Even Though You Weren’t Invited”: Prince Harry’s Remark Leaves Reporters Unimpressed
During their 2018 international tour, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle experienced a moment of tension with the press that left reporters feeling slighted. The tour, which followed their wedding at Windsor Castle, took the newlyweds to Australia, Fiji, Tonga, and New Zealand, coinciding with the Invictus Games in Sydney. While the trip was generally considered a success, with Meghan announcing her pregnancy upon arrival in Sydney, an incident on a flight back from Tonga cast a shadow over their relations with the media.
Royal correspondent and author Valentine Low recalled the awkward moment on HELLO!’s podcast, detailing how the incident unfolded on the flight. “We were flying from Tonga back to Sydney. And often on these tours, there comes a point towards the end when the royal might come back to the back of the plane and have a chat with us off the record, you know, not for printing, but it’s a way of making bonds,” Low explained. “It’s a way of keeping us sweet. It’s a way of having informal contact. And we were promised that he or they would come to the back of the plane, and it didn’t happen.”
The reporters waited for hours, expecting Harry or Meghan to engage with them, but to no avail. Finally, just before the plane landed, the couple approached the back of the plane. However, the interaction did not go as hoped. Meghan made a brief comment about the reporters wanting to get back for their Sunday lunch, which Low described as “completely bizarre.” But it was Harry’s remark that truly left an impression. “He said, ‘Thanks very much for coming, even though you weren’t invited.’ And we thought, ‘What?'” via Mirror.
Low also recounted this incident in his book, Courtiers: The Hidden Power Behind the Crown. Reflecting on Harry’s comment, he wrote, “This was spectacularly rude — and incorrect. The media had been invited to cover the tour.”
The reaction from the press was immediate and negative. Harry’s staff reportedly informed him of how poorly the comment had been received. However, the Duke of Sussex’s response was dismissive: “Well, you shouldn’t have made me do it.”
This incident highlights the strained relationship between the Sussexes and the media, a tension that has only grown more pronounced over time. While the tour itself was a milestone for Harry and Meghan, providing them with an opportunity to connect with the public and announce their upcoming addition to the family, moments like these have underscored the challenges they face in managing their public image and media relations.