Tom Bradby defends Prince Harry and Meghan's 'honesty' for admitting struggles with fame in documentary
The controversial documentary, which made headlines after the Duke of Sussex alluded to a rift with Prince William and discussed their struggles with fame, was criticised for overshadowing their charity work.
Now, in an interview on Good Morning Britain, the ITV journalist has defended the couple's honesty, claiming the decision to discuss their personal life was his idea.
“It is worth saying that the documentary was my idea," Tom told Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid.
"They were very consistent all the way through that they wanted it to be about their work in Africa.
"I said repeatedly, 'Look, I’ve made that documentary several times. I’m going to do it about your work in Africa, which is interesting and all the rest of it, but I think, you’ve had an extraordinary year and I think it would look weird if I come along and I don’t ask you anything about how it’s really going’ and I pushed that and pushed that consistently."
Some critics slammed the couple for discussing their private struggles during a charity trip, but Tom Bradby commended their 'honesty'.
“Even when I was there I could sort of see going through their heads the question of whether to answer honestly, and how honestly, and I think they just in the end they chose to allow a bit of qualified honestly. I don’t necessarily think we should be beating them up for that. I mean, do we want people to answer questions honestly or not?”
Quizzed on how they could change the media narrative following their six-week break, he said: “They have a particular view, and I’m not saying it’s right or wrong, that’s just their view, they feel the media is dishonest and all the other stuff you know and they want to take a stand on it. And I don’t know whether six weeks away has changed that in any way.
He added: “I think the truth is there is a lot going on, a lot going on within the royal family and, I don’t know, and I don’t think they know what their future is going to be and what their position is going to be.”
It's speculated the couple could eye a move to Canada after spending seven weeks there with baby Archie over Christmas, while some speculate as to whether they could drop the HRH title altogether.
“I don’t know the answer to that," Tom said.
"It’s no big secret in their friends that they have been considering their options in the future. I don’t ask what their plans are. They keep that pretty close to their chest and understandably so. I don’t think it’s a done deal, that would be my impression. I think there’s a lot of talking to be done, there are a million possibilities, they could go to Canada.”
On the rift with Prince Harry and his older brother Prince William he mused: “There are lots of people, who would love there to be, including I think the brothers themselves, love them to be closer again. And with any luck that will happen. But with families, we all know stuff happens, things are said.
“And also a family dispute within a family firm. You are working in a big family firm, everyone has their wishes and desires and ambitions and they have to be balanced up and it’s very hard.”