From today’s DT, Harry Mount writing about H&M’s Commonwealth Trust comments.
But then along come Harry and Meghan, zooming from their Los Angeles megamansion to young leaders from the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust. They spouted the universal modern message that undermines so many great institutions – one that shrieks, “We are all guilty.” The Commonwealth, said the Sussexes, “must acknowledge the past” even if it is “uncomfortable”, as they discussed historical injustice, unconscious bias and racism highlighted by the Black Lives Matter movement.
There is a problem with Prince Harry speaking out like this. He has rejected his official royal status – although his HRH title is still there, in abeyance, waiting to be switched on to full-beam if he wants. And so he is free to say what he wants about politics and the Royal family. But, still, he is only granted the position to speak out because of his former royal status So he is having his cake and eating it :taking advantage of his former royal position and his current über-celeb berth to bite the hand that still feeds him – quite literally, as it is Prince Charles, the next Head of the Commonwealth, who has subsidised the Sussexes.
You can see the temptation to speak out. Prince Harry must be going spare, rattling around his LA mansion, with no official duties to carry out, deprived of the opportunity to use his God-given ability to sympathise with those suffering in these Covid-struck times.
As lockdown ends, I’m sure he will revive that ability – most admirably seen when he set up the Invictus Games. But, until then, he should cut back on the bleeding-heart, We-Are-All-Guilty Zooming. And give his poor 94-year-old granny a break.