The former Prime Minister shares details of his private meeting with the Duke of Sussex in an attempt to prevent “Megxit.”
Boris Johnson’s upcoming memoir, Unleashed, is already stirring anticipation, promising revelations that span his political career, Brexitbattles, and even private royal encounters. The former UK Prime Minister, who has never shied away from colorful narratives, is now offering readers a glimpse behind the scenes of his time in office. His memoir, serialized in the Daily Mail, is being hailed as a potential game-changer in the genre of political autobiographies.
What makes this book particularly intriguing is the unexpected intersection of British politics and royalty. In a surprising twist, Johnson recounts being called upon to intervene in one of the most high-profile royal sagas of recent memory: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s departure from the UK. According to the memoir, Johnson was asked to give the Duke of Sussex a “manly pep talk” in January 2020, just as the royal couple was contemplating their exit from royal life.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle astonish Colombia with their dance moves
The task was anything but ordinary. With Buckingham Palace and Downing Street watching closely, Johnson attempted to dissuade Harry from abandoning his royal duties during a private meeting. The timing couldn’t have been more delicate, coming just after Harry delivered an emotional speech about his and Meghan’s decision to step away from their royal responsibilities. Johnson’s account describes the effort as “totally hopeless.”
Held during a UK-Africa investment summit, the 20-minute conversation between Johnson and Harry occurred without aides. While the former Prime Minister praised Harry’s work on the Invictus Games and Meghan’s efforts in promoting women’s education, his words were not enough to change the Prince’s course. As Johnson admits in his memoir, “Harry wasn’t for turning.”
Shortly after, Harry flew to Canada to reunite with Meghan and their son Archie. The couple would eventually settle in California, marking a permanent shift away from royal life. Johnson, who succeeded in navigating the UK through Brexit, found himself unable to stop what the media has dubbed “Megxit.”
Boris Johnson’s memoir explores political chaos, Brexit battles, and a potential comeback
Johnson’s memoir, however, is not solely focused on royal affairs. It dives deep into the political upheavals that defined his career, including the bitter battles surrounding Brexit and the internal Conservative Party strife that eventually led to his downfall. His reflections on his successors, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak, as well as the machinations of his former ally Michael Gove, promise to provide candid insights.
The book also offers Johnson’s take on the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, a time during which he himself nearly lost his life to the virus. In typically theatrical fashion, Johnson teases readers with a promise to spill juicy details on a variety of political figures, including one described as resembling “a bullock having a thermometer shoved unexpectedly up his rectum.”
As the Conservative Party prepares for its upcoming conference in Birmingham, Unleashed threatens to overshadow the event. The memoir, a cocktail of political drama, royal intrigue, and personal confessions, is poised to dominate headlines, leaving many to wonder whether Johnson’s next chapter might involve a political comeback.
The former Prime Minister ends his video teaser for the book with a tantalizing question: “Will I be coming back?” Readers, no doubt, will be eager to find out.
