Duke’s sharp response to a simple question highlighted rising tensions with the press
An awkward moment between Prince Harry and a royal reporter during his 2019 Africa tour has resurfaced, offering a telling insight into the growing friction between the Duke of Sussex and the media—just months before he and Meghan Markle stepped back from royal duties in 2020.
Sky News Royal Editor Rhiannon Mills recently shared the behind-the-scenes story on The Sun's Royal Exclusive show, revealing that what she believed was an innocent question received a surprisingly frosty response from Harry during his visit to Malawi.
“I asked, ‘Why is it so important for you to come here?’” Mills explained. “It was a rubbish question, but I didn't expect his reaction.” According to Mills, Harry curtly replied, “Go and ask those people over there,” before she tried to follow up with a clarification. That’s when he sharply told her, “Rhiannon, don’t behave like that.”
Describing his tone as patronizing, Mills recalled how Harry's team appeared visibly upset by the exchange. “They were livid,” she said. “I kicked the bear and didn't even realize it at the time.”
The tension didn't end there. Shortly after the press corps returned to Johannesburg, the Sussexes made headlines by announcing legal action against a British newspaper—a move that signaled a clear break from traditional royal media relations.
Not long after, ITV aired Harry & Meghan: An African Journey, a documentary that further pulled back the curtain on the couple's struggles. Meghan, then a new mother, spoke emotionally about the lack of support she'd received, while Harry openly acknowledged a growing rift with his brother, Prince William.
What began as a charitable royal tour ultimately marked a turning point in the Sussexes' relationship with both the press and the monarchy—foreshadowing the significant changes that were soon to follow.
