Prince Harry Current Events 18: March 2007-May 2007

[Avalon]

Arms of HRH Prince Henry of Wales

Welcome to Part 15 of the Current Events of
Prince Harry

It starts on March 30, 2007

Part 14, covering period from 5 March to 30 March
can be found here.

[Skydragon]

THE CLOWN PRINCE

Is Prince Harry Carrying on 'the Finest and Oldest of British Traditions'

ABC News: The Clown Prince

[iowabelle]

I saw the report on ABC last night about Harry (and William). A rather sensible comment was made that the RF needs Harry so that William's exploits seem tame in comparison (or that William's activities are not scrutinized at all).

Hello Magazine has also reported that Harry has picked up a new patronage, continuing his interest in Africa. My guess is that Harry's charitable interests aren't entertaining to the masses, and this aspect of Harry's character will be ignored.

[ysbel]

Somehow I don't like the idea that Harry is being pushed into a bad boy role to make William look good.

[Avalon]

I don't think for a second that the RF is trying to make Harry look bad to make a contrast with the 'good' William.
However I think the Media is trying to make Harry look bad. Just because it need the eternal The Good and The Bad one. Princess Margaret was the bad one for Queen Elizabeth. Prince Andrew was the bad one for Prince Charles. Prince Harry must be the bad for William.

Hardly anyone is interested in Prince Harry's charities, people are more interested in the pictures of seemingly drunk Harry. And the Media sells what people want to buy.

[iowabelle]

I'm not suggesting there's a plot in the RF to make Harry look bad. I think what ABC was trying to say was that, as in many families, patterns tend to be repeated. Look at George V's family, for example. The Prince of Wales' activities were largely ignored (although they should have been scrutinized!), while the activities of the young Duke of Kent were more publicized. Then you have "good" Elizabeth and "naughty" Margaret. Then again, you have "good" Prince of Wales versus "naughty" Anne (and to a lesser extent because of the age difference, "Randy Andy" and Edward). It's just a pattern in the family behavior, combined with increasing press coverage of the Royals.

I tried to think of the "good v. bad" pattern further back, but it doesn't work. All of George III's sons were scandalous, and their activities were widely reported. I don't think any of Victoria's younger children could have competed with Albert Edward (Edward VII), and George V was moral rectitude personified when compared with his elder brother, the heir, the Duke of Clarence.

[CasiraghiTrio]

Originally Posted by iowabelle

... George V was moral rectitude personified when compared with his elder brother, the heir, the Duke of Clarence.

Queen Victoria's grandson the Duke of Clarence and Avondale had bad press, even to the point of people accusing him of being Jack the Ripper.

[iowabelle]

Yes, that's what I meant, CasiraghiTrio. In the case of the Duke of Clarence and Avondale, the older son was the "bad one" in the media versus the younger Duke of York (the future George V). So, if you go past George V's immediate family, you don't see the pattern of the "virtuous" heir and scandalous siblings. (And while I don't think the D. of C and A was Jack the Ripper, his behavior seems to have alarmed everyone except his adoring mother.)

[Sister Morphine]

Originally Posted by ysbel

Somehow I don't like the idea that Harry is being pushed into a bad boy role to make William look good.

Well, William will be King and Harry will not. Right there lies the problem. I'm not saying that William is some deviant behind closed doors and Harry's falling down on the sidewalk needs to cover that, but I'm sure whoever is behind this PR move is trying to make the future King come out looking somewhat saintly. That's not a smart move, because a) it will in time cause a rift between the two brothers, what with one constantly portrayed as a bumbling idiot and the other the stoic older brother who has to tolerate him....which I'm sure Harry will resent and b) it'll make William look worse if whatever exploits he is involved with somehow leak out at a later date.

Originally Posted by Avalon

However I think the Media is trying to make Harry look bad. Just because it need the eternal The Good and The Bad one. Princess Margaret was the bad one for Queen Elizabeth. Prince Andrew was the bad one for Prince Charles. Prince Harry must be the bad for William.
Hardly anyone is interested in Prince Harry's charities, people are more interested in the pictures of seemingly drunk Harry. And the Media sells what people want to buy.

Maybe people will one day get sick of this and change their tune. Probably not, but it's good to hope right? Harry is far more than what a few pictures of him soused show. I would like to think that deep-down, people ARE more interested in the charity work he does. However, that may be a bit of wishful thinking on my part.

[Skydragon]

More leave, but Harry hasn't even gone to war yet

When Prince Harry joined the Army, he insisted he wanted to be treated like any other officer.
But it seems the wayward young Royal is being given special treatment even before he sets foot in war-torn Iraq next month.

More leave, but Harry hasn't even gone to war yet | the Daily Mail

Harry and the rest of his troop have requested and been granted 2 weeks R+R, I don't see the problem. If he wants to go and play polo for his fathers team, good for him. Perhaps the members from his unit want to go and play football in the park, do we see any articles condemning them or what they intend doing with their 2 weeks R+R?
It is usual to allow any member of the services leave for a memorial service, are they saying because he is Prince Harry he should not be allowed the same compassion as any other serviceman or woman?

[MARG]

Originally Posted by Skydragon

It is usual to allow any member of the services leave for a memorial service, are they saying because he is Prince Harry he should not be allowed the same compassion as any other serviceman or woman?

Of course they aren't! It's just that when he takes that leave they will then say he's been given special treatment.

Basically it's a lose lose situation.

[Skydragon]

Harry to face Army carpeting

Prince Harry is to receive a severe dressing down from his Army superiors over his late-night antics.
The 22-year-old will be told before he leaves for a six-month posting in Iraq next month that he must curb his drinking and behave impeccably at all times.

Harry to face Army carpeting | the Daily Mail

This 'dressing down' is probably news to his CO and every 'superior officer' on the unit. He will get the standard 'don't do this', 'no alcohol' talk that everyone going to Iraq or Afghanistan gets, but that wouldn't sell, would it!

[Suonymona]

Maybe Daddy told them to put a bug in his ear.

[susan alicia]

James Bond star Daniel Craig has topped GQ magazine's annual list of the most stylish celebrities,

Prince Harry became the first Royal to be included in the poll, in 10th place.

(source bbc website)

[CasiraghiTrio]

Oh no! Prince William and Prince Harry are "out of control"! They are putting themselves in peril! At those nightclubs, they could be attacked by terrorists, for crying out loud!

[kpusa1981]

Could partly be that Harry is a fully trained Officer who is going deployed within weeks and though William is an Officer is not fully trained deployable Recce Veihicle (sp)Troop Leader?

[CasiraghiTrio]

That last Daily Mail story just kills me. I guess they might be attacked by terrorists in Boujis, just like anyone might be attacked by terrorists going to the market, or hit by a bus, hehe. They're so dramatic. Geez.... if Prince Harry's bodyguards are so worried, then they need to (and must be doing, despite Daily Mail claims) confer and address the concerns, and not leak through unnamed sources about the concerns, thus further "endangering" the royals.

[Skydragon]

Originally Posted by CasiraghiTrio

That last Daily Mail story just kills me. I guess they might be attacked by terrorists in Boujis, just like anyone might be attacked by terrorists going to the market, or hit by a bus,

As my father used to say, the whole story is balderdash and piffle!

[Lizy]

My friend is an officer in the army and he once said that they were told that once they became a commissioned officer, that had to be at the forefront of their mind no matter what. For example, if they were at home on leave and were out with friends they should remember to behave in a manner that was befitting of an army officer ie not getting drunk and then getting into trouble etc. It's just a bit unfortunate for poor Harry that he has a swarm of papparazi following his every move as I'm sure he's not the only one who has maybe indulged a little too much some times.

[Skydragon]

They are all told that at all times they should remember that they are commissioned officers in the service of their Queen and country. As my sons and daughters come from a service background, they also all know that their own time, out of uniform, is their own.