Kensington Palace and the Beeb are both likely to be celebrating success of prince’s rare foray into media world

Prince Harry has provided an unprecedented insight into the issues that he considers important and his relationship with his father, Prince Charles, by guest-editing BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. But agreeing to edit one of the BBC’s flagship current affairs programmes has also shone a light on the royal family’s approach to the media.

The prince’s edition of Today has been broadly well received, with presenter Sarah Montague praising the 33-year-old as more hands-on than other guest editors and Catherine Mayer, author of a 2015 biography on Prince Charles, describing it as a “stunning public relations feat”.



Attracting the royal to edit Today – one of the BBC’s flagship current affairs programme – will be seen as a coup within the BBC, as will his interview with Barack Obama, which is the first that the former US president has granted since his term in office ended in January.

The prince has had a notoriously rocky relationship with the press. Last year he criticised coverage of his relationship with Meghan Markle, accusing the media of introducing “racial overtones” into comment pieces.

However, agreeing to guest edit Today fits with the broader media strategy adopted by the younger members of the royal family – they are willing to open up but on their terms. The prince has tried to take more control of his communications and image with the general public – often using social media to bypass traditional media outlets – and Today provided another platform to discuss issues that matter to him.

Mayer, who is also the co-founder of the Women’s Equality party said the interview between Prince Harry and Prince Charles could help the different generations of the royal family be more closely aligned as a brand.

She said on social media: “You cannot separate the man from the office and for the same reason BBC Radio 4’s Today decision to give a substantial platform to royalty will raise concerns among republicans but also traditionalists, who fear that royalty espousing causes sacrifices ‘neutrality’ and weakens the institution.

“Republicans are right to worry. Prince Harry’s Today was a stunning public relations feat that achieved several different goals at once – showcasing the utility of royalty and building the brand, aligning his ‘young royals’ brand and his father’s.

“Republicans do struggle to get a hearing, because of bias and also the movement’s own weaknesses. But bigger forces are also at play. Those who believed the end of the Elizabethan age signalled republicanism’s best chance now find themselves staring at a royal resurgence.”

In a sign of how much interest the royal family can take in interviews, the editor of Channel 4 News said that he had been asked to sign a 14-page contract before interviewing Prince Charles.

Prince Harry: Meghan had 'fantastic' Christmas with Queen and royals Read more

Ben de Pear said: “I wonder if Prince Harry or Today had to sign the 14-page contract including clauses ceding editorial control, pre-approved questions & final cut to Prince Charles I was sent when Channel 4 News was offered HRH.”

Prince Harry addressed Prince Charles as “pa” in the interview and a large portion was dedicated to climate change. When asked by Prince Harry what issue he wanted to focus on in 2018, Prince Charles said: “I think you know because I have probably bored you to tears for so many years. I mean there is a whole lot of things that I have tried to focus on over all these years that I feel needed attention. Not everyone else did but, maybe now, some years later they are beginning to realise that what I was trying to say may not have been quite as dotty as they thought.”

As well as interviewing Prince Charles and Obama, Prince Harry spoke to the co-founder of artificial intelligence company DeepMind, Demis Hassabis, and personally asked boxer Anthony Joshua to appear on the programme.

Other topics that Today explored during Prince Harry’s edition were the armed forces, youth violence, mental health, conservation, women’s rugby and the future of the Commonwealth.

He chose Abdurahman Sayed from al-Manaar Muslim Cultural Heritage Centre in North Kensington, which has been helping residents following the Grenfell Tower fire, to conduct the programme’s Thought for the Day and also played grime music made by a Nottingham-based charity at the start of the show.

Play Video 1:05 'Who knows?': Prince Harry on whether Obama will be invited to his wedding – video

At the end of the show Prince Harry was himself interviewed in the studio by Montague and co-presenter Justin Webb. He refused to be drawn on his political views – or whether the Obamas will be invited to his wedding to Meghan Markle next year – but did provide some details about his Christmas with Markle and royal family, saying that he had an “amazing time” and that his fiance had “really enjoyed it”.

Prince Harry was also clearly happy with how the programme had gone, despite a 6am start on 27 December that led to him commenting about the importance of coffee. Kensington Palace posted on social media throughout Today and afterwards published Prince Harry’s reflections on the programme. “I’m hugely grateful for this platform to be able to discuss topics that I think really need to be discussed and thought about,” he said.

For their part, both the BBC and Kensington Palace are likely to be celebrating the success of Prince Harry’s rare foray into the media world.