The Duke of Sussex has stirred up a storm within the Royal Press following a 16-day tour alongside Meghan Markle.
Five months after their grand royal nuptials at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle embarked on a remarkable 16-day journey across Australia, Fiji, Tonga, and New Zealand in October 2018.
This tour coincided with the prestigious Invictus Games hosted in Sydney that year.
Amidst the excitement of Meghan’s pregnancy announcement on the tour’s onset, there were lingering moments that left a bitter taste for the media personnel present on the trip.
In a recent segment of the A Right Royal podcast, former royal correspondent Valentin Law shared a rather uncomfortable incident he and his journalist colleagues experienced with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex as they concluded their voyage back to the United Kingdom after an extended separation from their families to cover the royal tour.
Law recounted the usual practice where the prince engages in casual conversations with the press towards the end of such tours, fostering a sense of camaraderie off the record.
However, on this occasion, the promised interaction failed to materialize during the lengthy four to five-hour flight from Tonga to Sydney.
As the plane touched down, only then did Prince Harry and Meghan make their way to the back of the aircraft.
Notably, Meghan remained reserved while Prince Harry took the lead.
In a peculiar turn of events, Meghan made a cryptic remark about the press wanting to join them for Sunday lunch, leaving the journalists bewildered.
However, it was Prince Harry’s parting words that truly resonated.
“Thank you so much for coming, even though you weren’t invited,” he quipped, leaving the reporters stunned and perplexed by the unexpected jab.
Valentin Law further detailed the collective reaction of the royal correspondents to Prince Harry’s seemingly impolite comment, highlighting how the prince’s private secretary was approached to address the matter.
The aftermath of this incident has sparked heated discussions within the Royal Press, with many questioning the intentions behind Prince Harry’s unorthodox statement.
The episode serves as a stark reminder of the delicate relationship between the British Royals and the media, underscoring the challenges faced by both parties in maintaining a harmonious rapport amidst public scrutiny and expectations.
This unforeseen exchange sheds light on the complexities of royal engagements and the intricate dynamics at play between the monarchy and the press.
The aftermath of Prince Harry’s controversial remark continues to reverberate within royal circles, prompting reflections on the boundaries of interaction and communication protocols during official tours.