈥
To join the conversation set a first and last name in your user profile.
Sign in or register for free to join the Conversation