Classic Harry to release controversial article in middle of Kate tour,
Harry’s decision to pen a ‘controversial’ article for the New Statesman the day after the King’s Speech and during Princess Catherine’s two-day tour of Italy is yet another example of the Duke trying to wrest the spotlight from the Royal Family, Richard Eden has argued on Palace Confidential.
The Daily Mail’s Diary Editor claimed the timing of the article, titled ‘My Fears For Our Divided Kingdom’, was ‘extraordinary’ and designed to overshadow the work of the King and Princess Catherine.
In the piece for the Left-wing magazine, the Duke warned of a ‘deeply troubling rise in anti-Semitism’ in Britain following recent terror attacks in London and Manchester.
He urged the public not to let anger over the war in Gaza spill into hostility towards Jewish communities at home, with some interpreting the article as veiled criticism of the state of Israel.
Harry’s decision to pen a ‘controversial’ article during Princess Catherine’s two-day tour of Italy is yet another example of the Duke trying to wrest the spotlight from the Royal Family
The Diary Editor claimed the timing of the article, titled ‘My Fears For Our Divided Kingdom’, was ‘extraordinary’ and designed to overshadow the work of the King and Princess Catherine
Princess Catherine was in the northern Italian city of Reggio Emilia for a two-day visit focused on early childhood development, in her first overseas trip since being treated for cancer
Eden conceded the subject matter was serious but said it was ‘classic’ of the Duke to choose this moment, with the Royal Family at its busiest in months, to stoke a fresh controversy.
‘I have to say, the timing is extraordinary,’ the royal expert said.
‘What have we got this week? The King’s Speech, a huge event, and Catherine’s first foreign trip for almost four years, and here he is, writing an article.
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‘It has obviously been planned. It’s for a Left-wing magazine and it’s controversial. It’s clearly designed to get headlines.
‘I noticed in the Times there’s no story about Princess Catherine, there’s no picture of her, but there’s a prominent story about Harry and this article.’
Princess Catherine was in the northern Italian city of Reggio Emilia for a two-day visit focused on early childhood development, in her first overseas trip since being treated for cancer.
The King, fresh from his successful state visit to the United States, was opening Parliament amid mounting pressure on Sir Keir Starmer’s premiership.
Palace Confidential co-host Richard Kay agreed that Harry’s timing screamed: ‘But what about me?’
‘I agree that the timing of it is extraordinary,’ the Daily Mail’s Editor-at-Large said.
Harry faced similar accusations of stealing the limelight from his father only three weeks ago, when he delivered a speech in Kyiv urging the US to honour its treaty commitments to Ukraine
The late Queen’s former press secretary Ailsa Anderson told the show that Harry’s recent behaviour was reminiscent of ‘a petulant child stamping their feet in the corner’
‘It’s like Harry is shouting at the back of a room: ‘Hey, what about me! I want to still be relevant.’
‘The question is whether anyone is listening. We will see.’
Harry faced similar accusations of stealing the limelight from his father only three weeks ago, when he delivered a speech in Kyiv urging the United States to honour its treaty commitments to Ukraine, just days before the King flew to Washington to meet Donald Trump.
The late Queen’s former press secretary Ailsa Anderson told the show that Harry’s recent behaviour was reminiscent of ‘a petulant child stamping their feet in the corner’.
‘I totally agree with both Richards about the timing,’ she said.
‘What members of the Royal Family do not want is to have something overshadow the really great work they’re doing.
‘I do not know who Harry has got advising him on doing something like this. It has to be really nuanced, and this didn’t seem particularly nuanced.’
Listen to the debate in full, plus Richard Eden and Richard Kay’s take on the programme’s explosive interview with Andrew Lownie, by subscribing to Palace Confidential on YouTube.
