Harry’s criticism of Commonwealth is an insult to Queen and shows he's lost the plot, says royal photographer
A royal photographer has slammed Prince Harry for criticizing the Commonwealth, which is “one of the greatest achievements” of his grandmother, the Queen. In an article written for The Sun, Arthur Edwards said, “Harry is entitled to his views. But in criticizing the Commonwealth, he has simply lost the plot.”
On July 1, Harry along with his wife Meghan Markle took part in a video call with members of the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust (QCT) to address the importance of equal rights with the young leaders. “When you look across the Commonwealth, there is no way that we can move forward unless we acknowledge the past. So many people have done such an incredible job of acknowledging the past and trying to right those wrongs, but I think we all acknowledge there is so much more still to do,” the Duke of Sussex said while appearing on the call from his Los Angeles home.
However, his statement did not go down well with many, including the London-based royal photographer, who said: “To criticize the one thing the Queen cherishes above all things, which is preserving the Commonwealth, is an insult to her — no matter what the palace may say officially.” Edwards also said that the Queen is above all biases and treats every single country of it, “large and small — from India, Canada, and Australia to tiny island states such as Tuvalu, Malta, and Cyprus, as equals”.
During the virtual chat, standing next to Harry, Meghan added: “We're going to have to be a little uncomfortable right now because it's only in pushing through that discomfort that we get to the other side of this and find the place where a high tide raises all ships. Equality does not put anyone on the back foot, it puts us all on the same footing - which is a fundamental human right."
Disagreeing with their statements, the photographer continued: “Harry knows just how important the Commonwealth is to the Queen and Meghan does too” whose wedding veil has the design of flowers inspired from every Commonwealth nation. “Harry should stop listening to his wife, who is obviously filling him full of these ideas. She is evidently no fan of Her Majesty’s beloved Commonwealth. Indeed, after the Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey in March — her and Harry’s last official royal engagement — Meghan couldn’t wait to leave,” he added.
In The Sun article, Edwards also said that the Sussexes’ comments as the President and Vice President of the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust charity “will tarnish its reputation, especially among younger people who will have scant knowledge of what it is and what it does. And that will concern the Queen the most.”
Not just Edwards, Tory MP Andrew Rosindell also criticized Harry for his comments as he said: “I'm surprised that he would be making comments like that. I don't agree with what he is saying. We should look forward not back. As someone who has stepped out of the Royal Family, he should focus on his own life and not get involved in politics. That is not the appropriate thing to do. I'm not sure his grandmother would be too pleased either.”