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Kate Hawkesby: Prince Harry's speech hasn't helped matters

Author
Kate Hawkesby,
Publish Date
Tue, 21 Jan 2020, 10:38AM
Photo / Getty Images

Kate Hawkesby: Prince Harry's speech hasn't helped matters

Author
Kate Hawkesby,
Publish Date
Tue, 21 Jan 2020, 10:38AM

Look, I don’t want to keep banging on about them and I had no intention of raising it again this morning. But then Prince, or should I say – just Harry now, came out and did that speech yesterday.

What surprised me is not the content of it, but how quickly he came out of the blocks to say it.

We should expect a lot more of this of course. This is partly I think why they left, to try to rewrite or control the narrative a bit more, to speak out more freely and without the restrictive oversight of palace aides and royal rules.

I’m sure he was delighted he could stand in front of an adoring crowd and give his side of the story.

I think that’s what we’ll see from both of them now for the coming months. And therein lies the issue.

I don’t know that it’s that beneficial to keep banging on about how much you hate the press, to keep trying to fly your own flag and put your own story across. I’m not sure it’s a fruitful and solid long term approach.

There is a lot to be said for quiet distinction and aloofness.

There is something to be said for rising above the fray.

Just look at what we’ve seen from Kate and Wills these past few weeks. Nothing.

And that’s the point. They get it. They’re a class act – a united front, a union of equals who know the strength of each other and who don’t seek to court personal or private attention that may attempt to sway people.

Because at the end of the day, who are you swaying? And for how long?

If you’ve made up your mind that you dislike Meghan or Harry or their actions, you’re unlikely to change it.

Likewise if you support them, you’re unlikely to stop supporting them.

Many a celebrity whose gone before them could tell them the merits of saying nothing.

Of letting gutter tabloid press swirl round and round until it eats itself. I mean just look at The Sun and all the interviews with Thomas Markle, any right minded person can see that for what it is. Look at the step sister and her rants, no one is taking that stuff seriously.

Two things I thought were interesting out of Harry’s speech were (1) the fact he did it so quickly and (2) how obviously it had been written by the Team Meghan musketeers. The architects of this new Harry and Meghan branding were all over that speech.

The way he referred to himself in the third person as, “Diana’s second son..“ No mention of being Prince Charles’ son, did you notice that? His constant referral to Diana, distancing themselves from Charles, and constantly tapping into Diana’s legacy, is part of their new calling card. Why? Because it’s popular.

It’s part of the new branding, watch how that unfolds.

But also I saw a deep sadness – he didn’t want it to end the way it has obviously, they wanted two bob each way and the Queen to her credit, clearly said no thanks.

And so I just wonder when all the adrenaline and hype dies down and the reality of living in Canada and leaving all you’ve ever known behind, despite what he says abut not turning his back. I wonder how he'll feel when the rubber actually hits the road.

Because the other thing he said was he was looking for a more peaceful life, and if he thinks this is a way of getting it, he’s dreaming. He may find peace away from the palace yes, but they've just opened the floodgates for more media scrutiny than ever before.

Watch this space.

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