Prince Harry has come under criticism after being accused of attempting to upstage his brother, Prince William, during the 80th anniversary of VE Day.
The Duke of Sussex was spotted laying his own wreath at the Burma Memorial in London, a move that royal commentators say appeared calculated to draw media attention.
Speaking to The Sun, royal expert Robert Jobson described the act as an orchestrated publicity move. “It was obviously a PR stunt. Bottom line is, if you didn’t want it to be a PR stunt, just leave it there,” he said. “Somebody would see it. It would get passed to the press eventually.”
Jobson suggested that Harry’s gesture was “a little bit too slick,” adding that it seemed part of “Operation Rebuild Harry” — a perceived effort by the Duke to reshape his public image.
The timing of Harry’s tribute also drew scrutiny, as King Charles and Queen Camilla were in attendance at the official commemoration. According to Jobson, the day carried deep emotional weight, especially for the monarch. “The King was there. It was incredibly emotional. You could see the tears in Camilla’s eyes,” he noted.
Observers pointed out that the spotlight should have remained on King Charles and the Prince and Princess of Wales, who were expected to be central figures at the anniversary. “It was the King’s day,” Jobson emphasised. “The Prince and Princess of Wales absolutely should have been there.”
The criticism comes at a time when Harry’s strained ties with the Royal Family remain in the public eye. Since stepping back from royal duties in 2020 with Meghan Markle, Harry has often faced accusations of drawing attention away from his family with independent actions and media appearances.
While supporters argue that Harry’s gesture was a genuine act of remembrance, critics believe it underscores the ongoing tension between the Sussexes and the senior royals. With Harry attempting to carve out a new role on the global stage, experts suggest moments like these risk being interpreted as deliberate efforts to overshadow the monarchy.
As the Royal Family continues to navigate its public image under King Charles’ reign, Harry’s latest move has reignited debate over whether his actions are acts of sincerity or carefully crafted publicity plays.