Prince Harry's London Visit Was a Strategic Move to 'Outsmart' His …
Rumors have it that Prince Harry may get an invite to King Charles' coronation. (Photo: Bruce Detorres/Flickr/Public Domain Mark 1.0 (https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/))
According to royal biographer Angela Levin, Prince Harry's surprise visit to London last week was a strategic move to "outsmart" his father, King Charles. The Duke is among several high-profile individuals who have filed a case against Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL) for alleged privacy breaches. Interestingly, the hearing dates coincided with the King and Queen Consort's inaugural state visit abroad as monarchs to Germany.
Although Prince Harry's stay in the UK briefly overlapped with his father's time in the country, this was only because the King's visit to France was canceled at the last minute due to violent protests. King Charles and Camilla were initially scheduled to travel to Paris on Sunday, before continuing to Berlin on Wednesday. Levin noted that there was no need for Prince Harry to travel to London for the hearing, as he could have participated in court via Zoom.
She suggested that the Duke's "real purpose" was to overshadow the King and Queen Consort during their significant week. In an article for Sky News Australia, Levin wrote, "It was inconceivable that another royal would try to steal the spotlight from such a significant occasion." She went on to say that Harry's respect for the monarchy and its members has deteriorated since he and Meghan stepped back as senior royals in 2020.
The trip provided him with the perfect chance to demonstrate that he was more popular and powerful than the King, and to secure front-page coverage in newspapers. Although Harry did manage to capture media attention, the King and Queen didn't offer much competition. King Charles and Camilla's visit to Germany was a resounding success, with crowds in Hamburg chanting "We Want King Charles" despite the rain.
The royal couple focused on reconciliation and the strong bond between the UK and Germany during their three-day visit, as they laid wreaths in memory of war victims alongside German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. In a historic moment, Charles addressed the German Parliament, the Bundestag, becoming the first British monarch to do so. The King was also seen enjoying a pint and meeting Germany's Eurovision contestant during a lighter moment on the tour.
Levin stated, "The visit has made a mockery of his youngest son's attempt, in his recently published memoir Spare, to give the impression his father is a doddery inept man who shows little emotion." She further emphasized that the King and Queen Consort effortlessly navigated through various engagements, both day and night, and received an overwhelmingly positive reception. As for the upcoming coronation next month, it remains uncertain whether Prince Harry will reunite with his father and extended family for the event.
The Duke's attendance has not been confirmed, leaving observers to speculate on his possible presence at the ceremony. Regardless, the recent events surrounding Prince Harry's London visit have provided a fascinating glimpse into the dynamic between the Duke and the British monarchy. (C) 2021 Business Times All rights reserved.
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