GMB's Prince Harry debate sparks backlash as viewers beg 'leave him alone'

Royal commentators Richard Fitzwilliams and Jack Royston clashed over Prince Harry’s decision to write intimate details about his life in his memoir Spare. During their Good Morning Britain debate, Jack felt the Duke of Sussex should be allowed to tell his own story, but Richard vehemently disagreed. He went as far as to say “Spare should never have been written”.

Richard told ITV viewers: “There has been great tragedy in [Harry’s] past – I would not challenge that. But Spare should never have been written in my opinion.”

The commentator claimed the book was a “threat” to the Royal Family and made the Prince’s rating plummet in the US where he resides with his wife Meghan Markle and their two children.

“What are people doing?” Richard continued. “They are laughing at some of the things [in the memoir].

“Take penile frostbite, where in Stephen Colbert’s interview, he discussed penile frostbite and its effect for five minutes of screentime.”

Prince Harry’s book was debated on GMB

Richard Fitzwilliams

However, Good Morning Britain host Ben Shephard felt the incident “wasn’t something he should hide” and Jack said the Prince was “just being honest”.

Jack added: “He has signed up to do a multimillion-pound tell-all memoir, he’s got to give them something.

“Talking about drugs doesn’t hurt other people and it’s fine for us to have a debate about the counterargument.”

As the row continued, viewers hit out about the coverage, with Jenny Clements remarking: “If you don’t want Harry talking about his life stop reporting on him.

The experts clashed over Harry’s memoir

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle

“He was correcting years’ worth of headlines that weren’t true. He can do whatever he wants.

“Leave him alone. Worry about the RF ratings and being booed whilst spending millions on a con nation #GMB.” (sic)

Michey commented: “#GMB never does stories on the charities that Prince Harry and Meghan are involved with. Read about Prince Harry’s involvement with the Invictus Games and how he’s helped British soldiers but @GMB is always on the negative boring.”

Rai Sun shared: “Harry can talk about whatever he wants! These people are so stupid, who is this new guy talking about a man he’s never met? #gmb.”

@FlopsyPickle added: “GMB just can’t let a week go by where they don’t slag off Harry can they?”

However, Allan Allott said: “People love gossip. Let it be, he did not want the limelight but yet he keeps coming out with books; he is a spoiled kid who is jealous of his brother.”

@Natgem270 shared: “People’s pasts come back to bite them on the a**e all the time, and they’re not allowed to get away from it.

“Why should Harry be any different? He chose to bring his past up, now he should face the consequences of his actions.” (sic)

Harry’s 416-page memoir, which was published by Penguin Random House, was released on January 10 and was ghostwritten by J.R.

According to Spare’s publisher, the book has sold more than 1.43 million copies in all formats.

Good Morning Britain continues on weekdays at 6am on ITV and ITVX.

Prince Harry