On the latest episode of the Daily Mail’s Palace Confidential, Editor-at-Large Richard Kay reveals the behind-the-scenes government briefing that neutered the impact of Harry’s controversial Kyiv address and what it means for the Prince’s waning political influence as the King’s visit to the US gets underway.
Speaking to an audience of senior military and government officials in Ukraine last week, Harry criticised the US just days before his father was due to meet Trump as part of an historic state visit marking the 250th anniversary of American independence.
The Prince told the Kyiv Security Forum that the US must honour its international treaty obligations to Ukraine, declaring that now is ‘a moment for American leadership.’
Trump’s response was dismissive, telling the White House press corps: ‘Prince Harry is not speaking for the UK, that’s for sure.’
Editor-at-Large Richard Kay has revealed the behind-the-scenes government briefing that neutered the impact of Harry’s controversial Kyiv address
Kay told Palace co-host Richard Eden that he was surprised Harry’s comments failed to generate a stronger reaction from Trump’s administration
Kay told Palace co-host Richard Eden that he was surprised Harry’s comments failed to generate a stronger reaction from Trump’s administration, before revealing that British diplomats had moved quickly to brief US officials that the Prince’s ‘very critical’ stance did not represent the position of His Majesty’s government.
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He said: ‘We have discovered over the course of our brief stay in the US that British officials quickly told American senior officials that Harry’s view is not the British view.
‘So, Harry can say whatever he likes, as he plainly did in Kyiv last week, but that does not represent the policy of the government.
‘The forum in Ukraine was a set-piece event. Harry’s remarks were well-scripted. They were quite astonishing.
‘It’s very interesting that it did not generate the kind of headlines that it may have done in the past. I think that’s a clear sign that the government is trying to push what he says to the margins.’
Eden agreed, saying Harry now faces a ‘dilemma’ every time he chooses to speak out on the world stage. As he drifts ever further from the Palace, his words carry increasingly less weight.
Speaking to an audience of officials in Ukraine last week, Harry criticised the US just days before his father was due to meet Trump as part of an historic state visit
‘That message the government was pushing has clearly got through’, Eden declared.
‘It’s interesting for Harry. The whole point of the Royal Family is that they speak for us as a nation. So, when you are no longer a working Royal but are still trying to make a point, it begs the question: Who is he? What is he? What weight does it carry anymore?’
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