Retirement Looms for Journalist Nicholas Wichel as he Criticizes Prince Harry and Meghan Markle

Renowned journalist Nicholas Wichel, who has dedicated 25 years to reporting on the royal family, recently voiced his criticisms of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle as he prepares to retire from his broadcasting career.

Throughout his extensive experience in front of the camera, Wichel has encountered numerous challenges.

However, one particular incident during a live broadcast outside Buckingham Palace in May 2019, while announcing the arrival of baby Archie, unexpectedly led to speculation about his health.

This rare mishap triggered online discussions and concerns.

Notably, Wichel had previously been unfavorably labeled as “awful” by Prince Charles.

In an article for the Sunday Times ahead of his retirement next year, Wichel delves into what he believes happened during the broadcast, including a scathing critique of Harry and Meghan.

Reflecting on the incident, Wichel described it as his “single worst moment in 48 years,” explaining that he dried up in front of the live TV audience.

He admitted that his lack of interest in Harry and Meghan might have subconsciously contributed to the mishap.

At the time, one viewer on social media sympathetically suggested that Wichel had already endured enough of the nonsense surrounding the couple.

Wichel further revealed that he has been questioning himself about what went wrong, acknowledging that he was tired and hadn't properly prepared mentally for the broadcast.

He highlighted the importance of not being complacent when it comes to live television, as demonstrated by his unfortunate experience in front of millions of viewers.

Following the incident, Wichel received support from the public, and fellow actors who had experienced similar moments on stage reached out to share their own stories.

However, the incident greatly shook Wichel's confidence, preventing him from ever watching the footage back.

He emphasized that the birth of baby Archie deviated from royal protocols and was shrouded in secrecy, even catching the palace off guard.

Rumors surrounding the event circulated both then and since.

Notably, Kensington Palace's birth announcement on their website initially suggested that Archie was born via a surrogate, but it was quickly taken down after several hours, claiming it had been a hack.

Wichel questioned whether royal commentators and journalists possessed inside knowledge that they were not allowed to disclose.

In addition to his critique of the couple's handling of the birth announcement, Wichel also criticized Prince Harry for his recent attacks on the British media.

He described Harry as paranoid and misguided, stating that he and Meghan should utilize the media rather than denounce it.

Wichel argued that the Sussexes should be more resilient and accept criticism alongside positive moments.

He expressed disappointment when the couple decided to move to the US, believing that if they had made more effort and if Meghan had been less impatient and suspicious of others, they could have achieved great success within the royal family.

Contrary to rumors suggesting Buckingham Palace was against Harry and Meghan from the start, Wichel asserted that the palace team had gone to great lengths to accommodate the couple and empathize with Meghan.

He emphasized that none of the team members fit the stereotypical image of a Buckingham Palace courtier, and if anyone could have made the situation work, it would have been that team.

Wichel acknowledged Meghan's intelligence, articulateness, and ambition, expressing surprise that she did not appreciate the team's efforts.

While Wichel acknowledged that the palace could have done more, he also noted a clash of cultures between Harry and the royal institution, suggesting that Harry was not well-suited to his role.

Although Wichel recognized instances where Harry had been mistreated by the press, he believed that the prince's current complaints were misjudged, misguided, and tinged with paranoia.