Prince Harry has received full support from Hugh Grant following his decision to “step back” from his duties as a senior member of the royal family.
Last week, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex made headlines around the world when they announced that they had chosen to work towards becoming “financially independent”, while continuing to “fully support” the Queen.
Asked about this during an interview with SiriusXM, the Notting Hill star revealed he understood Prince Harry’s motivation, particularly given how the tabloid press treated both his late mother and now his wife, Meghan Markle.
“I’m rather on Harry’s side,” Hugh told the host. “The tabloid press effectively murdered his mother, now they’re tearing his wife to pieces.”
Hugh, of course, was referring to the death of the late Princess Diana, who died in a car accident in Paris, where she was being chased by paparazzi photographers.
In a 2017 BBC documentary, Prince Harry said of his mother’s death: “She’d had quite a severe head injury but she was very much still alive on the back seat.
“And those people that caused the accident, instead of helping, were taking photographs of her dying on the back seat.”
He also said in October that he feared paparazzi had begun treating his wife in much the same way they did his mother.
“My deepest fear is history repeating itself,” he said. “I’ve seen what happens when someone I love is commoditised to the point that they are no longer treated or seen as a real person.
“I lost my mother and now I watch my wife falling victim to the same powerful forces.”
Since Harry and Meghan’s announcement, a number of high-profile British stars have showed the royal couple their support, most recently supermodel Naomi Campbell and chart-topping grime star Stormzy.
Breakfast talk show host Piers Morgan has been less supportive, and was accused by a guest on Good Morning Britain this week of having a “personal vendetta” against Meghan.
Watch Hugh’s SiriusXM interview below: