The Duke of Sussex's very public blunder when his autocue broke during his speech in New York this week has proved he is not an "expert", a leading commentator has said. Prince Harry was speaking about the dangers of AI during the Clinton Global Initiative annual meeting when his speech disappeared, prompting him to abruptly stop speaking and walk offstage.
Referring to the awkward moment, leading body language expert Judi James explained why it suggests the Duke is more of an "actor" rather than the "expert" he presents to the world.
Expert's verdict on Harry's reaction
Ms James told the Daily Express: "It should be impossible for anyone else to do an 'expert' speech. If someone else can just pick up your script or take over your autocue and deliver it well, your role is more that of an actor, not an expert."
She continued: "This is possibly one reason why, when Harry ran out of script, he also ran out of thoughts and words. Of course, we should feel sorry for Harry, but his reaction was a dodgy performer's 'glitch', hiding the problem from the audience and leaving him unable to carry on. As an 'expert', he could have explained, made one of his famous jokes, shrugged and carried on off-piste. Just stopping as though someone has pulled the plug is odd."
Moment of the technical glitch
Despite just being moments into his speech, the technical glitch forced him to leave the stage, with viewers left cringing as Harry stood awkwardly on the stage for several seconds in total silence before eventually saying, "And that's it". He later joked that "AI got into my speech".
Examining the moment where Harry abruptly ends his speech before walking off, Ms James explains: "He is happily biting at his words to act with angry authority as he delivers his scripted warning, but then there is a slight dying fall in his tone as his inner batteries run out.
"He turns his head quickly to the screen behind him, perhaps hoping his script will magically appear up there, or maybe stalling for time. His facial expression, which the head-turning ploy might have hidden, appears almost tearful at this point."
Harry's return to the stage
Harry managed to return to the stage following the error, as he joked: "Hello again. So AI got into my speech, so I was asked to come out and finish it. Interesting to see what it was so concerned about."
He then continued to speak without interruption about the dangers of AI for children online, in his first appearance stateside since his family returned to live in the UK last month. Harry urged the world not to wait and see before protecting children from online harm, saying he was speaking "as a father".
"Innovation has never required us to gamble with our children's lives. We should not accept that bargain now," he said. The father of two added: "I come to this as a father, one who has shared countless conversations with other parents as they mourned the loss of their children to recklessly built technology. And as a father, I will remind you of the faces that accompanied me the last time I stood before you. Hundreds have become thousands."
