Prince Haz got what he always wanted. That’s the summary of the docu-series ‘Harry and Megan’. Harry got what he longed for. How good is it to just call Harry, Haz? I know we aren’t mates, but I feel this documentary has allowed people to connect with them on some personal level whether it’s them as lovers, or as best friends, or parents; we almost feel like we know them.
Harry has always been different. He’s always stood out right from the time I became familiar with the Royals which is practically all my life. Whether it’s sticking out as a ginger or his cheekiness; his smile, warmth, empathy aka being his mother’s son, being down to earth and being able to relate with people of all ethnicities and cultures. He’s always been the different one and that’s what people have always been drawn to. In fact, as someone who is The Spare, he has done a very good job of still being the main character. He got that from his mother. Diana always stood out. People loved her. People were drawn to her. She had this charisma. And that has passed down to Harry.
When I say Prince Haz got what he wanted, I’m referring to freedom and the ability to be normal just like everyone else. He affirmed this point in the docu-series when he said “this is the freedom flight” as they were heading for presumably LA. Ofcourse, he will always be a prince. Born a prince, always a prince. So to the critics screaming “strip Haz and Meg of their titles as Duke and Duchess of Sussex,” I’m screaming we the public do not care about the titles. If I recall, the docu-series is called Harry and Meghan – there were no ‘titles’ included; he will always be Prince Harry and by virtue of marriage, Meghan will always be a princess.
Back to freedom. Harry has mentioned on several occasions his desire to just be and experience life like the average bloke. Whether it was being able to go clubbing in his teens and not have the paparazzi in his face or being able to walk down the street, go to the beach, find someone who genuinely loves him for him and not his titles. And I think through Meghan, he has found some level of freedom and privacy. Again, the critics are screaming: why is getting paid £100M to air his private business if he wants privacy? The key here is consent as he mentions in the docu-series; being able to have control of what is being said or aired. Besides, the couple’s press secretary reiterated privacy was not the reason why they left: “Their statement announcing their decision to step back mentions nothing of privacy and reiterates their desire to continue their roles and public duties.”
Montecito Meghan has provided a safe haven for Harry to experience love, security, normalcy, healing, peace, vulnerability and the list goes on. By virtue of her being a commoner who has had to go through fairly similar experiences like the rest of us whether it’s being able to walk into Tesco or Walmart unknown, or applying for jobs and dealing with rejection, living on her own, paying her own bills; this is what Harry always wanted as a young adult, if not for himself, certainly for his family. He despised the box that being born royal put him in. He wanted to experience life. It’s part of the reason why he joined the Army and has a soft spot for Africa. The uniformity of the army and the simplicity of African living and some sense of anonymity is what drew the Prince. Bryony Gordon, Telegraph journalist and friend of the couple shares this sentiment: “ Harry wanted to leave the royal family when he was young. He wanted out from the crazy cult of royalty”—but only took the plunge because of his wife.”
And it’s beautiful to see them ‘free’. Haz and Meg seem happy. And I hope they stay happy. I guess their work going forward is to be fierce protectors of their marriage and family because the haters are out there waiting for the next bombshell.