It's a very fine line between who get's the "feel good" factor, the subject or the royal and what part private visits play in the scheme of things.
Let's be clear here, Harry publically supports 'Walking with the Wounded'. he has talked in demi-interviews and also takes the time to join them on short hops bringing with him the added media publicity just by being who he is. He knows how to use the media that hounds him to best effect.
Harry's volunteering in the MOD's London District's Personnel Recovery Unit which helps with the care of wounded, injured and sick soldiers is something else entirely. While volunteering, he regularly meets wounded servicemen and women at Headley Court with little or no public notice.
Two separate and strategically opposite approaches to the same cause.
I would hesitate to attribute his style to his mother. She too was "into" hospitals, making private visits, even watching operations from the gallery and when spotted was very humble and self-deprecating about what she was doing. What we didn't know then was that her lover was the surgeon which put a whole different spin on things.
My misgivings about Harry's approach is that a simple statement such he made on this occasion;
Prince Harry said:
"There's always a point in your life when, yes, you want to do the fun things for yourself but if I can carry on doing fun things which is this kind of stuff but the spotlight comes into a cause that we believe in then that's what it’s all about."
There is a danger that his work in this sphere can be dismissed as him having shallow "fun". The inference being that he only "does" fun and when it ceases to be "fun" he will cease to be as involved as he is at present.
The media like their royals to be worthy and not having fun, and everything else behind the scenes is hard work so they are going to be investigating just how "hard he works" behind the scenes. Investigations that could cause disruptions.
Basically, Harry needs a damned good PR person to verse him in his interactions with the media so he'll be saying "its a privilege" rather than "I'm having fun". One is selfless, the other, selfish.
That is not to say I don't support his actions in this arena, I do passionately, I ust don't want either Prince Harry or 'Walking with the Wounded' to be dismissed as Harry's playtime.
