Even hardened Sussex critics took a sharp intake of breath when they heard that the King would not meet Prince Harry last week. The Duke fleetingly arrived in London to headline at an Invictus 10th anniversary celebration in St Paul’s Cathedral, but despite the religious framework, he was not greeted as the prodigal son by his father.
Quite the reverse. 2.6 miles away (yes many measured the distance) the King was otherwise engaged, welcoming crowds in a top hat at his first Buckingham Garden Party of the season. The sun shone, but domestic clouds stubbornly persisted.
In the bible, the prodigal son’s father saw his boy and “had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.” No one was expecting an equivalent public display of affection from the King, for many, a smidgeon of that “compassion” would have been enough.
After all, Charles is the Defender of the Faith. Have Harry’s transgressions really been so sinful that redemption, at least of a paternal sort, is not possible?
And on an even more basic level, the public simply felt it was just a little sad that a son flying in from abroad wasn’t able to connect with an elderly father being treated for cancer. The optics were not reassuring. Apparently “other priorities” on the King’s part got in the way of a redemptive gesture. Not even a cup of English tea was in the offing.
Naturally, royal acolytes pushed back. They were not going to let a mealy-mouthed statement from the Sussex’s new PR machine about a “busy” king reframe their beleaguered monarch in a dim, unloving light. Apparently, Harry’s team made too many demands, and there were jitters regarding Harry and Meghan’s high-profile trip to Nigeria. Understandably, trust remains an issue.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة May 12, 2024 من The Independent.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 8500 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة May 12, 2024 من The Independent.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 8500 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
A Doctor Who original and Corrie viewer heartbreaker
Versatile William Russell also starred as Sir Lancelot and acted alongside Alec Guinness on stage in his 70-year career
BEST OF FRENEMIES
This week’s instalment of Lily Allen and Miquita Oliver’s candid podcast saw the duo open up about what happened when the singer slept with the TV presenter’s crush. Is this a huge friendship taboo or fair game, asks Katie Rosseinsky
Women who changed the course of history at D-Day
As we mark the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings, Guy Walters explains the success of the crucial amphibious invasion was contingent on some almost-forgotten heroes
Modi can bounce back - just like his great admirer, Trump
Narendra Modi was the first world leader to be given a tour of the White House by a freshly elected Donald Trump.
The Treasury's intervention is yet another blow to Sunak
After Tuesday night’s TV debate, relieved Conservatives claimed Rishi Sunak had detonated another “Labour tax bombshell” with his repeated claim that the party’s £38.5bn of unfunded spending commitments would cost every working household £2,000.
Paolini and Andreeva win on day of shocks in Paris
When Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff returned to the semi-finals of the French Open, it seemed certain that another heavyweight clash would follow on the other side of the draw.
City say they'll find 'right solution' over Pep's future
Manchester City chair Khaldoon al-Mubarak has said he will have further talks with Pep Guardiola about his future and added that they will find the right solution”.
Twelfth straight month of record global temperatures
The world faced the hottest May on record, completing 12 months in a row that have set a new global temperature record for that time of year.
Knox's slander conviction upheld from Kercher case
Amanda Knox has been re-convicted of slander in an Italian court after accusing an innocent man of the murder of her roommate in 2007.
Alliance can crack Modi's armour one blow at a time
By stopping an electoral landslide, the opposition bloc has exposed the weakness of India’s leader, writes Arpan Rai