Interview Directory 

IN FOCUS/DÜSSELDORF

Name: Sarah Viktoria Zaczek

Occipation: TV-Reporter, Podcasterin

Residence: Düsseldorf

Treffen auf dem Sportgelände: Sarah Viktoria Zaczek und Meghan, Duchess of Sussex

©Sarah Viktoria Zaczek

You travelled to the Games as a reporter for RTL. What were your highlights and what were your encounters with Prince Harry and Meg like?

Being a royal expert and also a fan, all the events and moments with Prince Harry and Meghan were my highlights around the Invictus Games. The encounters with the two were magical - the daily encounters, be it the official ones or the random ones, like a selfie with Meghan, a chance meeting in the car park or the behaviour of their entourage. A week with Harry and Meghan was an exceptional experience for me.

How did you experience the German coverage of the Invictus Games? Was it a topic in Düsseldorf society?

The coverage in Düsseldorf society was completely centred around Prince Harry. Even though he didn't want to be the main character of these games. He is simply the main attraction and draws the media. I think there was a bit too little coverage of the Invictus Games in the press. We did everything we could to get regular coverage, but without Prince Harry and Meghan there wouldn't have been as much coverage of the Games.

“Harry works the media, just like Diana, he knows how they work.“

Prince Harry was very controversial in the media beforehand because of the book about his family and his Afghanistan statements. There were even fears that his presence would make the Games unsafe. What is your opinion on this?

Prince Harry has been in the news all his life. Even more so since Megxit, since the British lost their prince and the "evil" Meghan kidnapped him to Montecito. Harry will always be in the spotlight, but now because of his lightning visit to King Charles after his cancer diagnosis. Harry works the media, just like Diana, he knows how they work.

He also fuelled some of it with his book. The Afghanistan statements in the book were massive and, for some, disturbing and crass. If these were Prince Harry's feelings, then it is his right to write about them. I didn't feel that these comments could have jeopardised his appearance. There was no friction with the police and security. He was always surrounded by a large entourage.

And of course the British press commented every day about Duchess Meghan and what she was wearing. What did you think of her wardrobe?

I had a lot of contact with the British press and in particular with a colleague who is part of the "Royal Rota", the inner circle that travels with the royals and is very close to the royal family. The English press is either on William's side or on Harry's side. As we learnt from Harry's book, the Palace press teams play a big role. We are freer, but we are influenced by the coverage in the UK. 

The English colleague was also very good at categorising Harry and Meghan. He told me about Meghan's PR plan; she has new projects and might want to start Instagram again. The Invictus Games were the prelude to presenting themselves in a new light. Both are free and made a good impression on site. I hope we captured that mood in our coverage and would humbly say, like our English colleagues, that we did a good job. You have to be entertaining, but we reported objectively and we managed to celebrate Meghan.

I thought her wardrobe was very "meghanesque" and I personally like her style, which is very sporty and elegant. It was much freer than in her palace days when she had to make sure her knees or shoulders were covered and she wore tights. She is back to her "textile roots" and showing her type, LA vibes and loose. More labelled and more expensive than before probably. An A-line dress, chic Chanel sling flats, maybe one pair of shorts was shorter than before, but who can wear that if not her; her legs are insane. She pulled out all the stops with the dress at the finale. I think Harry had to gulp a few times when he saw her.

The prince even celebrated his birthday in the old town. Do you have any details?

Prince Harry celebrated his birthday in a Düsseldorf brewery. We were there 24 hours later, ordered the same food and sat in the same corner as him and his entourage. What they ordered was a lot of meat, typical Rhineland fare like schnitzel and sausages. Although Meghan is supposed to be a vegetarian, she helped herself to the meat. Of course, there was also alt. It was festively decorated and they had brought a cake to cut. But when it became known that two royals were staying at the brewery, the rush grew and the security staff could no longer cope. It had become too dangerous and a cut had to be made.

“They are looking to the future to spread the Invictus Games further. But they are also good for surprises!"

Now that there's the Invictus Games Germany, you'll probably see Prince Harry and Meghan in Düsseldorf more often, right?

I don't know if you'll see Harry and Meghan in Düsseldorf more often just because the Invictus Games are here. They spend so little time in London and now they're coming to Düsseldorf? Their schedule is so busy and Montecito is so far away from Düsseldorf. I think Düsseldorf is through. Now it's Vancouver and they have other things to worry about with King Charles' cancer; maybe they're making new family connections to make peace. Düsseldorf made a good impression and they had a good time here, but they haven't come back to the other cities either. They are looking to the future to spread the Invictus Games further. But they are also good for surprises!

Prince Harry und Meghan, Duchess of Sussex in Düsseldorf, September 2022

©IG23