Prince Harry has faced a barrage of knocks in speedy succession including a massive blow from his father King Charles.
In fairytales, princes have such an easy time of it. All they have to do it is charge about on steeds, shop an occasional maiden and seem to be heroic in tights. Not as soon as in a children’s book has there been a tale involving a rushing titled chap contending with council rates, the indignity of dropping their capacity to company themselves as ‘royal’ and fixing the occasional bung sprinkler for a neighbour. (We have Meghan, Duchess of Sussex’s controversial The Cut interview to thank for that remaining revelation.)
Spare a thought then for Prince Harry who has been having a tremendously garbage time of it this week. I know, I recognize – he’s wealthy, will by no means have to spend a working day in Leeds and his spare time is committed to galloping about the vicinity on a done-up polo pony – however really, the bloke has taken hit after hit in latest days.
In rapid succession and no unique order, he’s been sidelined from his final royal gig through his father King Charles; had to watch on from afar whilst his household took phase in an tournament that used to be one of the most significant days on his calendar, through all accounts; and has been unceremoniously reminded that Brits decide upon his sister-in-law Kate, Princess of Wales than he and his spouse Meghan, Duchess of Sussex.
And all of that is before you even factor in only two weeks ago it was once announced the King would change him as the Captain General of the Royal Marines, a “cherished” role whose loss left him “upset”, The Times stated ultimate year.
Even the most strong of egos would be in dire want of a hug and warm matcha latte right about now.
The biggie here although is Tuesday’s information that King Charles has requested parliament to amend the Regency Act to include his siblings Princess Anne and Prince Edward as Counsellors of State.
And while Harry and his disgraced uncle Prince Andrew weren’t eliminated from the listing as some had expected, widening the pool actually sidelines the pair from the job. (Counsellors can be deputised to undertake many of the responsibilities of the sovereign if they are overseas or incapacitated.)
Under the modern Regency Act, the counsellors are the monarch’s spouse (oh, hi there there Queen Camilla!) and the 4 most senior participants in the line of succession who are over the age of majority (21 years), accordingly which means William, Prince of Wales, Harry, Andrew and hat connoisseur extraordinaire Princess Beatrice.
However, this used to be genuinely an untenable situation, specifically given that 2023 has reportedly been slated as a yr that will see the King as well as William and Kate shipped off around the world to wave the flag for the UK, the monarchy and the Commonwealth in a host of coronation tours. (Should they just get matching T-shirts now that say, ‘Please remain in’?)
Even the remotest of probabilities that two ousted participants of the royal family who have no official standing may want to be left in cost of the save was in no way going to fly.
Sure, even as soon as parliament approves the changes to the Regency Act, Harry and Andrew will nonetheless be Counsellors of State, however the likelihood of them ever being known as upon to act in this capacity is about equal to Camilla giving up her first-edition series of Jilly Cooper novels and membership of the Waitrose wine club.
For the Duke of Sussex, this development represents, essentially, him being axed from his final royal role and leaving him with his solely honorary function being ‘World’s Greatest Dad’ as per a mug his son Archie delivered domestic from preschool for Father’s Day. (OK, I’m guessing.)
This comes after the weekend, with Saturday seeing the ultimate snatch of working participants of the royal family trooping alongside to Royal Albert Hall for the Festival of Remembrance. There in the the front row sat Harry’s father and brother, searching as chummy as two P’s (princes) in a pod. For the Duke of Sussex, who is famously out of favour with his brother William and went on international TV to accuse his father of cutting him off financially, how could seeing these two on such excellent terms not raise with it something of a sting in the tail?
(Similarly when Kate and Queen Camilla had been photographed the following day chatting amiably as they shared the primo spot for the Remembrance Day tournament at the Cenotaph.)
Then came Sunday. As a veteran, and having logged two excursions on the frontline in Afghanistan, Harry’s time in the military has not only formed who he is as a man but his career, with him launching the Invictus Games for wounded and serving armed services personnel in 2014.
@royaldailynew Prince Harry to have 'very quiet' 38th birthday today as family mourns Queen. #princeharry #queenelizabeth #royalfamily ♬ Happy & Pop songs - PeriTune
Tags: Queen, Prince Charles, Camilla, Prince Louis, Prince William and Kate Middleton, Prince Charles, Prince Harry, Meghan, Lilibet
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