This is what PR Harry’s adviser SHOULD be telling him to say

I’m sorry. I thought Harry hated the media. So why does he keep climbing into bed with them? This week’s extraordinarily ill-advised interview with GQ (ill-advised by Harry, not the magazine – it was a proper scoop for them) probably did more damage than any full on-assault by the tabloids he detests. Why? Because of what he chose to say, freely and without pressure or devious questioning by his questioner.

Can’t Harry hear himself? Who advises him? Whoever they are, they’re doing a rotten job. Harry used the platform to call for reconciliation between himself and the Royal Family, by which he clearly means William, Kate, and Queen Camilla. (His dad has already pretty much forgiven him, it would seem). Forgiven him for what, though? Let’s remind ourselves.

“That” Oprah Winfrey interview, where Harry and Meghan pretty much accused his family of racism – a charge William repulsed. “We are very much NOT a racist family,” he angrily avowed during a school visit hours after the interview aired.

The late Queen was subtler in her response to the couple’s claims the Royal Family had expressed “concerns and conversations about how dark [their son] Archie’s skin might be when he was born”, but just as dismissive. In a masterclass of dry understatement, she observed: “Recollections may vary”. Ouch.

Then there was Spare, Harry’s self-serving autobiography. More allegations of boorish and unpleasant behaviour, this time mostly aimed at his brother William and wife Kate. Wisely, they declined to issue a rebuttal. Good call. Very much a “who is this pesky kid brother snapping at our heels?” response.

Then there was Harry’s TV documentary. More complaints, accusations, fresh side-swipes at the family and lashings of “poor me” Californian psychobabble. But now he wants a reconciliation, does he? Fine. But shouldn’t he try saying “sorry” first? It doesn’t have to be a grovelling, craven mea culpa. If I were Harry’s PR adviser, I’d suggest something along these lines.

“Look. I accept I may have spoken out of turn a few times over the last few years. I wasn’t in a good place, for all sorts of reasons going back a long way, and on reflection I probably said things I shouldn’t. I apologise unreservedly to my family, and ask for their understanding and forgiveness. I love them very much and would very much like to be reconciled with them.”

And not, as he clumsily told GQ: “Some people don’t want to work it out… I want to work it out.” Later, he denied that was a reference to William. Hmm. Foot-in-mouth syndrome strikes again, I reckon. You don’t achieve reconciliation via ill-considered interviews. You write private letters, make private phone calls, seek private face-to-face meetings. And you start by saying “sorry”. Who knows? You might find you get an apology in return.