Prince Harry’s New Zealand tour is finally over (and it was a major success) and he’s back in England for a few days, maybe a few weeks. Harry stopped by the 2015 Chelsea Flower Show today, to give some journalists and photographers a first glimpse of his Sentebale flower garden. In previous years, Harry has organized his own special exhibition at the Chelsea Flower Show on behalf of his Sentebale charity. This year’s garden has a theme: “Hope in Vulnerability.” You can read more about it here.
Harry also has a new interview with the Sunday Mirror, and some of these quotes gave me such pleasure, I can’t even tell you. Harry recently talked about the trouble he’s had finding a partner who wants to “share” in the joy and pressure of public life. So, obviously, the Sunday Mirror asked him if he was a Bridget Jones-esque singleton. By the way – he TOTALLY is. Harry is the Bridget Jones of the royal family. You can read the full Mirror piece here. Some highlights:
Whether he’s like Bridget Jones: “Bridget Jones? Where’s that come from? Because I write my own diary or because I don’t have a girlfriend? Bridget Jones? That’s sad. No, for me, it’s good – I’m very happy not having a girlfriend. It’s not a case of anything… I’m not, sort of, looking. It’s cool.”
He would encourage his niece & nephew to join the military: “I would definitely encourage George, and Charlotte if she wants to, to have some sort of involvement in the Armed Forces, guaranteed. And I know that William and Catherine would probably echo that as well, depending on the situation for them in those years to come. It’s done no harm, just good, for me, and I know it’s the same for William. It’s hard to say anything else on that because, as a parent, it’s your choice. As an uncle, you know, I would say enjoy the role, because at first it’s just pressure, pressure, pressure. Just enjoy it and make the most of it. If you’re going to be doing it and you’re having an effect on so many people then, if you smile, they’re smiling – and what’s the point of doing such a unique job without enjoying it?”
On Prince Charles’ Black Spider Memos: “My father never really gets listened to, which is disappointing because whatever he says normally is right, and about 10 years ahead of when the problems actually happen. So I think from our point of view, we want to get better understanding, better knowledge – so if we do give a speech or have a conversation, people can look at us and think, well, actually they do have a bit of background knowledge.”
He also talked about his plans for the coming year, and rejected the idea that he was on a “gap year,” saying that he has firm plans to work with anti-poaching groups in Africa, as well as more concrete work with Sentable and some other NGOs.
As for the Bridget Jones stuff…so, does Harry have a diary? Was that a confirmation? God, imagine his diary entries.
18 May 2015
10 alcohol units
2 servings chicken curry
3 servings fish & chips
Cigarettes: zero! (v. good)Chelsea Flower Show was brilliant, just wish I had someone to share it with.
V. embarrassing night, got pissed with Guy and the lads and left utterly embarrassing message for Chelsy. Had a bath and wept over the fact that I will always be alone!! Wills called late to say George keeps punching his sister.
That’s exactly how it goes.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
I’ve never seen Bridget Jones, so I don’t get the reference. I find him very lovely. Very, very lovely.
Oh it’s such a funny reference! I’m laughing so hard off this entire post, especially that diary entry lololll
I do not get the appeal of his looks. He resembles Charles VERY much. They might both be nice chaps*, but the handsome sidestepped them.
* Used “chaps’ to impress Sixer, shamelessly kissing up.
Ha. Well, Harry isn’t top of my pops today, despite Kaiser’s enthusiastic hagiographising (sorry, Kaiser, just felt like using a silly show-off word; your post is cool).
During this round of interviews, he’s managed to suggest that compulsory National Service (ie two years in the military) should be reintroduced because the military is good for those from disadvantaged backgrounds. All over my bloody telly this morning.
Yes, dear. Because compulsory military service is the only option or opportunity you can conceive that we, as a society, could offer disadvantaged youth. No choices, no variety of paths; just your call-up papers.
Russnfreakinfussn.
+6 for Russnfreakinfussn.
No one knows better to tell the disadvantaged and disenfranchised what to do other than an entitled wealthy guy who is that way only by virtue of lineage, amirite? I mean, if anyone can relate to their plight…
ETA: did my kissing up work even a little bit?
*curtsies*
Where did he talk about disadvantaged youth? did he give an extra interview?
From the original interview, he talked about his time as a commander in Windsor where he was with all sorts of people and how all of them, including himself, were helped by being in the army.
The entire passage didn’t read like he was prescribing national service for disadvantaged youth only, but the media and some army wigs has taken that interpretation and are now trumpeting their interpretation.
Kiddo – your kissing up always works. You can be my Monday Bestie! And yes, u-r-rite.
LAK – BBC this morning. I have absolutely no problem with him eulogising the army as one possible way of setting rebellious youth onto the right track. In fact, Mr Sixer could speak to that vis a vis his very self. But to suggest the reintroduction of National Service? I think not (and neither does Mr Sixer). It just betrays the narrow understanding and entitlement you’d expect a royal to have. The military isn’t a cure-all for the woes of poverty and disadvantage, but it can help those THAT BLOODY WELL CHOOSE IT. There are plenty of other solutions, too, but some of those might involve Harry giving up his privilege and not involve Harry being the officer to the recalcitrant pleb enlistee.
(Sorry. I got on my high horse. Can you tell? Love you, LAK!)
I’m glad we only get Harry in bits and pieces. I adore him, especially when he’s caught being naughty. He’s the only royal that’s interesting to me.
Well Cams is fun to watch too, I’ll admit. If just for her ginormous hats.
He mentioned that George and Charlotte would benefit from joining the service too, so I thought he was talking about the entire population, both wealthy and poor. However, I can’t really imagine William and Kate being in favour of sending their kids into the service as a compulsory thing, since I think they”d have to do actual work.
Here’s the actual quote: “I dread to think where I’d be without the Army. Bring back National Service – I’ve said that before”.
For non-Brits – the UK retained compulsory military service after WWII right up until the beginning of the 1960s. 18 months full service and 4 years in the reserves – for all males of 17-21. It was called National Service. That is what Harry thinks should be brought back. Because, you know, some of these dastardly plebs are naughty. Because we know where Harry would be if it weren’t for the army: being Prince Harry, exactly the same.
if the National Service hadn’t been abolished in time, we would never have got the Beatles. (John was old enough to sign up and had he gone, there would have been no band)
That’s all I have to offer.
Sixer: I agree with your point re:national service as the cure all, but that argument is trotted out every few years, and usually by army types, so i’m not surprised he said the same. Wierdly, airforce/Navy types never advocate this solution. Umm…
What I didn’t understand from your comment was where he advocated national service for disadvantaged youth. He’s clearly advocating it for everyone, himself, PGtips and Charlotte included.
I think it’s unfair to say the army did nothing for him. He was a completely annoying, entitled shit – in the way hooray henries can be, and he found a sense of purpose because of the army. He is more convincing about ‘being normal’ than William because he truly embedded with the army. He would still be Prince Henry either way, but he is less entitled.
LAK – I say disadvantaged because it’s both implicitly understood that antisocial oiks need a boot camp to get them to be good citizens and explicitly stated by Harry himself – “And some of those guys were – I mean naughty’s not the word – they were on a different level. And their backgrounds and the issues they had.”
And that he is so utterly blithe in saying it, you know? He thinks it’s perfectly fine to call for mandatory military service by every person in the country because a few of them have behaviour issues often due to a disadvantaged background? Only someone so privileged for whom it’s a surprise to find that other people consider their own agency to be an inalienable right could say such a thing in such an insouciant way.
I don’t doubt the army had a positive impact on him – both subjectively for him and objectively for us. But without the army, where would he be? In a gutter somewhere for heavens sakes? Put on an ASBO by the local magistrate for loutish drunkenness? Really? Come on. He’d be the same privileged and entitled person that he is now.
LOL.
God, they are so lucky they have this one. Even with all the scandals in the past, he’s worth more than the Cambridges if we want to talk royal assets here. And NEVER boring. The only non-boring thing about the other two is George (remains to be seen about Princess C.), the rest is oatmeal.
And people might still dislike Chaz but Harry’s not wrong about his father here.
Goddamn it, I really want him to find the girl he can marry already. And I really do feel like the royals need to pull their sticks out of their arses and realize that him marrying someone equally as non-boring would actually be fantastic for them.
It just goes to show that with some effort it’s never too late to rehabilitate your image; yes, I’m talking to you, Cambridges.
LOL that diary entry was the best thing I’ve read all week! Top notch and possibly v accurate
I agree! It made me chuckle.
I love that he politely put an end to the “woah is me, I’m so jealous of William’s life of wife and kids”. It was just rubbish like they always come up with and continue to report as if it were truth…just like with Will, Kate, Charles and The Queen.
I like direct quotes like this because they’re more valid. I love what he said about not even really looking for a girlfriend and that he’s not sad about it. Lol. Love it.
Pics here of the Hope In Vulnerability garden – it’s so rich in texture and the planting is stunning.
https://www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/rhs-chelsea-flower-show/exhibitors/2015/gardens/sentebale-hope-in-vulnerability
why would he defend his father interfering in politics? he has no say in it and should stay silent, he is abusing his position. its a democracy ffs not a monarchy.
he also called the army being “fun” and epic” and said: “I dread to think where I’d be without the army. Bring back national service.”
guess who will be drafted? spoiler: the poor.
i dont get why someone like Harry is celebrated here while others, often rightfully, get way more crap for less. not to even mention his constant racist remarks and the nazi uniform he wore in the run up to Holocaust Memorial day.
Well the Guardian span the BSM as evidence of pure Chuck evil. Result? Some see it as his caring=great PR. Others are indifferent(as per usual) while some see it as how terrible PC is yada yada… W&K have the #commontouch. Hazza doesn’t need to defend his dad;the BSM basically defended themselves.
Considering the centuries’ long tradition of second sons of aristocrats choosing an army career, it’s incorrect to say only the kids of poor people would be drafted.
National service is exactly what it says on the tin. Everybody would be drafted.
you dont think that a prince actually would have to put his life on the line, do you? serving in the military and being the spawn of a royal and being in the miliarty are two different things.
well off kids usually can avoid going to war and being on the front line, in Vietnam over 3/4 of the soldiers were working class.
Germany had this in place post-war until I think about 2011 or 2012. I would have to look up the dates. In any case, from what I heard while living there, students told me they had a choice between military or civil service (the latter meaning, work with things like the Red Cross, disaster relief, etc.). It ran I think about 2 years, though I think it was sort of on-call, like the National Guard, for another 4 years after as well. It was called conscription. I think you could choose or even register as a sort conscientious objector too.
Obviously, I don’t know if this is the sort of thing he is talking about, but thought I would mention it as a point of comparison.
Kara, with all due respect, our army and traditions are not like your army or traditions. No one is exempt from the front line. The only people who’ve managed to be exempt are the heir to the throne and even then they receive soft assignments that allow for some form of service should they choose.
We don’t have mass draft dodging based upon a family’s relative wealth and connections. The simple fact is that if you sign up, you are sent to a front line somewhere we are at war.
Harry, Andrew, Alexander were not exempt and they are members of the ultimate family for connections.
Well said LAK.
Better phrased than I could.
That’s absolutely not true! My great-grandfather served in both World War I and in a following regional war conflict (he went first when he was 18!) and he had only great thngs to say about his captain and major – both aristocratic sons, who led their people in battle. The captain fell in WW1. The major in the regional war survived as did my great-grandfather. I am European but not English and in our land aristocratic families always sent their sons to war, it’s a tradition! Some of those families lost all their sons in the wars just like everyon else.
I kinda agree about what he says abt his dad: I don’t think the BSM were out of malice/take over the kingdom. Unlike 1st born, Charles gives a damn about the UK & our Commonwealth.
Harry deserves the best, and if it takes him a little longer to find it then so be it.
I was so impressed with his Down Under tour (not surprised though, he’s always been fabulous). He is such an asset, I just love him.
I don’t have a dog in this fight, but I truly don’t understand how Charles writing what amounts to a term paper is meddling. He is supposed to smile and wave and spend taxpayers money and that is it? It is a Democracy so he can’t lay down an edict – doesn’t Parliament still decide how to vote?
It’s lobbying, basically. It’s rather questionable for the future monarch to be openly trying to influence policy behind the scenes (as opposed to publicly promoting pet charities and issues) when his role in government is actually just a rubber stamp.
We didn’t get the good parts.
The “problem” is two-fold.
Firstly, within this constitutional monarchy, the King/Queen must remain apolitical. Technically, of course, Charles isn’t the monarch. However, he will one day be the monarch and needs to take care that he will still be able to fulfill an apolitical role when that happens.
Secondly, and following on from the above, is the issue of transparency. How can we, the citizens of a representative democracy, know whether or not the constitutional monarch is acting unconstitutionally by taking part in political lobbying if we are not allowed to see the monarch’s correspondence with the legislature and the executive? It’s not that Charles wrote to ministers: it’s that it took several years and court orders right up to our supreme court to see what he said.
Exactly. Charles can write as many letters as he wants – he just doesn’t get to insist they remain silent. (Except that of course now he does thanks to the current forelock tugging government.)
And as always the Daily Mash nails it re Harry:
http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/celebrity/army-kept-me-off-mean-streets-of-kensington-says-harry-2015051898372
I would read a Prince Harry Diary in a heartbeat.
He does seem committed to his charities, yes? Lovely young man.
I find Harry rather homely although beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Yeah, he seems to be a Bridget Jones for sure.
And truthfully, I think Arthur Edwards was a bit miffed with him.
Watercolour or oil?
He’s so active with his charities and causes. That’s a quality not often displayed by royals. Even if they work their many events they don’t always appear passionate. Harry has a core group of causes he seems to put her heart into. It’s lovely to see and really comes out through pictures and video also.
To some posters above saying he’s not that cute. I never really thought on looks alone he is either. He has Charisma though and that makes him smoking hot.
FLORC perfectly said. I think he’s hot, but what you say about his open heart and charisma really does it.
I used too think Harry was plain looking..then I saw these pictures of him in the garden. He’s lovely!
I think he does have a girlfriend but is saying this to try and avoid the press looking into his love life. When he was in Afghanistan he said in an interview that it was difficult finding a girlfriend when he was actually with Cressida. Chelsy will be in South Afirca at the same time as him which I do not think is just a coincidence, There have been rumours that they have been getting back together and in the Sky interview he talked about “not forcing things” and what will happen will happen” which could be more about a reconciliation than a new relationship. Would not be surprised if later in the year it is revealed that he is with Chelsy and this interview has just been to fool people into thinking he is single.
HA!!! That spoof diary entry is classic! lol
I almost missed this, but I’m glad I surfed back to see it. That diary entry is fantastic! I’d love to see more of those. Makes me also miss our letters from Clive Owen.