Prime Minister Rishi Sunak swiftly came to the defense of Britain's global reputation following a remarkable attack on his government by none other than Prince Harry.
During his visit to the US, the Prime Minister utilized interviews to highlight the significant international achievements of the UK government. This response was prompted by the Duke of Sussex's scathing remarks about the government's global standing during a historic appearance as a witness in the high court.
Prince Harry described both the state of the British press and the government as being at rock bottom, accusing them of colluding with each other. Breaking royal protocol, the Duke of Sussex launched this outspoken attack while testifying in his lawsuit against the Mirror Group Newspapers, alleging phone hacking and other unlawful acts on a national scale.
Addressing Prince Harry's comments in Washington DC, Rishi Sunak pointedly emphasized that the convention of not criticizing royals prevents him from directly responding. However, as Prime Minister, he felt compelled to defend his country.
Mr. Sunak noted that Prince Harry has been living abroad for an extended period and hasn't faced any disadvantages caused by the government during his previous time in the UK. Additionally, he highlighted significant international achievements, such as a £14 billion investment from US companies into the UK, supporting numerous jobs.
Considering Prince Harry's false statement in court, there have been discussions about convening a parliamentary meeting to consider stripping his title. However, any action against Harry would likely require the support of the king. As a practical reality, when all Members of Parliament reach a consensus, Mr. Sunak held a private meeting to urge the king to reconsider the matter and take a firm stance.
It is believed that if a royal decides to leave the country and reside elsewhere, they should forfeit their right to be in the line of succession. Therefore, there have been frequent suggestions that Harry should either lose his titles or be removed from the line of succession, particularly since he left the UK.
A recent exclusive poll conducted by The Express indicates that the majority of Britons believe Prince Harry and his children should be removed from the line of succession. According to the poll, 66 percent of respondents expressed the opinion that the Duke of Sussex, along with Archie and Lilibet, should not hold their positions in the line of succession.
