Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex’s story about an unusual Scottish tradition has resurfaced years after he shared it in his memoir. The story describes a folklore-inspired ritual that Harry and Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, took part in shortly before they learned they were expecting their first child, Prince Archie of Sussex.
A surprising anecdote from Prince Harry’s memoir is drawing attention again
In his memoir Spare, Prince Harry recalled the months following his May 2018 wedding to Meghan Markle, when the newlyweds were eager to start a family. That summer, the couple traveled to the Castle of Mey in Scotland, where they spent time with King Charles. During the visit, the King introduced them to local legends about “selkies,” mythical creatures from Scottish folklore believed to take the form of seals. According to Harry, his father explained that seals frequently appeared along the coastline near the castle and shared a local belief that singing to them could bring a response.
The Duke of Sussex said he initially dismissed his father’s story as a myth, but he and Markle eventually decided to try the tradition themselves after spotting seals in the water. According to Harry, the seals only reacted when Markle started singing. Taking it as a good sign, Harry decided to go a step further. He wrote that he took off his clothes, jumped into the water, and swam toward the seals.
Later, he said his father’s Australian chef strongly criticized the decision. The chef reportedly warned that the area was full of killer whales and said that singing to seals could attract them and put the animals in danger.
A source close to the Sussexes said the couple later laughed about the incident, but “Harry clearly attached real emotional significance to it. In his mind, the timing made it impossible to ignore.” Shortly after returning home, Harry and Markle took a pregnancy test and learned that Meghan was expecting their first child.
Originally reported by Khushali Srivastava on RealityTea.
