The sixth and final season of the critically acclaimed TV series The Crown, which tells the story of the turmoil of the British royal family in the 90s of the 20th century, may feel a little left out in the face of Prince Harry, a member of the Windsor royal family.
While the show puts Prince William's upbringing and love experiences center stage, royal experts say Prince Harry's role has been greatly diminished, reflecting his status as a "standby heir" who has been veiled over. Dr. Tessa Dunlop, a historian and author who follows the British royal family, said that with William stealing the show again, Prince Harry could feel rather "clouded".
Dunlop was interviewed in "OK!"Prince Harry is the kind of joker-like fool in 'The Crown,' but William is always the one responsible, and these plots undoubtedly add to the tension," said in an interview with magazine. She noted that in the Netflix TV series, Prince Harry "once again appears less prominent" compared to his brother.
Yes, Prince William played the lead role in the investigation into the tragic death of his mother, Princess Diana. Viewers saw him being questioned by the police and trying to deal with the consequences. In contrast, poor Prince Harry has barely been noticed.
While the dialogue between the brothers was imagined by the screenwriters, Dunlop said: "Some of the concerns about William's happiness are not entirely inaccurate. As a future king, William will always receive more attention and scrutiny from the royal family – as Dunlop said, the royal family "pays more attention to William because he will be king".
Prince Harry, meanwhile, was relegated to "following behind, a little naughty, making some jokes, pouring champagne in a teaglass." "What a portrayal of our naughty Prince Harry!But behind the humor, we can feel his frustration that always takes a back seat. Even fictional descriptions of their childhoods reminded Prince Harry of his position as a "spare tire" for the so-called heir to the throne.
It's no wonder that Prince Harry felt a little "cloudy" and was snubbed by the latest season of "The Crown". After all, this is an image that he is very familiar with in real life. While no one doubts the love between the brothers, the harsh reality is always William's priority.
The royal family seems keen to reinforce this familiar story and make William the "key" to the story. Dunlop said it was all for William and for Prince Harry to be "in the shadows" again.
Ouch. One can only imagine Prince Harry's grimace in the latest episode, probably still muttering "Here we go again!".”
Of course, Prince Harry may well have seen his own experiences in the image of the two princes. From a very young age, he faced the awkward position of being a "standby heir", desperately trying to shape his identity in William's huge shadow. No wonder there are reports that Prince Harry was very close to his late grandmother, the Queen, and perhaps found solace in her embrace, away from the stressful spotlight that always shone on William.
But according to Dunlop, "The Crown" pretty much excludes Prince Harry, which is certainly "quite exciting" for him. By ignoring Prince Harry's character and perspectives, he reinforces the message that he is secondary and marginal – just like in real-life royal circles. No wonder the Duke of Sussex felt belittled. After battling the feeling of neglect for so long, it must have been tingling to see his experience once again marginalized on a major TV show.
Of course, this is just speculation. We don't know how Prince Harry really felt about how he was portrayed in the latest season of The Crown. But it's not hard to imagine some uncomfortable emotions popping up when he sees that the spotlight is still firmly on Prince William. For Prince Harry, it may have evoked memories of his constant efforts to stand out from his brother's glorious shadows.
Finally, the royal family may have inadvertently revealed the reasons why Prince Harry was eventually forced to leave the royal family. Over the years, he faces an uphill battle to shape his identity beyond the long shadow cast by the future king. But the Netflix show, even if it's just a reminder of Prince Harry's fringe role, only reinforces his decision to seek independence in his own way — so that he is no longer overshadowed as a "standby heir."
While The Crown's story focused on Prince William, perhaps the most intriguing royal storyline was played out off-camera, with Prince Harry reaching a boiling point. If the show had portrayed Prince Harry's experiences in William's shadow more, it might have given us a deeper understanding of what ultimately led our single prince to leave everything behind and end up on California's sunny shores. There, at least under the carefree embrace of his wife Meghan and the children, Prince Harry finally appeared in the spotlight – no one shines brighter than him, and no one is responsible for him but himself.