Oh, how quickly great men fall. Once upon a time, Prince Harry was a member of the illustrious British royal family and was respected and admired all over the world. Fast forward to 2024, and Prince Harry seems to have given up his dignity and secured food, clothing, shelter and transportation in Hollywood.
At the recent "Aviation Legends Alive" gala in California, Prince Harry was brought out like an award-winning show pony for the entertainment of paying guests. According to eyewitnesses, the audience was "talking", looking forward to seeing the true charm of the royal family. What they get is a faded former prince who is now relegated to celebrity plaything.
Gone are the days when Prince Harry's arrival was an important royal occasion anywhere. It's just another cheesy awards show, and like so many other awards shows in Hollywood, Prince Harry regrettably relegated himself. The real royals in attendance seemed limited to Miss California in plastic headdresses and rhinestones, and the controversial German prince, whose ridiculous name is Mario Marquez.
One can imagine the Queen's horror if she knew that her grandson had been reduced to performing for an audience with the American beauty queens and the fallen royals of Europe. At the same time, his older brother William dutifully fulfilled his royal duties in England, striking a balance between pomp and related charity work.
The Queen must have been disappointed with Prince Harry's predicament. Overnight, he went from being a member of the royal family to being a celebrity's attendant. It's all because he chose short-lived Hollywood fame and fortune over family responsibilities. Perhaps Prince Harry felt it would be more interesting to leave aside the responsibilities of the California sunshine and showbiz parties. But what did his dignity and legacy cost?
For a young man eager to break free, the allure of Hollywood glitz is understandable, but one can't help but ask, what does Prince Harry now want from these public parades? Is he so lacking in relevance that the recognition at the American awards show is now his ambition? What happened to the man who vowed to change the world through a meaningful cause, not for who brandished the biggest check as a decoration?
Prince Harry has always been a more headstrong royal sibling, but no one expected him to fall into self-imitation so quickly and thoroughly. One day in London for a gloomy commemoration, the next day it was pushed to Los Angeles to applaud the seals. It's almost a sad testimony, like watching a talented artist sell himself for the sake of crumbs on the Hollywood table.
Of course, supporters will say that Prince Harry is now going his own way on his own terms, escaping the suffocating royal etiquette. But objectively speaking, what exactly does this road lead to? More meaningless appearances? Product endorsement? Reality TV? Prince Harry once had the platform and potential to make a profound impact on important global issues. Instead, he wasted money in Seebville, chasing fleeting fame and flattery.
Perhaps the saddest part is how unnecessarily it all was. As a senior royal, Prince Harry has been secure, influential, and has played an integral role in philanthropy throughout his life. After feeling that his royal duties were being restricted, he seemed to give up the job in a fit of rage. But there is still room for balance and change within the royal family, as William modernizes in a measured way. Prince Harry has chosen shock and extreme, and now has to live with the consequences of the hollow.
Of course, Meghan should also be fairly blamed for leading Prince Harry astray. Some call her an ambitious social climber, driven by fame above all else. Whether that's fair or not, it's clear from their intense Brexit negotiations that she has priorities that are different from those for the royal family. Under her influence, Prince Harry really lost his way, and now he is embarrassed by the praise of the Hollywood crowd. How depressing it all is, like a scene from a modern Greek tragedy.
The royal duty may not sound interesting, but it offers meaning, history, and dignity that Prince Harry's new purposeless public life lacks. A person can involuntarily feel sorry for his lost soul because he is easily led by vile instincts and deviates from the noble path set for him.
With a bit of luck, he may regain insight and find a way to redeem himself with works that align with his previous ideals of service. But for now, he's still trapped in a grief pantomime playing a once-great man who sells his soul and crown for the sake of the golden thread and the smile of a stranger. What a precipitous and completely avoidable fall.