Prince Harry to appear in public for first time since royal split

By Michael Holden

 

FILE PHOTO: Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, speaks with wheelchair rugby athletes as he visits the Nippon Foundation Para Arena in Tokyo, Japan November 2, 2019. Tomohiro Ohsumi/Pool via REUTERS

 

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's Prince Harry will make his first public appearance on Thursday since Queen Elizabeth acceded to the wishes of her grandson and his American wife Meghan to step back from their senior royal roles and seek a more independent future.

 

The prince, sixth-in-line to the throne, will host the draws for next year's Rugby League World Cup at Buckingham Palace in what is his last scheduled engagement before he and Meghan begin a "period of transition" to their new roles.

 

Last week, Harry, 35, and former actress Meghan, 38, sparked a crisis by announcing they wanted to reduce their royal duties and spend more time in North America, while also becoming financially independent.

 

The public announcement caught the rest of the royal family by surprise and left the queen and other senior Windsors hurt and disappointed, according to royal sources. A friend of Harry and Meghan said the couple felt they had been driven out.

 

Following a family summit on Monday at her Sandringham estate attended by Elizabeth, Harry, his elder brother Prince William and his father and heir to the British throne, Prince Charles, it was agreed that the couple would split their time between Britain and Canada.

 

"Although we would have preferred them to remain full-time working members of the Royal Family, we respect and understand their wish to live a more independent life as a family while remaining a valued part of my family," the 93-year-old monarch said in a rare, highly personal statement.

 

Meghan is currently in Canada with the couple's baby son Archie and Harry is expected to join her this week.

 

The couple have said they want a "progressive" new role for themselves and the ability to fund themselves. Currently they are not allowed to seek private income and most of their money comes from the private estate of Harry's father.

 

As one of the world’s most glamorous couples, they have struggled with intense media scrutiny, with Harry describing some coverage of Meghan as bullying, akin to the treatment his mother Princess Diana endured before her death in a 1997 car crash.

 

Some observers have criticised British media for racism in its coverage of Meghan, whose mother is African-American.

 

This week, the Mail on Sunday newspaper submitted its defence to court action by Meghan over the publication of a private letter she sent to her estranged father, Thomas Markle. The case could see Markle testify against her.

 

"There is a huge and legitimate public interest in the royal family and the activities, conduct and standards of behaviour of its members," lawyers for the paper said in documents submitted to London’s High Court.

 

(Editing by Stephen Addison)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-01-16

Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking Thailand news and visa info

Meghan AKA Yoko Ono.  

Edited January 16, 20206 yr by JohnOFphon

Couldn't careless, this pair receive far too much media attention.

 

I am sure there are much more important interesting and newsworthy topics than them that the media could focus on.

So pleased to hear that Markle has given him permission to attend this event. I wonder how long he's allowed out for?

Can anyone give me a good reason as an American, why I should care one whit what these people do?

1 minute ago, Chrysaora said:

Can anyone give me a good reason as an American, why I should care one whit what these people do?

Coming to a neighbourhood near you shortly, other than that no.

Maybe Harry should get one of those...

Let Harry have his wish, so long as he no longer sponges off the British tax payer as the rest of the royals do.

Edited January 16, 20206 yr by DaRoadrunner

7 hours ago, DaRoadrunner said:

Let Harry have his wish, so long as he no longer sponges off the British tax payer as the rest of the royals do.

 

If privacy was their goal they just made themselves the biggest story in the world. No way the paparazzi leaves them alone. Unfortunately because I wish a crack in the earth would open up and swallow the entire royal family and close. 

10 hours ago, Chrysaora said:

Can anyone give me a good reason as an American, why I should care one whit what these people do?

Well, it seems the Canadian press isn't too keen on them either so Markle's certainly not going to like these newspaper stories before they've even moved in.

 

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/royals-can-visit-but-cant-stay-canadian-paper-tells-harry-mkjlrbs66

 

So after insisting Canadians are racist, their next stop on the carbon spewing private jet will probably be LA.

 

Consider them a gift from the UK. You're welcome ????.

 

 

 

Meanwhile, Meg is visiting the Charity Justice for girls, which helps girls in poverty.

 

Bravo - get us to pay for it!

 

On 1/16/2020 at 8:02 AM, CharlieH said:

Couldn't careless, this pair receive far too much media attention.

 

I am sure there are much more important interesting and newsworthy topics than them that the media could focus on.

You'll have to tell that to the general audience that loves all things royal. If there were no interest there would be no coverage, especially since it is mainly the UK tabloids doing this.

13 minutes ago, stevenl said:

Look at the press about her, and how people have been taken in by the negativity.

 

Your statement 'she has been taken on board by our citizens and the press' is simply not true, au contraire.

The negativity about her started only when she began her antics and had nothing to do with her mixed race, being a conniving manipulating bitch has no colour. She started to act up when the baby arrived and it just got worse, she could not have been made more welcome when she got married but people went off her big time due to her demands and moaning. Lets hope she never returns to the UK, there must be plenty of homeless shelters and doggies needing her 'help' by having a photo taken with her in Canada ????

Edited January 17, 20206 yr by Orton Rd

11 hours ago, Chrysaora said:

Can anyone give me a good reason as an American, why I should care one whit what these people do?

Same goes for celebs your side of the pond .

 I guess all future Invictus Games will move to the americas too? 

Off topic/troll and responses removed.

 

2 hours ago, stevenl said:

You'll have to tell that to the general audience that loves all things royal. If there were no interest there would be no coverage, especially since it is mainly the UK tabloids doing this.

I am not sure that all those who are particularly butthurt at this moment are necessarily royal fanatics. Whilst not universal, many of those who appear to be most outraged by Harry and Meghan tend also to share a particular perspective with regards to the EU. Rather questioning why the ship is sinking, they are taking out their ire on the fleeing rats regardless of from where they hail.