The veteran presenter of the Today programme has got his true feelings off his chest about Prince Harry’s collaboration with his show two years ago. Mr Humphrys, who has recently retired as presenter of the BBC Radio 4 breakfast programme after hosting it for 32 years, believes the Duke of Sussex used it merely to promote his own initiatives. 

The Duke of Sussex’s use of the Today programme has left Mr Humphrys “grumpy” to this day, he has confessed in a tell-all autobiography.  

The presenter revealed he didn’t welcome the collaboration with Prince Harry from the beginning, saying he was far from happy when his “boss” broke announced Prince Harry would be one of the show’s guest editors in 2017.

Recalling the moment the news was broken to him, Mr Humphrys wrote in the Daily Mail: “That’s fine, I said grumpily to my boss, just so long as we get to ask him some proper questions and don’t allow him to use the programme as a PR exercise for himself and his family.” 

But Mr Humphrys believes Prince Harry did steer the conversation towards his interests and work.

He added: “Nobody took a blind bit of notice of me: Prince Harry did exactly that, of course, and the programme was a great success.

“By which I mean that the audience loved it.   

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“So I was wrong — and I remain grumpy about it to this day.”

The former BBC Radio host also targeted the rest of the Royal Family, saying its members need to “earn” the respect they ask for.

He said: “Let’s state the obvious. The Queen herself does a good job, and has done for a very long time.

“But the BBC should not treat the whole Royal Family apparatus as though it is beyond criticism. 

“We should treat them with respect — but only if they earn it.

“Just like we treat everyone else, come to think of it.”

Kensington Palace announced in late 2017 Prince Harry would guest edit an episode of the popular Today programme.

In a statement, the palace explained the prince wanted to use that occasion as a platform to shine a light on issues close to his heart, including mental health. 

The statement said: “Prince Harry is grateful to have Today’s considerable reach to shine a spotlight on a number of issues that are close to his heart.

“He is working closely with the Today team to produce segments on a range of topics, including youth violence, conservation and mental health.”

During the programme, Harry focused his attention on the armed forces, youth crime, climate change and mental health.

But he also interviewed former US President Barack Obama, who would later become a friend of the Sussexes, and Prince Charles. 

Mr Humphrys’s attack to the Duke of Sussex comes as Meghan, Harry and their son Archie Harrison have jetted off to South Africa for their 10-day tour.

The family-of-three arrived in Cape Town this morning at 9.45am BST on a commercial flight.

After dropping off Archie at their residence with his nanny, Meghan and Harry immediately took on their first engagement, travelling to the Nyonga township to visit The Justice Desk, a charity teaching vulnerable women how to defend themselves.    

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