This is an opinion piece by Royal Central’s Deputy Editor Jamie Samhan
Once again, Prince Harry and his girlfriend, Meghan Markle are making headlines. This time the controversy stems over should Prince Harry have taken a detour to Toronto before heading back to London after his 2-week Caribbean tour.
According to The Telegraph, their biggest issue is that Prince Harry broke Royal conduct set in 2004 after the line between business trips and private trips became fuzzy. At the time the Royal Household said: “Members of the Royal family are entitled to grant-in-aid for official travel, as are their staff and, where capacity permits, other officials.
“They meet their own costs, however, for private travel. In order to avoid confusion, combining private and public engagements in the same trip is actively discouraged.”
So this is going to be my first point, nowhere in that statement does it say it is forbidden, only “actively discouraged”. Prince Harry did pay for his own trip to go to Toronto so people can’t be angry with him for that, it has been argued that the taxpayers then had to pay for his police protection officer (PPO) to head to Toronto. Yet, had Prince Harry gone back to London and then Toronto, the taxpayers would still have to pay for that PPO and flights work out to almost exactly the same cost.
Costs aside, many of the media are upset that Kensington Palace told them that Prince Harry would be heading right back to London from Guyana. Did they have the right to know? The tour was now over and Prince Harry was off duty, he has explicitly said in the past that his private life was his and wants to enjoy his relationship with Miss Markle without the world judging his every move.
It is Kensington Palace’s job to ensure the balance of the royals life and the media just had two-weeks coverage where Prince Harry was on top form, so why would telling the media that he was on his way back to London be such a big deal when everyone knows Prince Harry would have a massive waiting party at the airport or Miss Markle’s apartment as soon as anyone found out?
Lastly, if you have ever been in a long distance relationship you know how difficult it can be. Every minute you can spend together will make or break the relationship. So let’s give Harry a break, shall we? Let love win for once and give these two the chance to figure out what is meant to be without being criticised for wanting to spend some time together.
Do you agree? Or should Prince Harry avoiding controversy and headed back to the U.K? Let us know in the comments below:
He has a right to privacy and to go where ever he wants, the media should stop meddling in his life.
Yes its a fact however the media wont care its controversial however Principe Harry in my view should let they talk or wrote its to sell and in this Business do not ad to do any comment cause any know. Its a Business who move or can many shares at the same time avoid the controversy to many reason s who Prince Harry must know since the Royal Family. Only a thing who do not got nothing with this and its to Oscar “What they made with President Obama Oscar?” This is controversy some times its what many wish or desire this its a little example however what it go its done please Principe Harry with device respect to you let they write and Merry Christmas.
No he doesn’t actually. Not when he is on business and representing HM The Queen. e has a right to a personal life when he is not on specific duty.
Back to the UK, unfortunately. This trip was official and he should have stuck with the press briefings so as not to compromise himself or his staff. This would have never happened with the Queen or Prince Charles or most others.
This relationship is not popular.
Prince Harry should know that she is not right for him and his family Her cry could be crocodiles tears She can trie to manipulate someone
If he even tries to think this relationship is accepted he got another thing coming. I think they will break up soon.
Agree. There’s been a great deal of negative press and public comment regarding Ms Markle.
I don’t think the lady would be welcomed into The Firm given her background (the Royals’ rules, not mine), but Harry seems to be having a lovely time. The palace will, no doubt, step in should the relationship becomes serious.
I just hope he doesn’t marry her or think of marrying her. Harry’s whole tour has been overshadowed by this relationship and his popularity has dipped now.
Any type of breach of protocol by any member of the Royal family is automatically put out by the media as a scandal of some sort. If this young man wishes to visit his girlfriend, then so be it. Irrespective of who paid, people seem to forget,to easily that they are all a great British institution, Andy as such make this country great. The revenue they bring into the coffers far outweighs piffling reactions from the press and a few left wingers.
But he was representing HM The Queen so he should have completed his duty by returning to London then sorting out his private life.
Leave him alone, he had done his official duty,
Give him some privacy
He fulfilled his obligation. Would same said people be angry if he flew all the way back to UK, then spent more money to fly back? Stop over on his way back, makes more sense! I feel bad that a majority of Royal life is public, let him have a sliver of happiness!
Seems like a bit of a media storm in a teacup. Harry fulfilled his royal duties and assuming he covered the cost of the flight to Toronto, I don’t understand the drama. More likely the media is in a snit due to the fact they missed out on fodder for the tabloids by being unaware he was taking a detour to Toronto – smart move, Harry.
I partly agree with you but at the same time Harry w’s representing Her Majesty. For that reason alone he should have completed his duty and flown home to report back. THEN his private life is his own but not beforel
He did complete his duty and was Very successful.
I am afraid that technically – he did not. He should have reported back before anything else.
He doesn’t need to get up, just ignore them and live his life.
For God’s sake leave him alone.
Let the poor bloke have a life outside of his official duties.
He has the right to find love and when the time is right to settle dow
This is the same right that we have all had
Nobody could ever accuse Prince Harry of ignoring his duty. And that includes his duty to the woman in his life.
Leave Harry alone for private things, he has done rill job for the forces as well as active service. Relationship is private as should benot the press or publics business. Bless him, why are ppeople such snobs. Good luck to him and lady friend.
Back to the UK. His Uncle Andrew has caused enough controversy by ‘confusing’ private with business. Harry was representing Her Majesty and should have seen his trip through to the end by flying home. It makes Royal circulars false
I can bet Harry beg his Grandma for a 2 day stop over, and it was OK.