London (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Ex-PM Boris Johnson laments his ‘pathetic attempt’ to keep Meghan and Harry in the UK: ‘I failed.’
Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson states he made a “pathetic” endeavour to convince Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to remain in the UK. Talking to Camilla Tominey on GB News, Johnson said he was worried about the country losing a valuable asset as the Sussexes placed their sights on life across the pond. It comes after the ex-prime minister revealed he held a 20-minute one-to-one ‘catch-up’ with Harry without assistants present, where he made his point.
How did Johnson describe his efforts to prevent Megxit?
In Johnson’s own words, he “failed to prevent Megxit, but I did deliver Brexit”. In the show with Camilla, he said: They [Meghan and Harry] came to an occasion we did for female education.
“They were brilliant and she [Meghan] was particularly good and articulate on it. I got on well with both of them. I also functioned with Harry when he did his Invictus Games for disabled veterans in the Olympic Park.”
He contended: “I thought, in a bit of pomposity, this national asset is exiting our country. I thought he, on the whole, could be a strength for good so I’m going to try and discourage him.
I had a pathetic attempt at that. It didn’t work. I failed to avert Megxit, but I did deliver Brexit.”
What insights does Johnson provide about his meeting with Harry?
Johnson first disclosed this in his memoir, Unleashed, which is being serialised in the Daily Mail. The talk is stated to have happened in January 2020, but Johnson bemoaned what he felt was a “totally hopeless” task. It came at a time when Harry’s split with the Royal Family was at its most pronounced, as the conference came the day after a speech in which the prince had expressed he had “no other option” but to step down from his royal role.
It was a “ridiculous business… when they made me try to convince Harry to stay. Kind of a manly pep talk. hopeless”, he noted. The meeting had not been cited in Harry and Meghan’s Netflix film or Harry’s memoir, Spare.
According to GB News, the full interview with Boris Johnson on the Camilla Tominey Show will be aired on 06 Oct 2024 tomorrow at 9.30 am.