Tyler Perryis revealing a very important title for the first time: godfather toLilibet Diana.
The filmmaker, 53, recalled in the final episode of theNetflixdocuseriesHarry & MeghanthatPrince HarryandMeghan Markleasked him to accept the role in 2021, afterLili, their second child, was born.
Perry said Harry, 38, and Meghan, 41, “were pretty serious on the phone” when they called to ask, when usually their chats are more lighthearted.
“I go, ‘Okay, what’s going on?’ They said, ‘Well, we’d like for you to be Lili’s godfather.’ I go, ‘Whoa,’ " Perry continued. “I had to take a minute to take that in.”
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“And I thought, ‘I’d be honored. I’d absolutely be honored,’ " he added.
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Tyler Perry.Netflix
After getting off the phone with the couple and thinking about what they had asked, Perry realized his agreement came with a bit of a condition.
“I called them back and go, ‘Uh, hold on a second — does this mean we gotta go over [to the U.K.] and do all of that in church with [the royal family] and figure all that out? ‘Cause I don’t wanna do that,’ " he said. " ‘Maybe we can do a little private ceremony here [in the U.S.] and let that be that, and if you have to do it there, then that’s okay.’ "
Tyler Perry; Lilibet Diana.Netflix
Earlier in the episode, Perry said he first got acquainted with Meghan after he sent her a letter ahead of her wedding saying he was praying for her, amid the “hurtful” controversy surrounding her and her strained relationship with her dad,Thomas Markle.
“I couldn’t even imagine this woman finding the man that she loved, the man of her dreams, and him being a prince, and then to walk into all of that madness and need the security offamily and then have your fatherdo some horrible things,” Perry said.
“When my life changed and success started to come, family members became different people, and I know how hurtful and horrible it can be,” he said, adding that he “immediately empathized” with Meghan.
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“To tell Meghan that I felt her feelings were valid, [that] hurt,” he said. “I didn’t want to have to say that to her — I didn’t want her to feel that. But I didn’t want to lie to her. She was afraid of them destroying her, or going crazy, or them making her think she was crazy.”
TheJazzman’s Bluesdirector said he recognized “symptoms” of “abuse,” having witnessed his own mother being abused.
“And for the both of them to have the wherewithal to say, ‘I don’t give a damn if it’sthe palace. I’m out of here.‘I applauded that,” Perry added.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.Netflix
Meghan and Harry didn’t have a plan for somewhere to stay where they would feel safe with their then 1-year-old sonArchie Harrisonwhen theCOVID-19pandemic hit in early 2020.
Perry then offered them refuge at his property in Los Angeles, Calif. “You said, ‘Stay as long as you need to.’ We said, ‘Maybe we just stay forever,’ " Harry told Perry.
“It was bliss, because no one knew we were there,” the prince continued.
“It’s secret, so at least during COVID-19 we can take the dogs for a walk and have a little slice of normal life,” Meghan is later heard saying from behind the camera during a home video of the couple doing just that.
All episodes ofHarry & Meghanare now streaming on Netflix.
source: people.com
