The Duke of Sussex faced a mixed reception from the crowd during a surprise appearance at a rugby match on Friday. Prince Harry was seen in the stands watching Leicester Tigers take on Gloucester at Welford Road, with a beer in hand. As he was shown on the big screen taking his seat, jeers and boos were heard from the crowd.
On-Air Reaction and Commentary
TalkTV presenter Duncan Barkes discussed the public reception with political commentator Candice Holdsworth. Barkes noted that Harry was booed and that TNT cut away after audible boos from around the ground. Nick Mullins, on commentary, referenced the mixed reception, saying, "some boos there," before moving on.
Candice Holdsworth described the moment as a "tragic downfall" for the Duke of Sussex, who was once the most popular member of the Royal Family. "There is a big difference between the manicured world of Instagram," she replied, "and then the real world."
Criticism and Comparison
Holdsworth added: "I find it really tragic, Harry's downfall from grace. He was one of the most popular royals. He was beloved and he kind of destroyed a lot of it and alienated people." She also noted that "keen royalists didn't appreciate a lot of the attacks Meghan and Harry made upon the Royal Family. They just didn't."
The host suggested Harry has a "long way to go" to rehabilitate his image following the Netflix series and his memoir Spare. Holdsworth compared the Sussexes to Queen Camilla, who was loathed by the public for years before being seen more positively. She concluded: "They didn't play the long game. They had a few negative headlines and then threw a strop and then ran away. That's not how it works. They've got no sense of longevity."
Harry and Meghan returned to the UK with their two children, Archie and Lilibet, after six years of living in the US.
