Harry Was 'Nervous' Asking Queen To Participate in Obama Invictus Skit—Book

Prince Harry was "nervous" at the prospect of asking his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, to participate in a video skit for his Invictus Games project in 2016, according to a new biography.

The prince and the queen ended up filming a humorous clip reacting to an incoming "video call" from then-president and first lady, Barack and Michelle Obama.

Harry, according to the new book Courtiers: The Hidden Power Behind The Crown by prominent British royal correspondent Valentine Low, was reluctant to approach Elizabeth with the request out of fear it would put her in an "awkward position."

Courtiers has made headlines across Britain for its numerous revelations about members of the royal family and their closest staff members, including an in-depth analysis of Harry and Meghan Markle's relationship with their team while working royals. An advance copy of the book was provided to Newsweek.

Low is most well-known for breaking the story of bullying allegations lodged by former members of Kensington Palace staff against Harry's wife, published in the days before broadcast of the couple's interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021.

Low writes that, in 2016, Harry was sent a video by the Obamas ahead of the second Invictus Games. They were to be held in Orlando, having been founded by Harry in 2014.

"A few days before they were due to fly out, [Clara] Loughran [Harry's communications secretary] received a message from his opposite number in the White House," the author writes.

The message contained a video showing the Obamas standing with a number of military personnel.

"Hey, Prince Harry. Remember when you told us to 'bring it' at the Invictus Games?" said the first lady.

"'Careful what you wish for!" added the president before a serviceman mimics a mic drop action saying "Boom."

"Both Harry and Loughran, who watched it together, thought that was brilliant," Low wrote.

"Their immediate reaction was that they had to think of something good in response. Harry said: 'I'm going to have to get the queen involved, aren't I?'"

It is here, the author writes, that the prince displayed some hesitation about approaching the monarch with the request. "That made him nervous. 'I don't want to put her in an awkward position,' he said. 'I don't know if it is going to belittle anything she does.'"

It would appear that the royal had little to worry about as the queen was "more than willing to help," with the plan, which would involve taking part in a short video response to the U.S. leader.

"Two days later, Harry...went to Windsor Castle to meet a film crew," Low explains.

"A source recalled: 'The plan was [for] Harry to have tea with his grandmother, explain what we would like to do, then at the end we would come in and do what we had to do. Harry had driven over himself from Kensington Palace. The traffic was terrible, he was already a bit late, and was nervous how it was going to go.'

"The 40-second video reportedly took only two takes with Harry showing his grandmother the clip in her drawing room at Windsor, where she delivered the response to the Obamas' challenge with a dry, "Oh really...please!"

"Afterwards, Elizabeth said, 'Oh, this is rather fun.' She added: 'People should ask me to do these more often.' As one source said, 'She was wonderful. She was obviously quite happy with it, and wanted to support her grandson. She wanted to support the cause, and was up for having some fun in the process.'"

The monarch had previously performed an on-screen skit in 2012 where she appeared alongside James Bond played by Daniel Craig in a video shown at the opening ceremony of the London Olympic Games.

In 2022, just three months before her death, the queen appeared on-screen again, this time acting alongside Paddington Bear for a video opening the Platinum Jubilee concert outside Buckingham Palace.

Elizabeth died on September 8 while staying at her Scottish home of Balmoral Castle.

Harry was visiting Britain on a pre-arranged stay to attend charity events when news of the queen's death broke. He stayed in the country with Meghan to attend the mourning ceremonies and state funeral for his grandmother held on September 19.

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