Harry - Bloody Hell. Leave Him Alone

Harry and Meghan have reportedly moved Archie and Lilibet to another school after only two days because their security team had concerns about the daily journey. Apparently, the traffic, distance and practicalities made it difficult to keep the children properly protected. Their spokesperson even made it clear that there was nothing wrong with the school itself—they loved it—but the children’s safety had to come first.

Naturally, this has become international news.

Two children changed schools. Their parents made a decision based on security advice. That should be the end of the story. But because the parents happen to be Harry and Meghan, every ordinary family decision must be examined like evidence from a particularly glamorous murder scene.

Harry cannot win.

If he brings his children to Britain, people ask why. If he keeps them in America, people say he is depriving them of their heritage. If he accepts protection, he is entitled. If he worries about protection, he is paranoid. If he speaks, he is attention-seeking. If he stays quiet, “royal experts” simply invent what he is thinking and publish it anyway.

And not a day goes by without another story about him. Harry visits somewhere. Harry looks tense. Harry looks too happy. Harry may have spoken to his father. Harry may not have spoken to his father. Harry and Meghan have changed schools. Harry probably sneezed somewhere last Thursday, and twelve commentators are currently analysing what it means for the monarchy.

Have we forgotten what happened to his mother?

Princess Diana was relentlessly pursued, photographed and hounded by the press. Harry was only twelve when she died. He then had to walk behind her coffin while the entire world watched. Whatever anyone thinks of the choices he has made since - and he has certainly made a few questionable ones - is it really so difficult to understand why he is protective of his wife and children?

He knows exactly what a ravenous press can do to a family.

Perhaps Harry and Meghan sometimes invite publicity. Most famous people do when it suits them. But appearing in public, releasing a television series or selling a jar of jam does not mean they surrender every boundary forever. It certainly doesn’t make their children public property.

Archie and Lilibet did not choose royal titles, famous parents or a battalion of photographers waiting to document their first day at school. They are children. They deserve to arrive at school worrying about lunchboxes and homework—not whether somebody with a telephoto lens is hiding behind a hedge.

Considering the press hounded Harry’s mother until the night she died; until the point that she died, you would think they might show him a little mercy.

But mercy doesn’t generate clicks, does it?