Did Prince Harry just cross the line into political criticism of the PM?
On a visit to Roundwood Youth Centre, Prince Harry appeared to question a lack of leadership by Theresa May [Composite: Getty].
The Royal Family is expected not to interfere in politics – and certainly not to indicate support or opposition to any political party or government.
If they were to do so openly, it could trigger a constitutional crisis.
That being said, it is entirely possible that this has been blown out of proportion.
We only have the charity founder’s word that Prince Harry uttered the words mentioned below. Even if he did, it seems likely they were not intended to be broadcast to the public.
Whether it was a lack of judgement for him to have spoken them at all is therefore difficult to decide; we don’t know that he did.
But it raises this perennial question:
[polldaddy poll=9940698]Prince Harry flirted with political controversy yesterday when he criticised a lack of national leadership over the closure of youth clubs and sport centres to help keep children off the streets.
The fifth in line to the throne highlighted a national shortage of places where youngsters can go during half term.
Nary Wijeratne, founder of the charity Sport at the Heart, said: “He said: ‘There’s a lack of strong leadership in this country.'”
Kensington Palace insisted that his remarks were not political but Ms Wijeratne added: “He said that we don’t have a strong Government.”
Harry’s remarks came during a visit to Roundwood Youth Centre in Harlesden, in the the borough of Brent, north west London, to see the work of the Fit and Fed campaign, which aims to keep children active during half term and gives them a free lunch.
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The little poll does not include “We should not have a Royal Family ” so unable to answer.
That’s a different question entirely!
I can only guess he was expressing a broadside to probably the local governments who are responding to public cut backs to feed the Cons insatiable appetite to pass austerity onto the local authorities rather than suffer the public anger and potential vote losses direct upon themselves. Rather pleased he has expressed an obvious open opinion and sortof broken the ranks of the royal automatons.
If so, he only spoke the truth. Everyone should already know that our government is weak, with an even weaker leader.
Sounds like he made a suitable comment, on local councils and this person either misunderstood or decided to fashion a large rocky outcrop out of a small pile of dirt.
Well said prince Harry
of course he should be able to comment we cant just all sit on the fence
quite so – free speech innit !
On the other hand ‘There’s a lack of strong leadership in this country’ is hardly an encouraging analysis. Some members of his family have a record of supporting this very thing! Perhaps Momentum or someone could send him some reading material.
Even if he did it is welcome as I’m sure many will agree the treatment of many citizens has gone beyond political
They should be kept out of politics altogether. We still haven’t seen the spider letters Prince Charles wrote BTW. They already have too much influence behind the backs of the public. If the shoe was on the other foot and they critised JC or the Labour Party policies, voters on here would think twice
Its nice to see/hear the truth being spoken
If the royals commented, at least they might possibly be doing something useful.
If we are all to be ‘equal’ then all ought to be entitled to the freedom of speech that we all supposedly enjoy. No, I don’t recognize the so called ‘royal family’ either, complete nonsense all of it but I do support their ‘right’ as individuals to say what they want. And I’ll say what I want!
Why did Nary Wijeratne, founder of the charity Sport at the Heart repeat this publicly, Didn’t she realise that it could possibly look bad for Harry. It seerms she was using him for political purposes.
Well, he is a Hewitt rather than a Windsor.