The Duke of Sussex was told to “get a job” as he attended a gala in London on Thursday night. Prince Harry looked dapper in a black tuxedo with a bow tie as he headed to the United For Freedom gala at the Imperial War Museum. He waved and smiled to photographers as he was pictured walking up the stairs.
The duke was not joined by his wife, Meghan Markle, who has yet to make a public appearance in the UK since her return last month. It was not Harry's first appearance of the day, as he made a surprise video appearance at NATO's Military Committee earlier on Thursday.
Online backlash over busy schedule
Some fans took aim at the duke for attending so many engagements in a short space of time, weeks after reports claimed he would likely be a “stay-at-home dad” during the Sussexes' stay in Britain. One user wrote on X after sharing a video of the duke's arrival: “A grown man playing dress up is rather pathetic. Get a real job, Harry.”
Another added: “'Every click, every flash of the camera... makes my blood boil.' Says the private citizen who now carries a camera crew everywhere he goes and lives for attention & headlines.”
A third commented: “He is definitely getting more press coverage, speaking events and galas living in the UK than in CA.” A fourth blasted: “Always pretending he's relevant!”
NATO address on Invictus Games
Earlier in the day, Harry's address at NATO's Military Committee focused on the work of the Invictus Games Foundation and its support for wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veterans. The duke said: “Because at its heart, NATO is an alliance of nations, but those nations are defended by people.”
Harry opened his address by recalling that the last time he had spoken to the Military Committee was in October 2024, saying that “a great deal has changed since then”. He also highlighted the sacrifices made not only by those who serve, but also by their families.
The duke said: “People who volunteer to serve, people who train together, deploy together, fight together, and in many cases, recover together as well. And families who serve alongside them in ways that are rarely acknowledged. And ultimately, people who come home.”
