Piers Morgan, known for his sharp-tongued critiques of the royal family, has once again taken aim at Prince Harry following the Duke’s latest public statement about the harmful effects of social media on children.
Morgan’s reaction comes after Prince Harry’s appearance at the Clinton Global Initiative 2024 summit in New York City, where he called for tech companies to take more responsibility in protecting young users from the dangers of social media.
While Harry’s speech struck a chord with many, Morgan’s response was predictably scathing.
The former Good Morning Britain host took to social media shortly after the event to mock Prince Harry, raising questions about the Duke’s own involvement in media projects that have, in Morgan’s view, caused harm to the royal family.
He referenced Harry’s tell-all memoir Spare as well as his and Meghan Markle’s Netflix docuseries and interviews, most notably their bombshell conversation with Oprah Winfrey in 2021.
During his speech at the Clinton Global Initiative, Prince Harry discussed the newly launched Archewell Foundation Parent’s Network.
The initiative seeks to offer resources and support to parents whose children are navigating the often dangerous world of social media.
Harry highlighted the urgent need for tech companies to take more action in curbing the harmful effects that these platforms have on young people, a message that resonated with many concerned parents and mental health advocates.
“Yet, while we celebrate global achievements and their impact, there is still critical work to do,” Harry said in his speech.
“And so, I stand before you today to speak about the pervasive threat that our online world poses to us, especially our children, if we allow the status quo to remain.”
The Duke of Sussex has been vocal about online safety in the past, often expressing concerns about how the internet and social media have impacted the lives of young people and families.
As a father of two, Archie and Lilibet, Harry has personal stakes in the conversation about protecting children from the darker side of the digital world.
The Associated Press shared a clip of Harry’s speech on X (formerly Twitter), where the Duke’s remarks were met with a wide range of reactions—some praising his advocacy, while others, like Piers Morgan, took the opportunity to criticize.
Piers Morgan wasted no time in responding to Harry’s call for greater online safety measures.
Reacting to the AP’s post about the Duke’s speech, Morgan sarcastically tweeted, “Does he have any advice for how the Royal Family can be protected from the harmful effects of people abusing them in books, Netflix docs, podcasts, and TV interviews with Oprah?”
Morgan’s comment referred to Prince Harry’s ongoing media projects, particularly his controversial memoir Spare, released in early 2023, which aired a series of personal grievances and accusations about life within the royal family.
The memoir detailed the strained relationships between Harry and his family members, including his brother Prince William and father King Charles III, further complicating the ongoing rift.
In addition to the memoir, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s Netflix docuseries and podcast appearances have been the subject of public scrutiny.
The couple has consistently shared their perspectives on their tumultuous exit from the royal family, drawing both support and criticism.
For critics like Morgan, Harry’s media ventures have done significant damage to the royal family’s public image.
This is not the first time Piers Morgan has lashed out at Prince Harry.
The former Good Morning Britain presenter has been a long-time critic of both Harry and Meghan Markle, frequently calling them out on his various media platforms.
Morgan famously stormed off the set of Good Morning Britain in 2021 after a heated argument about Meghan Markle’s Oprah interview, which he had denounced as dishonest and harmful.
In his continued criticism of Harry, Morgan has often painted the Duke as hypocritical—accusing him of preaching compassion and mental health awareness while simultaneously airing personal family grievances in the media.
This latest jab follows that same pattern, with Morgan suggesting that Harry is using his platform to speak about online harm while contributing to what Morgan perceives as the mistreatment of the royal family.
Piers Morgan’s harsh critique of Prince Harry’s recent speech has elicited divided reactions. On one hand, many of Morgan’s supporters applauded his candor, agreeing that Harry and Meghan’s media projects have been harmful to the royal family.
Some took to social media to express frustration with what they see as Harry’s public airing of private matters while simultaneously advocating for kindness and respect in the online world.
One user echoed Morgan’s sentiment, tweeting, “How can Harry call for online safety and protecting youth while continuously throwing his own family under the bus in the media?”
On the other hand, Harry’s supporters defended his stance, praising his efforts to raise awareness about the dangers of social media and the need for tech companies to implement stronger safeguards for children.
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Many pointed out that Morgan’s personal disdain for Harry and Meghan clouds his judgment.
A fan of the Duke tweeted, “Prince Harry is advocating for the safety of children online—an incredibly important issue. Piers Morgan’s bitterness toward him is preventing him from seeing the bigger picture.”
Prince Harry’s comments about the harmful effects of social media on children are part of a broader and ongoing conversation about online safety.
In recent years, there has been increasing concern over the role that social media platforms play in fostering harmful behavior, including cyberbullying, mental health issues, and exposure to inappropriate content.
Harry and Meghan have both been vocal about their personal experiences with the negative side of social media, often describing the online harassment they have faced since stepping back from royal duties.
Their advocacy for safer digital environments for children is a natural extension of their efforts to raise awareness about the emotional toll of online harassment.
While Piers Morgan’s latest criticism of Harry may grab headlines, it also reflects a persistent division in how the public views the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
For some, they are champions of important causes like mental health and online safety, while for others, their media presence is seen as damaging and hypocritical.
In the end, Harry’s call to protect children from the dangers of the digital world is likely to continue gaining traction, even in the face of critics like Morgan.
For many, the message itself—regardless of who delivers it—remains vital in today’s increasingly connected world.
