Although Harry, 41, saw his popularity plummet as a result of his exit from royal life – an event famously dubbed Megxit – I don’t think this was his biggest mistake. Hear me out.
Yes, leaving the Royal Family and setting up home in California was something that Harry did which didn’t please members of the public in the UK. But it wasn’t the worst thing. If he had just done this, we would probably have all moved on. But the point is, he didn’t.
Instead, he packed his bags, set up a new life in America and went about his new ambition to earn his own money… by dragging his royal relatives through the mud (not literally, of course).
This began in the Oprah Winfrey interview in 2021 and it hasn’t stopped since. From this interview, filmed at the couple’s Montecito mansion, to the Netflix docuseries Harry and Meghan, to his bombshell memoir Spare and other interviews since, Harry has not stopped making digs at the Royal Family.
Why? Well, apparently, to get his side of the story across – and maybe for the paycheck too. But has he still not done this yet?
In all fairness, the Duke has toned down the criticism of his family, which at one point felt like he was releasing wrecking ball after wrecking ball at full speed towards the monarchy and everything it stands for.
However, this does not mean people have forgotten what he said about the royals and the upset he inflicted. And it is this which keeps him towards the lower end in popularity polls.
While Megxit was no doubt unpopular, it wasn’t his biggest mistake. Publicly criticising his family was, and it was a mistake that some of his relatives – Prince William comes to mind – just may never fully forgive.