It has been a week of striking contrasts and simmering tensions within the British royal family, as Prince Harry’s overseas engagements and social outings collided with the solemnity of Remembrance commemorations back home. The Duke of Sussex, who now resides in the United States, found himself at the center of public scrutiny after a series of overlapping events and a reflective essay that reignited speculation about his relationship with Britain, his brother Prince William, and the institution he left behind.
On November 5, 2025, Prince William took center stage in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, presiding over the Earthshot Prize Awards at the Museum of Tomorrow. The event was a major moment for the future king, highlighting his ongoing commitment to environmental causes. Yet, almost simultaneously, Prince Harry began a quasi-royal tour in Toronto, Canada, meeting with veterans, military charities, and members of the armed forces community. The timing was, as royal commentator Victoria Arbiter described on X, “inevitable if not predictable,” given a pattern in recent years where Harry’s public appearances have coincided with William’s high-profile engagements. Social media users were quick to notice, with one remarking, “Funny how Harry’s ‘announcements’ ALWAYS coincide with Earthshot Awards.”
The overlapping schedules did not go unnoticed inside the royal household. According to Tom Sykes of The Daily Beast, palace insiders were “far from impressed” by the timing, with one former aide quoted as saying, “It’s not subtle.” Sykes wrote that Harry’s decision “will strike many observers as needlessly antagonistic,” suggesting that, to some, it appeared motivated by “resentment and a desire for revenge rather than respect for the Remembrance calendar.” The move, Sykes argued, was a miscalculation and a reminder that the brothers’ ceasefire “remains anything but secure.”
As William was navigating questions from journalists in Brazil—some of whom alluded to the scandal surrounding Andrew Mountbatten Windsor and the prince’s strained relationship with Harry—he diplomatically sidestepped controversy, telling the crowd he wanted to surround himself “with people who do good.” Meanwhile, Harry’s Toronto visit included a speech at the True Patriot Love’s National Tribute Dinner, where he joked about his infamous LA Dodgers cap, worn at the World Series with Meghan Markle. “Oh the LA Dodgers hat, hatgate. Firstly, I would like to apologise to Canada for wearing it. I was under duress, there wasn’t much choice, I was invited to the LA Dodgers box or the dugout by the owner himself so I thought I was doing what was the polite thing to do,” he quipped, adding, “But the other piece to this was... when you’re missing a lot of hair on top and you’re sitting under floodlights, you’ll take any hat that’s available.”
Yet it was not Harry’s Canadian engagements alone that drew criticism. On November 7, he published an essay in which he contemplated his British identity, military service, and what it means to be British—despite having left the UK on what he once dubbed a “freedom flight.” Titled “The Bond, The Banter, The Bravery: What it means to be British – By Prince Harry,” the essay was both nostalgic and revealing. “Though currently, I may live in the United States, Britain is, and always will be, the country I proudly served and fought for. The banter of the mess, the clubhouse, the pub, the stands—ridiculous as it sounds, these are the things that make us British. I make no apology for it. I love it,” he wrote.
Behavioral expert Judi James, speaking to The Mirror, suggested that Harry’s use of the word “currently” hinted at a possible return to the UK and revealed homesickness, as well as a longing for his estranged brother. “It sounds like a teaser in terms of a return to the UK… Harry’s choice of wording hints that he’s not only possibly homesick but that a return of some sort might be on the horizon,” James remarked. She further observed that Harry’s emphasis on “banter” could be a subtle indication of how much he misses William, with whom he once shared a relentless sense of humor. The essay, James argued, also suggested Harry finds life in the US “somewhat lacking,” particularly in the kind of complex humor he associates with his homeland.
As the week progressed, the contrast between Harry’s activities and those of the royal family in London became even starker. While King Charles III, Queen Camilla, Princess Catherine, and Prince George attended the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall and the National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph—marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two—Harry and Meghan Markle were photographed partying at Kris Jenner’s extravagant 70th birthday celebration. The James Bond-themed bash, held at Jeff Bezos’ $165 million Beverly Hills mansion, attracted a star-studded guest list including Oprah Winfrey, Mariah Carey, Paris Hilton, Justin Bieber, Snoop Dogg, and the Kardashian family. Harry wore a black tuxedo and poppy pin in honor of Remembrance Day, while Meghan donned a sleek black turtleneck and high-slit skirt. Police were reportedly called to the estate following noise complaints from neighbors.
Earlier that evening, the couple had attended the Baby2Baby Gala at LA’s Pacific Design Centre, posing for photos with tennis legend Serena Williams. Their Hollywood circuit contrasted sharply with the royal family’s somber presence in London, a juxtaposition that did not escape the notice of royal watchers and commentators. Tom Sykes, writing on his Substack, The Royalist, called the move “an appalling misjudgement by them or their PR team.” He noted, “I’m not suggesting for one moment that Harry going to a party on Saturday night is disrespectful of war veterans. I am saying that his team should have been aware that the resulting pictures in the Daily Mail would contrast very unfavourably with what his brother, father and sister-in-law were doing yesterday and today.”
Amidst the backlash, Harry’s California-based team issued a statement denying any intention to upstage William or disrespect the Remembrance period. They insisted the Canadian events had been planned nearly a year in advance, with dates set by the charity and not by Harry himself. “The period of Remembrance tide traditionally extends from the 1-11 November and has done since 1918, over 100 years. He can’t choose to move those dates,” the spokesperson said. They also emphasized that security concerns dictated the timing of trip announcements, as Harry “is not afforded the same level of security and protection as other working members of the Royal Family.”
Buckingham Palace has declined to comment publicly on the matter, but the episode has underscored the ongoing fragility of the royal family’s internal dynamics. For now, public opinion remains divided: some see Harry’s actions as tone-deaf or antagonistic, while others view them as the result of complicated logistics and a desire to honor veterans in his own way. One thing is clear—despite oceans and years apart, the interplay between Harry and his royal relatives continues to captivate, confound, and divide.
