Prince Harry is receiving widespread criticism after a recent appearance at the Living Legends of Aviation Awards in Los Angeles.
During the event, he posed for a selfie with a self-proclaimed German prince, Prince Mario Max Schoenberglipp, who has been accused of using his alleged royal connections to promote a questionable wealth elixir and gain fame as a reality TV star.
The Duke of Sussex, who was honored at the event for his military service and charitable work, was unaware that his newfound friend, Prince Mario Max Schoenberglipp, was not a genuine member of the German nobility.
Instead, Schoenberglipp is an adopted son of a distant relative of the Schoenberglipp family.
Unfortunately, the selfie, which was shared on social media by Schoenberglipp himself, has sparked outrage and ridicule among royal experts and commentators who have raised concerns about Harry’s judgment and credibility.
Critics have pointed out the irony of Harry associating himself with a dubious character who has allegedly exploited his royal status for personal gain.
This comes after Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, stepped down from their roles within the royal family and relocated to the United States to pursue their own media projects and causes.
Prince Mario Max Schoenberglipp claims to be a distant cousin of the British royal family, but his assertions have been denounced by the head of his family, Prince Alexander of Schoenberglipp.
Prince Alexander has accused Schoenberglipp of using their name for personal gain.
According to German law, Schoenberglipp, who was adopted by Prince Waldemar of Schoenberglipp in his twenties, has no legal right to use the princely title.
Schoenberglipp, now 46 years old, has gained notoriety as the “king of trash TV” in Europe due to his appearances on various reality shows, including Celebrity Big Brother, Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, and Millionaire Matchmaker.
He has also been involved in several scandals and controversies, such as posing semi-n^ked in Ladaresen-style swimming trunks and selling a €99 bottle of a Wealth Elixir on a shopping channel.
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams expressed his disappointment with Harry’s decision to pose with Schoenberglipp, stating that it was a foolish move that has damaged Harry’s reputation and strained his relationship with his family.
Fitzwilliams believes that Harry should have been more cautious in choosing his associations and should have avoided attending such an event.
Biographer Phil Dampier echoed this sentiment, claiming that Harry’s selfie is indicative of his and Meghan’s declining popularity and financial struggles in the US, where they currently reside in their deteriorating Montecito Empire.
Dampier went on to say that Harry has betrayed his family, country, and heritage, all for the sake of his wife, who he believes has manipulated him into abandoning his principles.
This selfie scandal involving Harry has drawn comparisons to a similar incident involving his late mother, Princess Diana, in 1995.
At that time, she was photographed holding hands with an undercover reporter posing as a wealthy businessman.
The photo was seen as a major embarrassment and a breach of royal protocol.