The Duke of Sussex joined Alison Hammond for a live TV interview last week
The Duke of Sussex joined Alison Hammond for a live TV interview last week (Image: Getty)
Prince Harry has been slapped with a less-than-flattering nickname following his whirlwind appearance on British television last week. The Duke of Sussex – who recently returned to the UK to launch the one-year countdown for the Invictus Games Birmingham 2027 – left daytime TV viewers stunned after crossing paths with This Morning presenter Alison Hammond.
But while the prince reportedly attempted to turn on the charm during the unexpected encounter, critics and commentators were quick to brand him the “King of TV chaos.” The broadcast kicked off in a spectacularly informal fashion as Ms Hammond and Harry took part in a round of laser tag, with the royal throwing protocol out the window. After winning the game, a jubilant Harry celebrated by hugging the This Morning host and jumping up and down in front of the live cameras.
Harry said Archie and Lilibet are (Image: ITV)
The interaction took an unexpected turn when Harry revealed that his kids, Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five, are massive fans of the presenter. This prompted Ms Hammond to ask the Duke about his hilarious impression of her on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in the US, which Harry said was “a huge hit”.
Seizing the moment, Ms Hammond suggested: “I live in Birmingham, are you going to come round to my house today or a little bit later?”
Prince Harry was visibly taken aback by the unexpected invitation, going bright red on camera as he hesitated: “Uh, maybe.”
Then, when she invited the royal over for a meal of ackee and saltfish, an excited Alison beamed, “Let’s do it!” while Harry replied, “Alright, let me think about it.”
“I’ll go and get everything ready at the house, a little tidy up, bleach my toilets,” she laughed. This prompted the Duke to joke, “Why do you need to tidy up? I’ll come and bleach your toilets.”
The ITV interview divided viewers (Image: Getty)
The bizarre crossover has drawn intense scrutiny. Viewers quickly took to social media to react to the unusual exchange, highlighting the public’s starkly divided opinions.
One ITV viewer remarked: “Alison Hammond was actually doing so well there with a serious interview, and then she suddenly reverted to type, asked Harry round to her house, and made it all about her.”
Another viewer was left completely baffled by the exchange, posting: “Prince Harry must be thinking ‘wtaf?'” While a third added: “You know that he isn’t coming to do your toilets right, Alison… right?”
However, the Duke was praised for his approachable nature, with other viewers calling the presenter “just brilliant” for bringing out a more relatable side to the royal. During the chat, Harry also shared a rare update about his family when Ms Hammond asked about Meghan and their kids.
The royal responded: “They don’t tell me every day that they’re proud of me, but yeah, I’m proud of them. I love my family.”