Harry’s Nazi ‘mistake’ shame as he blasts ‘lethal’ UK antisemitism | Royal | News
Prince Harry has spoken out against the rise in antisemitic violence across Britain, describing it as “deeply disturbing” and referencing his own notorious past after he was photographed wearing a Nazi uniform more than two decades ago.
The Duke of Sussex made the intervention in a column published in The New Statesman; where he condemned what he called “deadly violence” against Jewish communities in Manchester and London and warned that silence in the face of hatred would lead to “hate and extremism flourishing unchecked”.
What did Prince Harry write about antisemitism?
Harry acknowledged his own “past mistakes” in the piece; this was a reference to the scandal that broke out in January 2005, when, at the age of 20, she was photographed wearing Nazi garb at a fancy dress party. The article comes 20 years after these images first appeared.
The duke was careful to distinguish between “legitimate protest” and the targeting of Jewish communities, insisting that the two should never be confused. He wrote: “Nothing, whether criticism of a government or the reality of violence and destruction, justifies hostility towards an entire people or faith.”
The duke also expressed what he described as “deep and justified alarm” at the extent of casualties in Gaza and Lebanon, but argued that people needed to be much clearer about where their anger was directed and insisted that “responsibility falls squarely on the state and not on the population as a whole”.
Did Harry name Israel in his New Statesman article?
Harry did not directly name Israel in his column, although he repeatedly referred to “the state’s” actions. He wrote: “We cannot ignore a difficult truth: when states act without accountability and in ways that raise serious questions within the framework of international humanitarian law, criticism is both legitimate, necessary and essential in any democracy. The consequences do not remain within borders. They reverberate abroad, shaping perception and exacerbating tensions.”
Harry also acknowledged the tension between legitimate protest and social hostility, writing: “We have seen how legitimate protests against state actions in the Middle East exist alongside hostility towards Jewish communities at home – just as we have seen how easily criticism of these actions can be dismissed or mischaracterized.”
What did Harry say about media coverage of antisemitism?
Harry also took aim at media coverage of the recent attacks, arguing that media commentary had failed to maintain the delicacy required of the subject. He said increasingly polarized public discourse was deepening confusion that “fuels division.”
Harry did not dismiss the drive to take to the streets, calling it “humane and necessary”, but drew a sharp line between protest and social blame, arguing that responsibility should be directed at those responsible, not entire communities.
Harry concluded his post with a call for “unity” and urged people to stand together against both antisemitism and anti-Muslim hatred. “When anger is directed at communities, whether Jewish, Muslim, or any other,” he wrote, “it ceases to be a call for justice and becomes something much more corrosive.”
What did Prince William say about antisemitism?
Harry’s intervention came after it was revealed that the Prince of Wales had addressed the issue separately at his inauguration on Wednesday. The daughter of Holocaust survivors, Dr. Bea Lewkowicz was appointed OBE at the ceremony and spoke to the Press Association afterwards about her meeting with William.
Dr Lewkowicz said the prince had stressed the urgency of “protecting the truth” at a time when digital media had made “Holocaust distortion and rising antisemitism” a constant threat.
