Buckingham Palace reportedly did not request Boris Johnson to persuade Prince Harry to remain in the UK, as per recent reports. The former Prime Minister claimed in his upcoming memoir that he was advised to give the Duke of Sussex a “manly pep talk” to encourage him to stay in the UK and not withdraw from royal duties. In his book, “Unleashed,” set to be released on October 10, Johnson described the situation as “ridiculous,” mentioning the futile attempt to convince Harry to stay.
The alleged interaction between Johnson and Prince Harry took place during a 20-minute private discussion at the UK-Africa investment summit in London on January 20, 2020. This meeting occurred shortly after Prince Harry and Meghan announced their decision to step back from their royal roles, citing a lack of alternative options. Despite Johnson’s efforts to persuade the prince to reconsider, sources close to Harry revealed that there was no directive from the Palace for Johnson to intervene in this matter.
While it remains uncertain if anyone within Downing Street suggested Johnson engage with Prince Harry on this topic, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex ultimately proceeded with stepping back as senior royals in January 2020. They relinquished their roles as working royals and relocated to Montecito, California. Johnson has indicated that his memoir will cover significant political events such as Brexit, his handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the controversies that led to his resignation as Prime Minister in September 2022.