Prince Harry has described the rise in antisemitism across Britain as “deeply troubling”, warning that legitimate anger over events in the Middle East must not be used to justify hostility towards Jewish communities. In an article for the New Statesman, the Duke of Sussex wrote that Jewish families are being made to feel unsafe in their own homes, and stressed that protest should never tip into hatred.
The prince acknowledged the “justified alarm at the scale of loss in the Middle East”, referencing images from Gaza, Lebanon and the wider region. However, he argued that criticism of state actions in the Middle East is being “dangerously conflated” with hostility toward Jewish communities at home. He also condemned rising Islamophobia, stating that attacks on any faith community are corrosive and no longer a call for justice.
Recent data showed that antisemitic hate crimes in London reached a two-year high in April, prompting the Metropolitan Police to deploy 100 extra officers to protect Jewish communities. Incidents included attempted arson attacks on a synagogue and a Jewish charity, as well as a double stabbing in Golders Green now subject to a terrorism investigation.
Prince Harry also reflected on his own past mistakes, including wearing a Nazi uniform to a costume party 20 years ago, and apologised for thoughtless actions. He said his experience informs his conviction that clarity matters now more than ever.
The intervention follows comments from the Archbishop of Canterbury, who warned of a “horrifying increase in antisemitic violence” and called on all of society to oppose hatred without hesitation. The Church of England committed to tackling hatred in all its forms, stating that violence against one group wounds everyone.
