Royal photographer Arthur Edwards has revealed how Prince Harry got his own back after Edwards told television viewers that the Duke was going bald, with a prank that left children in stitches.
Edwards, who has spent five decades photographing the Royal Family, recalled the incident in his book Cup of Tea, Arthur? My Extraordinary 50 Years Photographing the Royal Family.
The Warrior Games and a 2015 Trip
Edwards joined Harry on numerous overseas engagements, including a trip to Colorado Springs for the Warrior Games, where the prince spent time with wounded, injured and sick British service personnel competing against American teams. Edwards photographed Harry taking part in sitting volleyball, an experience that would later help inspire the founding of the Invictus Games.
During another overseas engagement in 2015, while visiting a youth development centre in Māngere, near Auckland Airport, Harry joined a group of youngsters taking part in a hand-painting activity.
The Prank and Its Aftermath
Edwards remembered how the prince suddenly crossed the room before pressing his paint-covered palm onto the photographer's bald head. The children erupted with laughter as a large purple handprint appeared on Edwards's head.
"Got you!" Harry declared. Edwards went along with the prank, but afterwards, while cleaning off the paint, he asked the prince what had sparked the surprise attack. "What did you do that for, Harry?" he asked.
Harry explained: "Because you went on television this morning and told everybody I was going bald."
Explaining the Comment
Edwards clarified that he had merely been repeating something the prince himself had said to a woman during a walkabout in Whanganui the day before. The woman had told Harry: "You look just like your father." The prince had responded: "I'm going bald like my father."
Harry then revealed why he had been displeased with the photographer sharing the exchange with television audiences. "That's what I told the lady but I didn't want to tell the whole world!" he said.
Edwards responded with a light-hearted comment, telling Harry: "Welcome to the club." The photographer recalled that Harry then affectionately rubbed his head before cracking another joke about his own future looks. "It's going to happen, I won't be far behind you," the prince told him.
Edwards said he valued the fact Harry felt at ease enough around him to pull off the prank, despite the awkward circumstances. "It was nice he felt so relaxed with me to be able to do that," he wrote.
The anecdote emerges as Harry has recently spoken publicly about the importance of protecting children online during an appearance at the European Parliament in Brussels this week. Although Meghan attended the event, she pulled out of delivering a joint address, leaving the Duke to give a solo keynote speech. Speaking on the issue as a father, Harry told the audience: "Don't put anything in front of our children that you wouldn't put in front of your own children."
Cup of Tea, Arthur? My Extraordinary 50 Years Photographing the Royal Family by Arthur Edwards (£25, HarperCollins) was published on November 5.
