Harry’s just embarrassed himself talking about the UK – he’s stuck in a fictional world | Royal | News
Apparently you can take the Prince out of the UK, but you can also take the UK out of the Prince entirely. Prince Harry’s latest foray into the media landscape – a casual appearance on rugby player Joe Marler’s podcast – is clearly designed to show off his “nice guy” appeal.
We were subjected to the usual self-deprecating jokes about his hair loss and his childhood grievances at school. But amidst the obligatory laughter of lad culture, Harry dropped an absolute barrier that revealed a shocking truth; He had completely forgotten who he really was. The former England prop asked Harry what his job was and he replied: “Full-time dad. British Army veteran. Prince of England. Duke.” As a history major, my jaw hit the floor when I heard this statement. Constitutionally, legally and historically, there is no such thing as a “Prince of England”.
Anyone with a basic understanding of our nation’s past knows that a separate “Kingdom of England” ended 300 years ago with the Acts of Union in 1707. But the blunder goes even deeper into historical ignorance. Even before 1707 this title did not exist. Historically, the heir to the throne was always created the Prince of Wales, while younger sons were granted different nobility, such as Duke of York.
The custom of calling all royal children “Prince” or “Princess” was not practiced even at the British court until the arrival of the Hanoverians in 1714. By then they were officially Princes of Great Britain.
In short, Harry managed to invent a completely fictional title that has literally zero historical precedent. He is by birthright Prince of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. However, with a lazy, slip-of-the-tongue blunder, he managed to completely wipe out Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland from his lineage.
This mistake shows how affected Harry is by his new life in California. It is common for Americans to use the words “England” and “Britain” interchangeably. I personally find this extremely frustrating; just like they say they are going on holiday “to Europe”. Yes… But where?
Harry showed that he speaks the language of his new home by adopting the phrase on the podcast. But for a Prince of the United Kingdom by birthright, this distinction is important. It is an important title that ties him to a family that serves all four countries of the Union, including Wales, where his brother is Prince.
While this is probably a casual mistake, it highlights his current dilemma. As Harry struggled to adapt to his new surroundings in America, he mistakenly underestimated the true, historical scope of the legacy he was born into.
