BBC Interviewer Reveals What Prince Harry Was Really Like Off-Camera: 'He Was Surprisingly...'

Prince Harry sat down with BBC correspondent Nada Tawfik for an interview on May 2. The Duke of Sussex opened up about his security row hours after the courts rejected his appeal for state-funded protection. Shortly after, Tawfik revealed what Harry had said to her before the cameras started rolling. She shared that they began chatting as soon as she met him, but got to the ‘topic at hand’ when they began filming.

Tawfik described the Prince as ‘down-to-earth’ and ‘easy to talk to’. In an article for the BBC, she penned, “We began with some very brief small talk, which always helps to break the ice before a formal sit down.” She also revealed that he arrived without any entourage and 'politely introduced himself' to the staff with a formal handshake. She added, “Prince Harry was eager to share his feelings, despite the critical scrutiny that follows him. As the interviewer, I was also keenly aware of that scrutiny.”

Tawfik stressed that it was ‘important’ to ask why taxpayers should pay for his security and why the protection on a case-by-case basis exposed him to greater risk. She detailed the Duke’s response, “He asked why some people were comfortable with him not having top-level security, but okay with other public officials being granted lifetime protection upon leaving office, regardless of the risk against them.” She also spoke of Harry’s ‘candid’ demeanor, albeit mixed with a little nervousness, adding, “With his foot tapping frequently as he spoke, he was surprisingly candid and forthcoming. His security, or lack thereof, was the sticking point preventing a reconciliation with his family, he said.”

The BBC journalist also described that her chat with the Duke took place in a setup close to the home he shares with Meghan Markle and their two children. She wrote, “As we set up our cameras in the living room, we pulled up the latest court updates and news lines being filed by our teams in London. Meanwhile, we were warned to keep the doors closed so that the screaming peacocks on the porch wouldn't come inside.” She praised Harry’s calm attitude and said he wasn’t ‘defensive’ or ‘combating’ when asked the tough questions. She explained, “Equally, it was important to give him space to share his perspective. Because whatever anyone feels about the Duke, he raises interesting questions for the public to ponder.”

Harry’s explosive sit-down saw him discuss the royal family’s alleged involvement in the removal of his security. As reported by The London Standard, he claimed, “I have had it described to me, once people knew about the facts, that this is a good old-fashioned establishment stitch-up, and that's what it feels like.” He also shared that his ‘jaw hit the floor’ when he learned a representative of the Firm sits on the RAVEC committee. The Duke alleged this allowed the Crown to exercise influence over what security measures which royals receive.