Royal lightning visit to the old homeland: Immediately after the coronation of his father Charles III. Prince Harry has returned to the United States. The 38-year-old landed back in Los Angeles on Saturday evening (local time), British media reported. The newspaper “Mail” precisely calculated the visit of the fifth in line to the throne for the major event: Accordingly, Harry stayed in Great Britain for 28 hours and 42 minutes.
He arrived in California in time to celebrate son Prince Archie’s fourth birthday – who received no public congratulations from the palace. Wife Duchess Meghan stayed at home with Archie and daughter Princess Lilibet (almost 2).
Harry has a difficult time with conservative British media, which is close to the royal family. The newspaper “Telegraph” mocked him as the “Marquis of Montecito”, after Harry and Meghan’s Californian place of residence – and that was one of the nicer names. “Awkward” was his short trip, judged several newspapers. The term, which has a negative connotation, also means “sensitive”, but above all “embarrassing”.
The prince in the dark suit
But Harry was quite happy during the ceremony in Westminster Abbey. Evil eyes looked for observers in vain. Protocol really wasn’t kind to Harry.
His arrival almost got lost amidst other royals. Harry also refrained from special clothing, only a few medals dangled from his dark suit – a souvenir of his double combat mission in Afghanistan. Harry’s uncle Prince Andrew, who also no longer makes public appearances for the Royal Family because of his involvement in an abuse scandal, demonstratively wore the robe of the Order of the Garter, the oldest British order of chivalry.
On the way to church, Harry chatted with Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, the husband of his cousin Princess Beatrice. In the church he then sat in the third row between the husband of Princess Eugenie, Jack Brooksbank, and Princess Alexandra, a cousin of his grandmother Queen Elizabeth II. These members of the royal family hardly play a role in public, with more prominent relatives not seeing Harry.
Seats in the first two rows were reserved for “working royals” who make public appearances. That’s why Harry wasn’t often seen – especially since a conspicuously large hat feather from Charles’ sister Princess Anne, who was sitting directly in front of him, was hiding the prince.
With a police escort to the airport
Immediately after the royal couple moved out, Harry jumped into a limousine with tinted windows, which took him to Heathrow Airport with a police escort. Only an hour after the end of the service, the king’s son is said to have already been on the plane. It was not known whether Harry was invited to the family’s private lunch at Buckingham Palace anyway. But it was clear that he would not have been given a place for the royal group picture on the palace balcony.
So it remains questionable to what extent Harry’s lightning visit could help smooth tensions with the rest of the family. In his biography, a Netflix docuseries and interviews, Harry has primarily attacked brother and heir to the throne Prince William and stepmother Queen Camilla.
He also said he still had enough material for more books. That shouldn’t cause reconciliation in the palace. A meeting with father Charles could still happen soon. By June at the latest, Harry wants to testify against the publisher of the newspaper “Mirror”, which he accuses of having illegally collected information about him. The trial is scheduled to begin this Wednesday.
