Prince Harry has been savaged for a “provocative” move after visiting China as his father, the King, made a historic trip to Canada to become the first Monarch in 50 years to open the Canadian parliament. King Charles made the trip in what many saw as a powerful show of support for the Commonwealth country after a series of vocal outbursts from US President Donald Trump, who has said he wanted it to become the “51st US State”.
King Charles delivered a ceremonial speech to the Canadian Parliament, signalling the start of new Prime Minister Mark Carney’s first session leading the nation since the elections earlier this year. His Majesty told the parliament that “self-determination” was among a number of values Canada held dear and that the government was “determined to protect” it.
In only the second state opening of parliament speech delivered by a monarch, the King told the politicians gathered in the Senate Building the crown was a “symbol of unity for Canada”. The last state opening was conduction by King Charles’s mother, Queen Elizabeth II in 1977.
However, despite the momentous royal significance of the occasion, some royal observers have expressed surprise at Prince Harry overshadowing the event somewhat with his own travel plans. The Duke of Sussex turned up in China for an event connected to the eco-travel organisation, Travalyst.
Speaking on the Daily Mail’s ‘Palace Confidential” podcast, the newspaper’s Diary Editor Richard Eden said: “So he (Harry) got on his jet and racked up a few more air miles to get over to this conference over in China. Obviously, that’s sensitive; he’s done it when the King is in Canada.
“But also it’s very interesting, I’d love to know more about why he is there, is he forging new business links, we know that he and Meghan are very keen to make a lot of money.”
Presenter Jo Elvin asked the Daily Mail’s Editor at Large Richard Kay if he thought Harry’s trip to China was “provocative” towards the King, she added Harry “could have read the room and cancelled” since he was flying commercial.
Mr Kay agreed the Duke could have “read the room” and added, “He could have done it on Zoom. I mean, did he really have to travel for a meet-and-greet, because that’s what it looked like?”
Mr Eden added that Prince Harry had been seen “so many times” dialling in to events via video call. He said, ” For example, of course, the Diana Awards. I remember once he was in some lovely chalet on a ski holiday with various rich friends, and you saw him in this chalet chatting to the winners of the Diana Award.
“So on that occasion, he felt fine to do it on video; he didn’t want to interrupt his holiday.”
In his first trip to the country, the Duke of Sussex travelled to Shanghai to speak at a tourism conference where he underlined China’s importance in combating climate change.
Harry discussed China’s influence over global tourism practices and urged businesses to continue focusing on green efforts, saying, “If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my life, it’s that meaningful change never comes easily.
“This region is poised to reclaim its position as the world’s largest regional travel market this year, valued at 490 billion dollars (£361 billion).
“Its travellers, as the top spenders in international tourism, wield significant influence. Their choices can drive sustainable, inclusive growth.”
