Sir Trevor McDonald, the legendary broadcaster, has finally said what many of us have been thinking about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle—and he didn’t hold back. While I respect Sir Trevor immensely, I have to say, I disagree with some of his takes.

Let’s start with the facts. Our beloved working royals have been through absolute hell lately. King Charles is battling cancer with incredible dignity, Princess Catherine is thankfully in remission after her own health struggles, and Prince William has stepped up magnificently to support both his wife and father while continuing his royal duties without complaint.

And where are Harry and Meghan during all this? Exactly where they’ve been for years—thousands of miles away, making Netflix deals and complaining about how tough they had it in palaces, while the actual working royals soldier on through genuine hardships.

Sir Trevor called Harry’s absence from the working monarchy a “great shame,” particularly now. Well, that’s the understatement of the century. It’s beyond a shame—it’s a disgrace. It’s a betrayal of everything the monarchy stands for: family first, duty always. These concepts seem completely foreign to Harry now, though they were once at his very core.

Remember the old Harry? The cheeky prince who dedicated himself to veterans through the Invictus Games? The one who made us laugh and seemed to genuinely care about service? What happened to him? I’ll tell you what happened—or rather, who happened. We all know the answer to that question.

Sir Trevor suggested the monarchy cannot afford to lose someone so young, so full of energy, and so imbued with charitable instincts. But here’s what Sir Trevor missed: the monarchy already lost that person. The Harry who exists now is merely a shadow of his former self—a puppet whose strings are being pulled by someone with an entirely different agenda.

Sir Trevor compared Harry to Princess Diana, saying Harry spoke from the heart just like his mother did. I find this comparison almost painful because Diana, whatever her flaws, was authentic to her core. She forged her own path based on her genuine compassion for others. The path Harry is on now doesn’t look like one he chose for himself at all. Diana would be heartbroken to see what’s become of her younger son.

The most baffling part of Sir Trevor’s interview was his take on Meghan. He suggested she never stood a chance because she’s a foreigner, an American, a divorcee, a former actress, and Black. Excuse me? Did Sir Trevor miss the absolutely rapturous welcome Meghan received from the British public? The wedding that cost taxpayers millions? The way the Queen herself broke protocol repeatedly to make her feel welcome?

Let’s be crystal clear: the British people and the royal family welcomed Meghan with open arms. What changed wasn’t the welcome—it was Meghan’s attitude. Once she realized that being a working royal meant service, duty, and putting yourself second, the shine quickly wore off.

Sir Trevor noted that Meghan’s recent Netflix show proves why they left Britain. No, Sir Trevor—it proves why they should have left the royal family but stayed in Britain. If they wanted different roles, there was no need to drag Harry away from his family, friends, military connections, and everything he’d ever known.

What we’re witnessing is nothing short of a tragedy. A prince who once embodied the best qualities of the royal family—service, duty, and genuine connection with people—has been transformed into someone who betrays family confidences for profit and sits by while his wife critiques the institution his grandmother dedicated her life to preserving.

Let’s talk about timing. When did Harry and Meghan decide to drop their bombshell about stepping back from royal duties? January 2020. And what had just happened? Prince Philip was in declining health, the Queen was 93 years old, and instead of supporting his grandparents in their final years, Harry abandoned them.

Then came the Oprah interview, timed precisely when Philip was in the hospital for what would be his final stay. And now, with King Charles battling cancer and Catherine recovering from her own health crisis, where is Prince Harry? Making occasional flying visits without his wife, then rushing back to California to continue their lucrative speaking engagements and media deals.

The contrast between William’s steadfast dedication and Harry’s self-serving behavior couldn’t be more stark. What makes this all the more tragic is that Harry knows exactly what his family is going through. He lost his mother in the most public, painful way imaginable. He knows the toll royal duty takes. He knows how precious family support is during health crises. And yet, he chooses to remain distant—both physically and emotionally.

Sir Trevor said he always felt their move was temporary and that they would return to Britain. Once again, I’m afraid that ship has sailed. Frankly, would the British public even want them back now? After all the bridges they’ve burned? After the tell-all book that violated every principle of royal discretion? After the Netflix series that painted the royal family as cold, uncaring racists? I don’t think so.

The working royals have carried on magnificently without them. Queen Camilla has proven herself a wonderful support to King Charles, Princess Anne continues to be the hardest-working royal, and William and Catherine have shown exactly what modern royalty should look like: accessible yet dignified, relatable yet regal.

The saddest part of all this is that there are no winners here. The royal family has lost a vibrant, energetic member who could have contributed so much. Harry has lost his family connections, his cultural roots, and, I would argue, a large part of his authentic self. Even Meghan, for all her apparent success in extracting Harry from his family, must know on some level that what they’ve built in California is a pale imitation of what they could have accomplished as working royals.

Sir Trevor expressed hope for reconciliation one day. I share that hope, but I’m far less optimistic about its likelihood. Too much damage has been done. Too many confidences betrayed. Too many bridges burned.