Entitled. Embittered. Privileged. Victim syndrome. Deluded. Tone deaf. Churlish.
As well as investing some of his incredible wealth in security should he ever visit the UK again, Prince Harry should consult a decent PR advisor to work on his tendency to be all of the above.
But would he even listen to anyone who told him to stop whining about how hard done by he has been by his family, the establishment and the media, and get on with doing what he said he would when he headed for a new life in the US and stand on his own privileged size tens?
He is a 40-year-old father of two but comes across as an 11-year-old whinging that he hasn’t been given as many sweets as his brother and feels left out.
It’s not a great look.
“I love my country, I always have done, despite what some people in that country have done,” he said in a BBC interview, alluding to some old-fashioned conspiracy against him, churlish, childish, and miffed after losing the very public legal challenge about having taxpayer-funded security protection when he is in the UK.
He wanted to leave, quit the royal family and all the responsibility and duty that goes with it, but he wants to hang on to the trappings with a most unattractive entitlement, believing that he still merits UK public money being spent on protecting him – when he has plenty in his coffers to pay himself – yet refusing to give anything back in terms of royal work.
Suck it up, Buttercup.
How do you think this constant royal bleating, washing the royal bloomers in public in his book, Spare, and speaking to the BBC about his father not speaking to him because he is challenging the withdrawal of his publicly funded security lands with the people facing everyday life in Britain today?
As a spoiled over-indulged out of touch overgrown child that should know better who has made his own bed and expects everyone else to pay for it.
It gets worse.
It’s a stitch-up, he cries; an establishment conspiracy is behind his terrible treatment, he tells the media that he, by his own royal tongue, has denounced so openly as “toxic.”
But he’ll use it when it suits him.
He wonders why some members of his family will never forgive him for writing his memoir.
He shouldn’t have to think too hard.
Harry’s entire conduct for the last few years smacks of someone who has always had his own way, sees life only from his own perspective and expects rather than be prepared to work for the privilege he was born into and is a total pain to be around.
Even the title of the memoir, Spare, feels like a shot at his older brother for having the fortune to be born before him.
A quiet dignity in heading Stateside, and willingness to pay his own security bills like every other rich person who is not doing his duty as a royal and playing an active role in the Firm, otherwise known as working for the brand, and keeping silent about family rifts.
A decent PR pro might be able to help him to start building bridges, show a little humility and a tiny bit of understanding about the British people, but recent performances make even that doubtful.
DOUBLE STANDARDS
Tighter rules will demand people applying for a UK work visa to show a high standard of English.
Imagine the furore if Spain and France and other nations did the same for UK migrants.
Such double standards exist about language.
UK citizens are happy to go to live in Spain and never learn a word of Spanish, expecting everyone everywhere to speak English.
Sir Keir Starmer’s immigration reforms mean all migrants will have to learn a higher standard of English than GCSE level as part of tougher plans to ensure that they integrate into society.
There’s the rub.
English people head for new lives in Spain to mix with other English people.
They don’t want to integrate – they want the lifestyle and the sun – but expect migrants here to.
It made me chuckle.
EVERYONE IS AN EXPERT
Events in Rome to choose a new pope came so soon after the film Conclave about this very subject.
This time round, everyone is an expert.
They’ve read the book, seen the film and feel privy to what’s going on within the Vatican walls with 133 voting cardinals.
There’s certainly increased widespread interest because, one thing is certain, 2025 is a crucial year for Catholic and the Church of England.
Both will have new leaders at a time when interest in and commitment to religion is at an all-time low.
Sexual abuse cover-ups have caused mistrust, disillusionment and disgust about institutions supposed to stand for the opposite.
If the cardinals don’t get this momentous decision right and choose a pope connected with the world today, to appeal to new generation and be relevant and tuned into the new world – progressive, inclusive and liberal – the Catholic church will continue to wither.
The same with the new Archbishop of Canterbury.
Nothing can be achieved without sexual abuse claims that must be acknowledged, repented with an open and clear commitment to change with openness prevailing in both.