Buckingham Palace Demanded to See Prince Harry's '60 Minutes' and 'Good Morning America' Interviews Before Responding to Them
Both networks refused the request.
Prince Harry gave two U.S. interviews ahead of the release of his memoir Spare, out today: one to 60 Minutes with Anderson Cooper, and one to Good Morning America with Michael Strahan.
Both programs revealed that they gave Buckingham Palace an opportunity to respond ahead of time, but that representatives for the Palace asked to see the interviews in full (or at least read their transcripts) before they would consider responding.
Because this runs contrary to both CBS' and ABC News' policies, both interviews ran with no comment from the Palace, which represents the interests of King Charles and Queen Camilla specifically.
"We reached out to Buckingham Palace for comment," Cooper said on 60 Minutes (via Us Weekly). "Its representatives demanded, before considering responding, 60 Minutes provided them with our report prior to airing it tonight, which is something we never do."
As for Strahan, he revealed, "We received a response from the law firm representing Buckingham Palace this morning, while we were on the air, saying that the palace needed to 'consider exactly what is said in the interview, in the context in which it appears' and asked that we supply them immediately with a copy of the entire interview, which we do not do as a news organization, as a matter of our policy."
Buckingham and Kensington Palaces have essentially kept mum so far amid the release of all these interviews and of Spare.
However, Prince Harry has been driving home the point that—according to him—members of the Royal Family and their press officers often surreptitiously brief the press about private matters, and are then quoted as "a royal source," "a senior royal source" or "a Palace insider," for example.
Stay In The Know
Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.
While reps for the Royal Family have (fairly predictably) not commented on that particular claim, royal author Omid Scobie alleged in one column for Yahoo! that this leaking to the media is common practice among members of the Firm.
Iris Goldsztajn is a London-based journalist, editor and author. She is the morning editor at Marie Claire, and her work has appeared in the likes of British Vogue, InStyle, Cosmopolitan, Refinery29 and SELF. Iris writes about everything from celebrity news and relationship advice to the pitfalls of diet culture and the joys of exercise. She has many opinions on Harry Styles, and can typically be found eating her body weight in cheap chocolate.
-
Prince Andrew's Business Advisor Accused of Being a "Spy" and Banned From the U.K.
"We found a way to get the relevant people unnoticed in and out of the house in Windsor."
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Kate Middleton Allegedly Rejected Idea to Seat Prince Andrew "Behind a Pillar" at Her Christmas Carol Concert
"Although very much a family affair... there was no space for Uncle Andy."
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
32 Celebrities Who Got Their Start on Reality TV
Believe it or not.
By Iris Goldsztajn Published
-
Buckingham Palace Responds After Royal Family Maid Is Arrested at "Out of Control" Christmas Party
"I've never seen one person get that crazy during a night out," a source claimed.
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Every Time the Royal Family Broke Protocol in 2024, From Minor Rule Changes to Huge Mistakes
Meet the usual suspects: King Charles, Queen Camilla, Prince William, and Kate Middleton.
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Queen Camilla's Son Reveals He "Learned a Long Time Ago" to Stay Out of Prince William and Prince Harry's "World"
Tom Parker Bowles said "it was appalling what they went through."
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Prince William Is Allegedly Still "Very, Very Angry" About Royal Rift, But Kate Middleton Is Pushing For "Reconciliation"
"Never give up hope, there's always a chance."
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Prince Harry's "Despair" at Online Trolls "Trying to Make Trouble" For His Family Is Understandable, Says Royal Expert
"He says he is happy. I believe him."
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Meghan Markle Reveals Impressive Hidden Skill in New Netflix Documentary With Prince Harry
What can't she do?
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Princess Eugenie Could Spend Christmas With Meghan Markle and Prince Harry in California
"She has also been invited to Sandringham."
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Tyler Perry Makes Rare Comments About Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's "Beautiful Family"
"They love each other... I just want the best for them."
By Amy Mackelden Published