Prince Harry has been criticised for wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with the words 'GIRL DAD' in a recent family photo posted on Instagram by his wife, Meghan Markle. Express reporter Adam Toms expressed relief that the prince is far down the line of succession, calling the clothing choice 'unnecessary virtue signalling' and 'cringeworthy'.
Photo Sparks Controversy
The picture, shared several days ago, shows Harry playing in the garden with his son Archie on a sunny day, holding a large football. However, the idyllic scene was overshadowed by Harry's T-shirt, which Toms described as 'tactless' and 'preachy'. He wrote: 'Aside from suggesting, whether true or not, to the boy in front of him that his sister, Lilibet, might just be his father's favourite child, the choice of clothing is unnecessary and unalloyed virtue signalling.'
Reaction from the Reporter
Toms questioned whether Harry wore the shirt intentionally for the photo or simply happened to be wearing it at home, adding: 'It’s hard to work out which would be worse.' He argued that most fathers are proud to have daughters without needing to advertise it, and that the shirt seemed to assure the world that Harry is not a misogynist. 'Neither I nor anyone else was thinking that you hated them,' Toms wrote.
Relief Harry is Far from the Throne
Toms expressed gratitude that such 'surplus to requirements, preachy assurance' would not be seen near the throne. 'This sort of cringeworthy stuff belongs in California, not Buckingham Palace,' he said. The prince and his family live in Montecito, California, after stepping back from royal duties in 2020.
Context of the Criticism
The article comes amid ongoing media scrutiny of Harry and Meghan's public appearances and social media activity. Toms concluded that while Harry is likely a proud father to Lilibet, who recently turned five, 'the world doesn’t need to see the prince wear such a tactless piece of clothing. I'm embarrassed for him.'
