Prince Harry has come under fresh criticism as debate continues over his changing plans for a possible UK visit with Meghan Markle and their children.
Journalist Polly Vernon weighed in on the situation in a piece for The Times, taking aim at the Duke of Sussex over the ongoing speculation around whether Meghan, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet would travel to Britain.
Referring to the constant back-and-forth in the headlines, Vernon described the situation as “a farce of extremely limited scope.”
“They’re coming! They’re not. But they are! Oh: they’re not,” she wrote.
Vernon also referenced claims from other commentators that Harry was “throwing his toys out of the pram” over security arrangements, but said she felt that description did not go far enough.
She suggested Harry appeared to be acting out of frustration, self-pity and poor judgment, comparing his behaviour to a chaotic comedy scene.
In her view, one possible explanation is that Harry may have believed he could pressure King Charles into intervening over his security concerns by raising the possibility of a reunion with Archie and Lilibet.
Vernon argued that if Harry hoped the King would step in, the monarch would have been placed in a difficult position. She noted that Charles cannot simply override state security decisions without risking criticism of his role and office.
The columnist was especially critical of what she saw as Harry’s handling of the situation, suggesting the Duke may have tried to use the prospect of the King seeing his grandchildren as leverage.
She wrote that such a move would be particularly unfair given the King’s ongoing cancer treatment and his desire to spend time with his family.
Harry’s security arrangements in the UK have remained a major source of tension since he and Meghan stepped back from royal duties in 2020. The latest row has once again placed his relationship with King Charles under close public scrutiny.
