The Royal Family has “totally sidelined” Prince Harry with their latest appearance following his public outburst last week, a royal commentator has claimed. King Charles led the Firm in commemorating the 80th anniversary of VE Day in a series of engagements which lasted all week and culminated on Thursday, with a poignant Service of Thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey in London, and a concert in London’s Horse Guards Parade, where the monarch gave a history speech.
Charles was joined by the Prince and Princess of Wales, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, Princess Anne and her husband, Sir Timothy Lawrence, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and the Duke of Kent Their appearances followed Prince Harry’s bombshell BBC interview after he lost a High Court appeal regarding his downgraded security in the UK. Harry’s interview was criticised by several royal watchers after he spoke about the King’s health, saying he does not know how “much time he has left” following his cancer diagnosis.
Now veteran royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams has weighed in on the royals’ appearance this week and claimed they showed “royal solidarity” as they “totally sidelined” Harry’s outburst.
Mr Fitzwilliam told the Express: “Some thought it [Harry’s interview] might overshadow a week in which VE Day 80 would be celebrated and it certainly seemed as though Harry, who seemed angry, would not care if it did.
“The Sussexes have never abided by the royal rule of not overshadowing the activities of other royals. They simply don’t care.”
He added: “What has actually transpired is a show of royal solidarity during this memorable week, where the surviving veterans were centre stage.
“The royal family symbolised national unity as they did in 1945. Harry’s ill-timed outburst has been totally sidelined.”
Regarding the duke’s bombshell interview, Mr Fitzwilliams claimed that it was “unprepared” and that Harry looked “devastated”.
He said: “His mother’s tragic death undoubtedly traumatised him and there are threats to their safety but this was no way to handle matters.
“[It] naturally dominated royal news and was of international significance as the Sussexes’ brand does have pull.
“The announcement of King and Queen’s historic forthcoming visit to Canada, where he will open Parliament, was reduced to a footnote.”
He coluded by noting that the royals seemed “unified” during the VE celebration, while he said the duke appeared “petulant” and added that while his interview wont be “forgotten” it will take “considerable time” before it will likely be “forgiven”.