'No apology' for photographer hurt in scuffle with Harry
By Andrew Alderson, Chief Reporter
(Filed: 24/10/2004)
Prince Harry will not apologise to the photographer involved in a scuffle with him outside a nightclub because his father's private office blames the "aggressive" behaviour of the paparazzi for the incident last week.
Paddy Harverson, the comunications secretary at Clarence House, said yesterday that the Prince had been "monstered" and "completely submerged" by photographers as he left the Pangaea nightclub in the West End of London shortly after 3am on Thursday.
Mr Harverson admitted for the first time that Prince Harry, 20, had lost his temper after being accidentally "smacked in the head" by a camera, but said the Prince of Wales had been "supportive and sympathetic" towards his younger son.
Chris Uncle, 24, a photographer who works for the Big Pictures agency, was left with a cut lip after the scuffle. Mr Uncle, who reported the incident to the police, claimed that the Prince jumped out of his car and "deliberately lashed out".
Mr Harverson was interviewed on BBC Radio 5's Five yesterday morning and said that the photographers outside the nightclub had been "much pushier" than usual.
When asked if there would be an apology to the photographer involved, Mr Harverson replied: "It certainly seems to be the month for apologies, but no, I don't think that it really requires that. I think it is fairly straightforward.
"OK, he lost his temper. It does happen. Let's not get it out of all proportions Let's cut him some slack. There was a bit of a scuffle. It was a bit unseemly but let's not make more of it than it was."
Mr Harverson, who advises Prince Harry and his brother Prince William on media relations, said Prince Harry was not a "party prince", a "cartoon character" or the "one-dimensional character" that some sections of the media like to portray. "He is a good young man trying to make his way in the world in a very, very public situation," he said.
"He is growing up and, by and large, his behaviour has been excellent. What do you want him to do? Stay indoors all day? If he did that, people would say he was something of a weirdo: where is Harry and why isn't he out?"
Prince Harry is on an extended gap year before joining the Royal Military Aacademy Sandhurst in January on an officer training course. He spoke to his father, who is on an official visit to Italy, by telephone on Friday and is believed to have expressed his regret over the incident.
Mr Harverson said: "He [Prince Charles] recognises the situation he [Prince Harry] has been in. He is perhaps one of the few people who understands what it is like to be in that situation. Though when the Prince of Wales was a lot younger the media was different and the paparazzi certainly weren't behaving like they do now. It is a different world and for the paparazzi pictures are worth a lot of money, particularly of Harry and his brother William."
Mr Harverson said he believed that the photographer at the centre of the incident had not asked to press charges and it was time to move on. The Prince is spending "a private weekend" away with friends.
"Prince Harry is looking forward very much to going to Sandhurst," said Mr Harverson. "He passed his examinations with flying colours in terms of getting into the Army. He loves the idea of joining the Army and he will have a great time."