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Sunday 17 November 2019

Harry and his declining popularity




The other day found Mrs H and I meandering around an antiques centre where they seem to think it a good idea to pipe radio programmes over the speaker system. Rather like walking round the Co-op with antiques instead of baked beans. 

I wouldn’t usually listen to radio folk pretending to be horribly enthusiastic about trivia, but a two-way discussion about Prince Harry caught my ear. Both interviewer and interviewee were agreed that Harry’s popularity has declined since his marriage and both were happy enough to claim that media intrusion must have something to do with it. 

They seemed to agree that Harry’s behaviour has something to do with it too but preferred to dance round that aspect of the problem rather than drag it out into the open. They didn't really want to suggest what this issue might be even though it must have been obvious to many listeners.

It's difficult for them. They could hardly point out that some people might see Harry as a woke wuss – at least not on air. They couldn’t even tone it down a little and suggest that Harry is showing himself to be a politically correct plonker under the thumb of a ghastly wife. 

That would have raised a storm of indignation from more than one direction. Yet if they had at least explored the perfectly legitimate plonker angle, maybe more people would actually listen to the radio.

8 comments:

Sam Vega said...

He is obviously trying to project some sort of image. My guess is that he has completely misjudged how ordinary people in the UK think. When the royals made no attempt to gauge the feelings and culture of the country, they came across as wooden and distant. That was preferable, because they were at least seen as unchanging and strong.

A K Haart said...

Sam - I'm sure you are right. Maybe he misjudged how ordinary people in the UK think because that kind of misjudgment is virtually universal among his social group.

Mark Matis said...

He is merely trying to follow in the shoes of his daddy.

A K Haart said...

Mark - with added nuttiness.

Peter MacFarlane said...

The history of divorced American actresses who marry into the Royal Family is not encouraging.

Nothing suggests this one will be much different.

A K Haart said...

Peter - I agree. Not likely to be sustainable ironically.

Scrobs. said...

Unfortunately, Harry still hasn't yet learned just to keep his trap shut, and melt away.

Nobody I know care a monkey's what he gets up to, looking at him as an expensive nuisance and he could learn a few lessons from other, quieter members of his family, like Uncle Edward for a start.

A K Haart said...

Scrobs - yes, his wife probably doesn't do quiet but Harry should have known that and known how important it would be.