Prince Harry’s light fades: This is how he lost his royal identity

The name of the documentary says it all: “Harry – the lost prince”. Director Ulrike Grunewald assumes that the royal couple, Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan, have one thing in particular: they no longer have a home.

They left the British royal family in 2020 with flying flags and great bohei. In search of freedom, they moved across the pond, far from home. First to Canada, then to California. The problem: In Britain, Prince Harry was the most popular royal, in California he is one of many celebrities in America’s dream factory.

The prince, who was always approachable and had a mischievous laugh on his face, is rarely seen outside his property. Neighbors who were interviewed during the research for the filming reported that the couple did not integrate into the community where they lived in Montecito. You should only see him with the dogs every now and then, she only goes to the market once in a while. The two royals, who so wanted to lead a life outside the palace walls, should never be seen at neighborhood parties or gatherings.

Grunewald even goes one step further in her documentary. Prince Harry was fooled by Meghan’s glamor factor and Hollywood experience. The grass is said to have looked so much greener on the other side of the Atlantic, but the production suggests that it was far more difficult for the couple to make money than they originally thought.

In the beginning they raked in millions as they mocked their dear relatives on the throne. A successful Netflix documentary and Prince Harry’s memoirs brought a lot of money into the coffers. This hunt didn’t make them any more popular. Their popularity poll numbers are in the basement, especially among young people. But being popular is an important quality if you want to be socially active.

Like Prince Harry’s mother once did. Princess Diana was committed to helping those in need around the world. The Sussexes apparently saw themselves as the legitimate successor to the Princess of Hearts. But traveling to Nigeria in sinfully expensive designer clothes and imitating royal travel was not well received, according to the ZDF documentary. This is also reflected in the account of her charity Archewell. Where they received $13 million in donations in 2021, they only received two million in 2022.

Prince Harry’s light is fading. The stories about the royal family have been told and are damaging its image. The charity is running slowly. New jobs and a new role, like the one he had in the royal family, are difficult to find. For the Invictus Games, his passion project, he depends on the goodwill of the host countries because they are expensive. The competition for war veterans, for example, cost Germany over 40 million euros from its defense budget in 2023.

Prince Harry would have had a key role in the royal family as the most popular member of the family. He could have changed the world a little. For good causes, just like his mother once did. But who is this Harry, who apart from the title of prince in America is just one of countless celebrities? That is the big question that the ZDF documentary raises and leaves the viewer with the words: “The story of the lost prince will continue. End? Uncertain.”