New Delhi:
Prince Harry, third in line to the British throne and just a month shy of his 28th birthday, spent a wild weekend in Las Vegas living up to his party-loving reputation. The Royal Family and representatives have been forced into intensive damage control after photos of the young Prince cavorting naked in his VIP suite at a hotel with two women, also naked, were published on American gossip website TMZ.com. As sheepish Palace spokespeople confirmed that the pictures were genuine, British press were reportedly asked not to reproduce the images in any form. That hasn't stopped lots and lots of talk.
Here's who said what:
The Guardian raises the point of making a distinction between the private and public lives of all members of the Royal Family. Their report says, "The publication of the photographs marks a new level of media intrusion into the lives of the royal family." . (Read article here). British author and historian Patrick French responded on Twitter: Surely "marks new levels of idiocy from the royal family" would be more accurate.
Vanity Fair's headline proclaimed: Naked Prince Harry Humps After Strip Billiards In Vegas. Their report asked: "The prince's new clothes?", and termed the Prince's stance in the compromising photos "simulated sexual position." ( Read article here)
Royal author Robert Jobson, who wrote an account of Harry's Afghanistan stint, told Reuters that the prince's security team had questions to answer, including why they didn't take mobile phones off the guests who went up to to his hotel room. "It wouldn't be that difficult if you're a protection officer not just to protect the person but also their reputation," he said. As for the prince himself, he would face "a few raised eyebrows" from his royal relatives. (Read article here)
But other Royal watchers seemed to think the incident was little more than a storm in a teacup. Ingrid Seward, editor-in-chief of Majesty magazine told Associated Press that Harry's party-boy image was part of his approachable, normal persona. " It shows that he is a guy who gets into trouble and he's the one people love to love. It could only happen to Harry - but we love him for it." (Read article here)
The Daily Mail published photos of Harry taken just an hour after the nude pictures were published online. "Uh oh - now I've done it," said the headline accompanying photos of a fully-dressed Harry, in blue shirt and sunglasses, getting a hug from an unidentified blonde woman. (Read article here) The Daily Mail also writes that Harry was identified in the photos by a distinctive pendant he always wears and which was given to him by ex-girlfriend Chelsy Davy. (Read article here)
The Huffington Post reports that Harry may well be facing military discipline over the scandal, in addition to a slap on the wrist from the Queen. Harry, who has served in Afghanistan as part of his military duties, will have violated army protocol and guidelines which specify that officers must maintain high standards of professionalism "both on and off operations." (Read article here)
The New York Times notes that for Harry, his exploits in Sin City did not stay there - a reference to the popular phrase "what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas." (Read article here)
But, as Global Post points out, Prince Harry isn't the only misbehaving British Royal. There was, Tampongate which exposed the Charles-Camilla affair, Sarah Ferguson's bribe scandal, Princess Diana's many affairs and Prince Philip's shocking comment to a British student in China: "If you stay here much longer, you will go home with slitty eyes" (Read article here)
The BBC quotes the father of one of Prince Harry's closest friends as saying the prince is "an easy target for the press." (Read article here)
The Telegraph is of the opinion that it's time for Prince Harry to grow up. His role in the Royal Family is that of roguish younger brother, but the time for his antics is drawing to a close. (Read article here)
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