Boris Johnson has laid bare what he said to Prince Harry in a bid to stop the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s exit from the UK. The former prime minister, who was in office when the Sussexes’ left for North America, recalled speaking to Harry at a UK-Africa investment summit in London’s Docklands in 2020.
After telling Harry it was a pity, Mr Johnson said the gist of what he then told the prince was: “I think there is so much good you can do here.” Harry reportedly listened patiently to Mr Johnson, but the ex-PM noted in his latest column: “It was clear I was getting nowhere.”
Mr Johnson, writing for the Daily Mail, added: “I may have delivered Brexit, but I couldn’t avert Megxit.”
The term was used widely to refer to the decision by Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, to step back as senior, working royals and move to North America.
Harry has said the “misogynistic” term was created by an online troll and amplified by the press.
It has been six years since Harry and Meghan left the UK. They now live in Montecito, California with their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
Since they left the UK, critics have attacked the couple’s ventures, which included a multi-million dollar deal with the streaming giant, Netflix, and podcast deal with Spotify.
Meghan has also launched a lifestyle brand and business, which Mr Johnson lauded in his column, in which he called on the pair to return to Britain.
He wrote: “Come back to Britain, with your heads held high. I don’t care what anyone else says, it looks to me as if your American sojourn has been a triumphant success.”
Mr Johnson pointed to the money Meghan has likely made selling jam and urged the Sussexes to come back to cheer up Brits with their “jamtastic” household advice and “richly comic” family feuds.
The former Tory prime minister suggested the couple would add to the “thinned out” ranks of the Royal Family and champion “things that really matter”.
Addressing the Sussexes directly, he said they once did a great job and can do it again, concluding: “Come back, Harry and Meghan – all is forgiven!”