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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Entertainment
Jessica Sansome

ITV Good Morning Britain viewers 'feel embarrassed' as Prince Harry's 'old flame' is interviewed

Good Morning Britain viewers said they 'felt embarrassed' as Prince Harry's 'old flame' made an appearance on the show. Susanna Reid and Richard Madeley were back at the helm of the ITV news programme on Tuesday (January 10) when they were joined by Catherine Ommanney.

The British reality TV star appeared live in the studio to chat to the hosts following the release of his memoir, Spare. The Duke of Sussex's new autobiography has sparked a furore, with revelations including how he killed 25 Taliban members during the Afghanistan conflict, a recounting of taking cocaine and magic mushrooms, and how the Prince of Wales allegedly physically attacked him.

And in a further snub, members of the royal family have been omitted from the acknowledgements section of the book. There is no mention of his brother William, his father the King or his grandmother, the late Queen, or other royal family members in the opening acknowledgements section, although he does thank his wife, the Duchess of Sussex, and children Archie and Lili.

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The duke writes: "Above all my deepest and adoringest thanks to Archie and Lili, for letting Papa go off to read and think and reflect, and to my mother-in-law (aka Grandma), and to my incredible wife, for too many millions of gifts and sacrifices, great and small, to ever enumerate.

"Love of my life, thank you, thank you, thank you. This book would’ve been impossible (logistically, physically, emotionally, spiritually) without you. Most things would be impossible without you."

The book also hears about Harry's sexual exploits. The duke writes about how he lost his virginity to an unnamed older woman at the same age. He claims it took place in a field behind a "very busy pub" and that the woman treated him like a "young stallion".

Appearing on GMB, Catherine, who is best known for starring in the US Bravo reality series The Real Housewives of D.C, was quizzed about her brief romance with the prince, with them going on a number of dates with Prince Harry in 2006. She confirmed that they met at a restaurant dinner party and they bonded over their mutual friends in Australia and had good humour with one another.

Catherine, who was 13 years Harry's senior at the time of their fling, also recalled how they met and why they got on so well and says she feels 'sad for him and the royal family' in the aftermath of his revelations.

Catherine went on a string of dates with Prince Harry in 2006 (ITV)

When Susanna asked: "Do you think he needed someone to sort of ground him? Someone who wasn’t carried away with his fame?" Catherine replied: "He had 20-year-olds around him who wanted to be with him and I listened to him a lot but maybe the others didn't and maybe that's what he needed."

Susanna then asked: "Do you think he's found that in Meghan?" To which his ex replied: "I'm not going to slander Meghan – she's done that enough herself." The presenter then explained: "I'm not suggesting you should slander her I was looking at it in a positive way," to which Catherine responded: "Well you say a positive way, I don't know what he's found in Meghan, I'm just really sad for him and the Royal Family because I don't think he's going to recover from this quickly."

GMB viewers, however, were less than impressed with the interview. @47simonuk asked: "3 weeks in 2006? That’s fine as she clearly knows so much (not). Who is GMB dragging in next??" @HPaulODonnell wrote: "'Kin hell! Will this ever end?!!" @Coconuts1964 commented: "A new low for British TV actually feel embarrassed i watched that interview #GMB."

@vetwah fumed: "Scraping the barrel now having an old flame on from 2006 talking about Harry. This isn't newsworthy. Bring us interesting stories. Preferably something not Prince Harry related." @Demelo64 added: "This has to be the most pathetic interview on ⁦@GMB⁩ to date."

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