Prince Harry’s spokesperson has denied a claim made by journalist Tina Brown about how Harry introduced his son, Prince Archie, to conservationist Jane Goodall. Brown said during an interview on Katie Couric’s YouTube show that Harry referred to Archie as “my little African child.” According to Brown, Goodall shared this story during a lunch they had before her death in October.
Brown claimed that Jane Goodall told her she was one of the few people outside the royal family who met Archie when he was born. Brown suggested that Harry once imagined a future where he and his son would live a quiet, nature-focused life connected to Africa. She also said Goodall was surprised by Harry’s later choice to live in California and embrace a more public, celebrity lifestyle.
However, a spokesperson for Prince Harry strongly denied the claim. The spokesperson said Harry never used the words Brown attributed to him and accused Brown of making up the quote and attaching it to a respected person who is no longer alive and cannot respond.
After the backlash, Brown admitted she misspoke. She said Harry actually invited Goodall to meet his “African child,” meaning a child connected to Africa, and that she said the phrase incorrectly during the interview.
Prince Harry and Jane Goodall met in 2018 and bonded over shared environmental interests. After her passing, Harry and Meghan honored Goodall, saying she showed great love and kindness to Archie and meant a lot to their family.
