Prince Harry has found himself in the crosshairs of ridicule following his recent appearance in New York City, where his efforts to enhance his public image were quickly overshadowed by a wave of negative headlines about his wife, Meghan Markle. Royal commentator Daniela Elser voiced her observations on the situation in an article for News.com.au, drawing attention to the challenges Harry faces in the U.S. media landscape.
Elser pointed out that Harry spent much of the previous week in New York trying to reclaim his image as a credible philanthropist. He delivered speeches at several prestigious events, including the Diana Awards, the Halo Trust, and the Clinton Global Initiative. Elser remarked, “Surely he would have hoped that days of him standing on stages in suits and saying well-meaning words would have served as some sort of control-alt-Z for his image.”
However, the reality proved quite the opposite. Instead of positive coverage, Harry faced a barrage of negative publicity that suggested he might need “to consider investing in a crash helmet.” Elser noted that just moments after Harry took the stage in NYC to deliver a ‘powerful’ speech about the dangers of social media for the Clinton Foundation’s CGI, his moment of triumph was “hijacked” by a fresh wave of criticism regarding Meghan. This included unflattering comparisons that likened her to a “Stalin in Stella McCartney.”
The “dictator in high heels” comment was particularly damaging, according to Elser. She observed, “I read more royal news than is medically advisable and the amount of actual coverage of Harry’s CGI speech has been limited. Meanwhile, the Meghan-is-a-tyrannical-boss narrative has continued to spread like an antibiotic-resistant strain of strep throat.”
Commentator Tom Skyes also expressed his disappointment over how the media coverage unfolded. Speaking to The Times, he said, “The ridiculously one-sided article … gave the media the perfect opportunity to revive these dormant controversies. Yet again, the melodrama had overtaken the good works.”
In summary, while Prince Harry aimed to bolster his reputation through philanthropy in New York, the persistent focus on Meghan Markle’s controversies has continued to overshadow his efforts, leaving him struggling to regain positive traction in the public eye.
