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July 2, 2020 - 11:37am
It wasn’t dissimilar to a hostage video. Back pressed to a bare wall, no giveaway landmarks or objects within camera shot, reading from a script (the identity of whose author we can only guess), Prince Harry trotted out a stream of platitudes designed to convince us that, you know, racism is a bad thing and the world would be better off without it.
He even said sorry. Not, mind, for that Nazi uniform thing, or the time when he referred to army comrades as ‘Paki’ and ‘raghead’ — youthful indiscretions for which we should of course forgive him. (Let’s be frank, if these things had happened today, the prince would be condemned to live out his existence on Saint Helena). No, Harry was “sorry that we haven’t got the world to the place that you deserve it to be”. Well, I guess we can forgive him for that, too.
I have nothing against the chap, and I’m sure he means well, but the prince’s conversion from most popular royal and all-round ‘bit of a lad’ to high priest of wokeness is all a bit nauseating. Yes, Harry, we know racism is bad, and we know there is still too much of it in the world. But we are also a little concerned that some people appear intent on exacerbating existing divisions with their degrading self-flagellation, constant demands for atonement, and insistence that the rest of us become as hyper-aware of race as they seem to be. And, frankly, your lecturing ordinary Britons about ‘institutional racism’ and ‘unconscious bias’ and the need to ‘right the wrongs of the past’ from the luxury of your swanky LA mansion will go down like a cup of cold sick across a country that is still struggling to escape from a national crisis.
Even the republicans among us (in my case a pretty unenthusiastic one) know that monarchy is defined by certain things: tradition, duty, restraint, loyalty to the nation and the avoidance of political bandwagons. If Harry and his wife wish to continue trading off the Windsor brand — as they clearly do — then, as much as they would like to do so, they cannot simply abandon those responsibilities that come with it. Perhaps the country will start listening to them only when they start cutting ribbons again.
Paul Embery is a firefighter, trade union activist, pro-Brexit campaigner and ‘Blue Labour’ thinker
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SubscribeNothing like being lectured by a man with huge wealth -all laid on for him , about social issues.
You have never had to work. You have never faced unemployment. You know nothing of poverty or uncertainly. You have never been cold or hungry.
We have all lost parents and family. We dont whine about it every time we are in public.
If you want to be respected give away your unearned assets to the poor and go to work.
I would take issue about ‘never had to work’, and ‘never been cold or hungry’ . He did work and, my guess is, that on occasions he was cold and hungry in the army in Afghanistan.
The sad thing is that he was obviously happier, and more fulfilled, in that role and should have stuck to it rather than becoming ‘Mr Markel in LA’ where he appears to be neither happy nor fulfilled.
It is not for the Royal Family to lecture us on any issue. He has learnt nothing from his Grandmother.
Hi, Kathryn. I think people should cut Harry a little slack. He did a really good thing in founding and promoting the Invictus Games, an initiative worthy of his mom, Princess Diana. In marrying Meghan Markle it looked like he was giving black people in countries that recognize Elizabeth II as their monarch someone they could relate to. It is really a shame that didn’t last very long. I thought you had made a mistake talking about Mr. Markle in L.A. and that Harry and Meghan were still living on Vancouver Island, but now I see that they have moved on. Unfortunately, their stay here in Canada didn’t last very long either.
You should be glad their stay in Canada did not last long. A free-loading couple who expected your government (ie taxpayers) to fund their security costs, if not more.
Harry Windsor and many others need to recognise that in lecturing the majority about BAMA and racism etc he lecturing people whose not long distance ancestors suffered badly from poverty, death from malnutrition , appalling working conditions, child labour, workhouses , land clearances and more at the same hands of those who traded slaves, held plantations etc. Who sat at the head of this landed gentry class? None other than the Royals so yes – apologise to all of us for the deaths , and next to slavery and poverty experienced by our ancestors.
The whole angry BAME , racism debate needs to embrace the fact that the not far distant ancestors of the vast majority of us Suffered from similar appalling treatment and lived pretty miserable lives. lives that were expendable in the name of profit
That is such an important point and it’s bizarre that so few people seem to recognise that the British working class were slaves in all but name at certain points in history, for example the “pauper apprentices” who were shackled to prevent escape, and six year old chimney sweeps who had fires lit under them to make them climb faster and who often fell to their deaths.
I like that expression : slaves in all but name. So true. Well said. I shall remember for future reference.
I think all of us will have ancestors who were slaves. Serfdom in Britain only died out 500 years ago (20 generations …). Who that’s living today should I blame for that?
David – why should Harry “apologise to all of us” for things he didn’t do hundreds of years ago to people who didn’t suffer hundreds of years ago?
Maybe his great-great-great-great-grandmother (Victoria) should be dug up and made to apologise for the poverty of Victorian society? (Ignoring of course that the poorest Britons at the time were among the least poor people in the world?)
The concept of Inherited Guilt is very dodgy.
I resent being lectured about my supposed white privilege by someone who enjoys not only the same supposed white privilege but also undeniable class privilege as a member of an elite that is essentially parasitic upon a population of all races, colours and creeds.
Which elite is that? Our monarchy exists with the consent of the people (and thanks from the majority). Harry has left the institution. He should embrace his new position by calling himself Mr Windsor/Markle or perhaps even Rev. Markle since he loves preaching to us.
“Even the republicans among us (in my case a pretty unenthusiastic one) know that monarchy is defined by certain things: tradition, duty, restraint, loyalty to the nation and the avoidance of political bandwagons.”
Indeed. I fear the ‘wannabe’ Queen Megan – a hitherto ‘unknown’ American TV actress – is so bitter that her narcissistic imaginings, about ‘ruling’ the UK and Commonwealth, were politely refused by HM – i.e. the resident and internationally ‘respected’ Queen, that Harry is required to ‘suffer’.
Such arrogance, when it emerged, also cost her the initial (rather silly) ‘delight’ of thousands of committed UK ‘royalists’.
Merkel is engaged in systematic destruction of what was once-upon-a-time, a quite ‘engaging’, albeit ‘airheaded’, young man. To date he has publically betrayed his Nation, Queen, and ‘comrades’ in Arms.
Whatever, ‘privileges’ he enjoys from Megan – doubtless all contingent on ‘obedience’ to her demands – his countenance has degenerated into that of a rather worn, ‘disappointed’ and unhappy Being.
You echoed my thoughts 100%, Kate. He seems terribly depressed. A good wife enriches a man’s life, but a bad wife drains a man of all will to live.
And vice versa
You can’t allow Harry Markel loose with a pair of scissors. He’ll only go and cut himself.
The more he says, the less anyone listens to him. He’s very late to this bandwagon, anyway – every major corporation and institution has trotted out the obligatory guff already.
The lack of self-awareness is stupefying. He is mind-bendingly thick.
This man has no brain.
Infatuated youth often abdicates, even basic intelligence, once sexually infatuated. Along with lecturing and teaching, I worked for 30 years as a student counsellor. I have seen this degeneration, in both sexes, too many times.
Maybe but at his age?
Harry “sorry that we haven’t got the world to the place that you deserve it to be”. “
Strewth! Does he think he is God, or something? Who are the “we” and “you” that he refers to? And what is it that he thinks his “we” should have done to make the world the place that “you” (plebs?) deserve it to be?
To me this shows a casual arrogance and sense of entitlement that is quite breathtaking. Who the hell does this ridiculous young man think he is?
It may be a good thing that he clearly has no ability to “read a room” because if he had, and could know what people think of his inane witterings, the poor frail dear would probably just melt into a little puddle of warm water, and trickle away through the floorboards.
I cannot understand what has happened to Harry in such a relatively short space of time. It seems he has reinvented himself completely to suit his wife’s agendas, of which, there are many, by having his brain washed in public.
It is so embarrassing to watch how he kow-tows to Meghan, despite the fact there is only one of them with royal blood, and, it is definitely not her, and fights her causes quite unconvincingly.
That he now speaks out against racism is so hypocritical; he never once experienced it at the hands of the British public, who welcomed his American wife with open arms. It is quite shocking to hear him speak now, almost as if he has been programmed to say the words coming out of his mouth.
They say the eyes are the windows of the soul; looking into Harry’s, it seems his has been crushed.
Absolutely right Paul
He’s not alone. This is the obligatory public posturing of his class. I guarantee you in their private enclaves, they have to spit to say the names George FLoyd, Breonna Taylor, nso on.
It can’t be easy being the spare heir, look at poor old Andrew, subjected to public ridicule on C4 that would have got a broadcaster in Thailand or Turkey jailed ( or worse). That said i presume Harry can read so has no excuse for his woke drivel. Even a 6th form level of understanding of ethics, history and politics should be enough to show him that complex problems are not solved by emoting, mewling or puking.
I find it bizarre this idea we have to correct history in any way. It was what it was. I’m just happy that after centuries, if not millennia, of people thinking slavery was normal that enough enlightened people got us to a place where we no longer do. That is something to be celebrated, surely?????
I feel sorry for Harry. He’s lived his whole life in this constricting goldfish bowl, that killed his mother. Hrs never had a the kind of choice over his life that most of us do. He can never be anonymous. Imagine trying to find some kind of purpose in peace amongst all that if you’re ‘not quite right’? William and Kate appear to be temperamentally better suited to it and do a wonderful job – but Williams role was always defined. He was the heir, not the spare. I honestly think Harry is struggling, as we all do, but in the most public way. Not sure about Meghan, her motives or her ambitions, but it’s quite clear that he’s besotted with her and wherever she goes he will follow. I just don’t think that’s a good thing for him or for the Royal Family judging by what has happened so far.
Can’t understand myself why they stripped their HRH title but still allow them to swan around California calling themselves Duke and Duchess of Sussex. You ether with us old chap or your not with us old chap; your call..