Prince Albert has expressed sympathy for Prince Harry with regards to the onslaught of public scrutiny he has faced since marrying Meghan Markle.
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The 61-year-old expressed his “support and sympathy” when he met with the Duke of Sussex in private at the World Cup Rugby final in Japan on November 2, according to People.
“He has said he feels ‘bullied,’ and I can understand and sympathized with him over that,” Monaco’s sovereign told the publication.
“You have to protect your personal life, your family and their intimacy as much as possible, whenever possible. Especially when you’re a public figure with appearances to attend. Of course, that’s harder to do than to say.
“And it’s especially difficult with the British press, which is so inquisitive, so harsh. Not only on the royal family but on other celebrities and other public figures as well.”
While Prince Albert said “it wasn’t a long conversation,” he shared his advice when dealing with negative media attention.
“I sympathized with him, saying, ‘Just do what you have to do to ensure your privacy,’” he said, and later added:
“Sometimes you just have to ignore it and move on. Sometimes you can ignore whoever is out there that’s being too inquisitive or too hard on you.”
The royal also says the best approach “is not to pay attention.”
This isn’t the first time Prince Albert has expressed admiration and concern for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
“The couple seem to be having a good deal of success so far,” he told People in 2017, but cautioned “sooner or later, [they would] have to face the full onslaught.”
At the time, he said bringing newcomers into royal circles is “a pretty tough act.”
“Especially in the British royal family, which is scrutinized by the press as no one’s been.”
Now, Prince Albert echoed his original sentiments, telling People he completely understands Prince Harry’s reasons for taking legal action against the press and making candid complaints about the media in the ITV documentary Harry & Meghan: An African Journey.
“My mum taught me a certain set of values that I will always try to uphold, despite the role and the job that sometimes that entails. I will always protect my family and now I have a family to protect,” the 35-year-old said in the program. “I will not be bullied into playing a game that killed my mum.”
Though British royals are known for their stiff upper lip, Harry and Meghan told interviewer Tom Bradby that they can no longer stay silent and ignore the negativity.
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