Harry’s doorbell camera photo reveals a massive issue
Prince Harry has been caught on a doorbell camera wandering around London, revealing a massive issue for the royals.
Royals
Don't miss out on the headlines from Royals. Followed categories will be added to My News.
COMMENT
Imagine you’re at home. The doorbell rings.
And there standing on your step is one of the most famous human beings on the planet, lurking in the vicinity of our bins. (Recycling every Tuesday and Saturday.)
That was the case for one family in the London area of Fulham after their Ring doorbell captured Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex knocking on the wrong door.
There he stands in the Ring image, looking a little lost and with no security visible.
MORE: Prince Harry’s $200m UK secret revealed
We have officially entered the weirdest Harry timeline.
We’ve had many Harry phases over the last five years: Royal refugee Harry, Lost Harry, TV Harry, Author Harry, Seething Harry, Doing-Comedy-Bits Harry (with James Corden, Jimmys Kimmel and Fallon), Devoted Husband Harry and Papa Harry.
But we have never quite had a Harry like the one who has emerged of late, one who reportedly “sees conspiracy”, has been caught on camera on a random family’s doorbell camera, been outed as a Deliveroo customer, mocked by Saturday Night Live, and has just found himself on Instagram wearing a $1,000 beaver fur hat.
The Sun really has been breaking the oddball Harry news in recent days, starting with the fact that during one of his trips back to the UK over the last 15 months involved him getting to observe the Fulham & Hammersmith council’s latest bin range while trying to find some old friends.
MORE: Meghan reveals fake $20m pad amid ‘tone deaf’ jab
Then the paper revealed that the Duke of Sussex had taken what one of Diana, Princess of Wales former bodyguards labelled an “unthinkable” security risk.
When the duke returned to London last May he visited the Chelsea house of longtime friend Lord Charles Vivian where the duo ordered Deliveroo.
Ken Wharfe, who protected Diana for six years, said it was “just unthinkable” that “such a high-profile person, who considers themself to be such a high-security risk, would allow themselves to have a Deliveroo driver arrive at a house with no idea of who they are and what they might be carrying in their bag.”
The former head of Scotland Yard’s Royal Protection Command Dai Davies told the Sun: “You can’t say you can’t come to the UK because it’s so dangerous and then have anyone turning up at the door with a takeaway.”
Keep in mind, this all comes after the duke rejected an invitation from Charles to stay at a royal residence while in London last May over security concerns, according to The Telegraph, with The Times later claiming that the offer was for Buckingham Palace.
However, also during the May trip, there he was getting his butter chicken and extra naan, I’m assuming, sped over by some more kid probably barely making minimum wage.
The issue of security arrangements for Harry (and wife Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex and their two young children) has been a hot topic of late.
He’s just fought and lost a four-year court case over the 2020 Metropolitan Police’s decision to remove his official bodyguards.
The end result: A possible legal bill of up to $3.1 million and the wedge between he and King Charles reportedly greater than ever, his messages to his father reportedly going unanswered. (Heaven forbid he leaves him on read.)
Harry followed up his defeat by giving an explosive interview to the BBC where “nothing was off limits,” according to The Times, and aired a series of pretty extraordinary revelations.
During the sit down, he said that, in seeming reference to the death of his mother Diana, Princess of Wales, ”I’ve discovered that some people do want history to repeat itself, which is pretty dark.”
(A friend of the King’s then told The Times, “Harry just sees conspiracy every time a decision doesn’t go in his direction”.)
The Harry who appeared on screen seemed so very sad and was clearly emotional, saying, “there is no point continuing to fight any more”.
Then in quite the volte face, there the duke was grinning up a storm with Meghan were at the LA stop of Beyonce’s Cowboy Carter tour where, in keeping with the Western theme, he wore a $1,090 beaver felt fur hat and faced a devastating case of hat hair.
The vibe shift and dramatic register change is enough to give you whiplash.
A day later and Saturday Night Live’s Colin Jost (and Mr Scarlett Johannson) took a pop at the Sussexes. Discussing the recent US/UK trade deal, joking “All that Britain demands in return is that we keep these two,” as a photo of the Sussexes appeared on the screen.
Meanwhile, there are all the big looming existential ‘what’s’ the duke faces now- fundamentally, what even is his life?
Who or what even is a blood prince who has detached from his homeland and for whom the closest he can get to royal life is enjoying a crested, royal warrant-approved packet of Walkers oatcakes?
Also, has he even done a day of paid work this year?
He is, as far as is publicly known, largely unemployed in the commercial sense with the Sussexes’ Netflix contract reportedly set to end in the coming months and nothing else on the horizon.
No books, podcasts, deals, or even a lemonade stand set up down on the Pacific Coast Highway to try and bring in some coin.
Harry is currently facing a bit of a brand and identity crisis - he just keeps popping up in random places and as a public figure lacks a coherent narrative, image and purpose.
He seems like a bit of an adrift mystery, wrapped in a riddle, and now wearing a beaver skin hat.
Want to know what comes next for the duke?
I’d suggest investing in a Magic Eight Ball and keeping an eye on doorsteps in the better parts of west London.
Daniela Elser is a writer, editor and commentator with more than 15 years’ experience working with a number of Australia’s leading media titles.
More Coverage
Originally published as Harry’s doorbell camera photo reveals a massive issue
Surprising item Charles bans from the Palace
King Charles and Queen Camilla run their royal households like a tight ship, and they’ve made sure one item is nowhere to be seen.
Kate sends clear message to Beckhams
The Princess of Wales has just stepped out in her most eye-catching new outfit in months and it sends a very clear message.