Prince Harry pricks Jubilee PR bubble

» John Hedges

An Phoblacht Editor

The embarrassing carry-ons of the third in line to the throne have hit the headlines as the Leveson Inquiry into media ethics deliberates its findings

BRITISH TABLOIDS – never shy about pillorying campaigners, strike leaders, trade unionists, environmentalists, claimants, immigrants and refugees – have gone all coy and declined to publish what the Irish Daily Mirror calls “shock” photos of Prince Harry “fondling nude girl as he enjoys boozy ‘strip billiards’ party with six women” in Las Vegas.

Britain’s Guardian newspaper reports:

“A Clarence House [royal family] spokesman confirmed that it had contacted the Press Complaints Commission (PCC) about the images, which were first published by the US-based celebrity website TMZ.

“The spokesman said it had written to the PCC yesterday to draw attention to Harry’s right to privacy under the media watchdog’s code of conduct.”

The Sun limply used a stand-in member of staff (another Harry, to add authenticity, no doubt) to mimic the naked 27-year-old playboy prince holding his 'crown jewels'.

The embarrassing carry-ons of the third in line to the throne have hit the headlines as the Leveson Inquiry into media ethics deliberates its findings.

Nevertheless, the antics of the possible future King of England in a €7,000-a-night hotel room (“as a topless babe stood behind him” – Irish Daily Mirror) have pricked the PR bubble Buckingham Palace was enjoying after the British queen’s Jubilee celebrations.

Harry has form in creating a media storm.

In 2005 – a fortnight before Queen Elizabeth was to lead Holocaust memorial ceremonies – her potential successor thought it would be a wizard wheeze to go to a party dressed up as a Nazi, complete with swastika armband.

Three years ago, he was forced to publicly apologise after a video diary recorded him referring to an Asian member of his army platoon as “our little Paki friend”.

He is still one of Britain’s most popular royals.