Prince Harry's upcoming trip to New York for the UN General Assembly high-level week and Climate Week has stirred quite a buzz, but not for the reasons one might expect.
This time, it’s Meghan Markle who’s making headlines, primarily because of her exclusion from the 25th Diana Awards ceremony. The event, dedicated to honoring the enduring legacy of Princess Diana, will see Harry rubbing elbows with representatives from African Parks, the Halo Trust, and the Diana Award, while Meghan will be notably absent, along with their two children.
Sources indicate that Meghan is far from pleased with this oversight. Her frustration is palpable, and she is reportedly directing her ire towards Prince Harry. Meghan believes that Harry’s involvement in such a significant event should have ensured her own invitation, asserting that any occasion linked to Princess Diana should naturally include her.
The Diana Awards, celebrating their milestone 25th anniversary this year, proudly announced Harry’s participation via their official Instagram account. Dr. Tess Ojo CBE, CEO of the Diana Award, described the event as a platform driven by young people addressing critical issues facing their generation. However, Meghan’s absence has transformed this otherwise honorable event into a source of royal drama, igniting waves of speculation and controversy.
One can’t help but question the timing and motives behind this situation. Why New York? Why September? And why is Harry, who seems more intent on revisiting his mother’s legacy than engaging in substantive philanthropy, at the heart of this controversy? Meghan’s exclusion raises the question of whether Harry’s role in the Diana Awards is a strategic maneuver aimed at shaming or provoking a response from Prince William. The potential media frenzy surrounding a “will they or won’t they” scenario between the two brothers would certainly be a spectacle.
Some critics argue that Harry’s persistent focus on Princess Diana’s legacy may be doing more harm than good. Each time he invokes his late mother’s name, it seems to tarnish her memory a bit more. His attempts to capitalize on Diana’s legacy are increasingly perceived as attempts to attract attention rather than make a meaningful impact. His actions are beginning to resemble a poorly scripted sitcom, where he plays the tragicomic lead while others wait for the farce to end.
Furthermore, the coincidence of Harry’s and the Diana Awards’ events with Prince William’s Earthshot Summit, also set to occur in New York, raises eyebrows. The simultaneous scheduling of these major events seems almost too convenient, suggesting a deliberate attempt to overshadow William’s accomplishments. Expect numerous photo opportunities with enthusiastic young people as Harry seeks to position himself as the true heir to Diana’s legacy.
It’s almost as if the entire affair is a PR stunt designed to keep Harry in the spotlight while overshadowing his brother’s important work. The spectacle might be seen as a calculated effort to co-opt Diana’s memory for personal gain. Meghan’s indignation over her exclusion appears almost poetic as Harry and Meghan continue their quest for relevance and to mend their fractured public image. Their efforts seem increasingly focused on generating drama rather than achieving genuine, impactful results.
