Following the recent World Cup final, the Duke of Sussex, Prince Harry, made an appearance on James Corden’s show ‘After Hours’, engaging in discussions about football, England’s performance in the tournament, and even a light-hearted debate on who stands out as the top ‘Harry’ in the UK.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/Prince-Harry-Harry-Styles-072026-DN-0-4043741183374fcea2df1a0748254adc.jpg)
The episode aired on Sunday, 19 July, where the Duke reflected on England’s journey in the competition, particularly the emotional semi-final defeat to Argentina. Corden and co-host Rio Ferdinand revisited an earlier conversation about the most notable figures named Harry, with Ferdinand initially tipping pop sensation Harry Styles as his favourite, ahead of the likes of Harry Potter, England’s striker Harry Kane, and Prince Harry himself.
Amused by the challenge, Prince Harry expressed some reluctance before sharing his own ranking. Eventually, the Duke placed Styles atop his list, acknowledging the singer’s victory in their friendly competition. “Great shout!” Corden responded enthusiastically.
Harry, who has shared a previous encounter with Styles when the prince met One Direction at the Royal Variety Performance in 2015, then placed Kane in the second position on his list. He playfully declared a tie for third between himself and the iconic character from “Harry Potter”, suggesting they could settle the rivalry with a “Quidditch off”, eliciting applause from the audience.
The conversation shifted towards football, with Prince Harry offering insights into what he believed could help England finally clinch a World Cup victory. He attributed the nation’s semi-final loss to a shift in mindset, particularly during crucial moments of the match when England was leading 1-0 against Argentina. Harry described how the team appeared to fall back into a defensive strategy, saying, “You can’t, in 75 minutes, try to defend a 1-0 lead against a team like that.”
Corden, who has a longstanding friendship with the Duke—having attended his wedding to Meghan Markle in 2018—encouraged Harry to join him on his podcast for a more extended discussion on the topic.
This appearance follows a significant family reunion for Prince Harry, who returned to the UK after four years apart from King Charles. The meeting took place at Highgrove House, where discussions reportedly revolved around issues regarding security and the logistics of maintaining connections between family members. This has been a point of frustration for Harry, as highlighted by a source who noted, “There would be so much more certainty every time he comes—or they come” if security matters were resolved.
Royal commentator Catherine Mayer reflected on the challenges faced by the royal family, pointing out that undergoing transformations often involves addressing basic human relationships. Mayer expressed hope that the small steps made in mending family ties represent significant progress given the complex dynamics within the monarchy.
Prince Harry’s brother, Prince William, is a notable football fan and supports the English Football Association. However, he recently indicated during an appearance on a podcast that he would only travel to the US if England reached the finals. With England’s exit following the semi-final defeat, the prospect of both brothers being in the same country for the tournament was dashed.
William admitted to feeling a cautious optimism about England’s chances, acknowledging that past disappointments had tempered his expectations, stating, “As each World Cup goes on and the results don’t quite go your way… A little bit of hope gets chipped away each time.”
As the World Cup excitement fades, Prince Harry’s recent television appearance has reignited discussions about family relationships against the backdrop of public celebrity. With both Harry and Meghan Markle making strides to balance their roles as former royals while residing in California, their connection to the UK remains a focal point of interest for many.