Prince Harry’s Risky Move Goes Head-to-Head With William’s Biggest Event

Prince Harry has touched down in Canada for a visit in honor of the armed forces and remembrance at the same time as Prince William’s biggest project: the Earthshot Prize.

British media have already cried foul over the diary clash, while Harry’s spokesperson was quick to point out that he is joining Canadian remembrance events, which take place at this time every year and have been in the planning for a year.

Needless to say, both princes now go head-to-head at a time when royal reporting has largely been orbiting around the scandal over the relationship between Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, formally Prince Andrew, and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Why It Matters

The risk is that Harry and William steal each other’s limelight, threatening perceptions of their relevance as well as the impact they both hoped to see from the two projects. It may be that the clash was unavoidable and the fault of neither side, but it is, nonetheless, a particularly tough time to seek the media spotlight.

What To Know

Harry’s spokesperson told Newsweek that the Canada visit “has been nearly a year in the planning and the dates of the main event are set by the military charity True Patriot Love who hold their annual national tribute dinner every year at the same time to coincide with the period of remembrance.”

“So it is what it is. The period of Remembrance has been the same since 1918. We can’t really influence that,” the spokesperson said.

While the Duke of Sussex is visiting Canada, it is clear that Britain is a secondary market for the tour, as he released a 647-word essay about Remembrance, in which he spoke of his pride in the country he served during two tours of Afghanistan with the British Army.

“There is a similar stoic spirit of self-deprecation and humour in Ukrainians, that I recognise more than any other, in us Brits,” Harry wrote.

“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.”

What Happens Next

In Canada, Harry was scheduled to meet members of the Canadian Armed Forces and veteran organizations on Wednesday, before attending a private lunch with the veteran charity True Patriot Love Foundation. In the evening, he will attend a fundraiser for the HALO Trust, an anti-land mine charity that worked with his mother, Princess Diana.

On Thursday, he will visit the Sunnybrook Veterans Centre before attending a dinner for the True Patriot Love Foundation, the centerpiece of the visit.

Meanwhile, William was preparing for the biggest moment in his Brazil visit and probably his whole year on Wednesday: the Earthshot Prize ceremony at the Museum of Tomorrow in Rio de Janeiro.

What People Are Saying

Prince Harry wrote in an essay released on Wednesday: “I’ve had the privilege of serving alongside men and women from all four corners of the UK; from Antrim to Anglesey, Lancashire to London, Wrexham to the East Riding, Belfast to Bedfordshire and beyond.

“I saw courage and compassion in the harshest conditions imaginable. But I also saw how easy it can be, once the uniform comes off, for those who gave everything, to feel forgotten.

“Our duty to them does not end when their service does. The protection they offered us must be returned through opportunity and respect for the rest of their lives. That’s not charity; it’s reciprocity. They safeguarded our freedom. We must safeguard their future. That way we all benefit.”

Prince Harry’s spokesperson told Newsweek: “We’ve done everything we can to be helpful and fair to the institution in sharing operational planning notes with them.”

During his Brazil visit, Prince William spoke about the importance of supporting indigenous tribes in the Amazon in the battle against deforestation: “We cannot manage our forests while their protectors live in fear. And we cannot protect environmental defenders without securing the territories they defend.

“This initiative means working in partnership with those who know the land best to strengthen Indigenous-led systems, deliver legal aid, and emergency support.”

Do you have a question about Charles and Queen Camilla, Prince William and Princess Kate, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, or their family that you would like our experienced royal correspondents to answer? Email royals@newsweek.com. We’d love to hear from you.