Prince Harry has come under fire for “virtue-signaling” after again entering US politics during his remarks at a UN General Assembly informal gathering.
The Duke of Sussex was criticized by DailyMail.com blogger Meghan McCain for “not proposing any solutions” to the problems in America.
The Supreme Court’s Roe v Wade decision, which returned control of abortion to individual states last month, was the target of a thinly veiled attack from the Duke of Sussex, who was joined by Meghan Markle.
The 37-year-old asserted that it was a component of a “global assault on democracy and freedom” and included the barbaric Russian invasion of Ukraine as one of the world’s issues.
The remarks, which were made Monday morning at the United Nations in honor of Nelson Mandela Day, were the most recent attack on US politicians.
It comes after his wife Meghan revealed that the Duke had a ‘gutteral’ reaction to the shocking Roe v. Wade decision by the Supreme Court last month.
Another group of protesters gathered in front of the UN General Assembly in New York, one of them was holding a sign that read, “Why are they here?”
McCain said: ‘Today was a missed opportunity to keep the focus on one of the truly great global leaders of all time, Nelson Mandela.
‘The speech should have been entirely a tribute to this man. But Prince Harry can’t help himself. He has to get in his virtue-signaling.
‘He wants you to know that he thinks America is a mess and he is judging it from his lectern.
‘He’s not offering solutions of any kind, mind you, just making a speech and getting back on his private jet to return to his mansion in California.’
Rep. Jason Smith, of Missouri, said: ‘Once again, Harry and Meghan show how incredibly out of depth they are when it comes to American politics. Fortunately for the American people, elected officials and judges decide matters of law in the United States, not the United Nations and certainly not foreign celebrities.
‘The last thing America needs is someone with the title ‘Prince’ to lecture us on Democracy and constitutional protections. There are better ways for Harry and Meghan to remain relevant than using their royal titles to opine on and try to influence U.S. politics.’
Prior to Harry’s speech to delegates during the two-hour conference at the UN, Meghan and Harry arrived hand-in-hand.
Since traveling to the UK to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee last month, when they kept a low profile, this is the first time the couple has been spotted in public.
Despite the fact that the occasion was intended to honor Nelson Mandela Day, the Prince attacked American politics in his keynote address.
“This has been the most terrible year in a decade,” he remarked. We are seeing a pandemic that is wreaking havoc on communities around the world.
‘Climate change wreaking havoc on our planet with most vulnerable suffering most of all. The few weaponizing lies and disinformation at the expense of the many.
‘And from the horrific war in Ukraine to the rolling back of constitutional rights in the US we are witnessing a global assault on democracy and freedom the cause of Mandela’s life.’
Royal biographer Robert Jobson also hit out at Harry, saying that he ‘knew it would cause controversy’ when giving his speech.
He said: ‘I, like all right thinking people, believe in free speech. It is the core of democracy.
‘Now that Prince Harry he had given up his royal role has the same right to speak out as the next man.
‘So in that respect I commend him for a well thought out keynote address.
‘That said, when the Queen gave her blessing to him to quit as a front line working royal and live with his wife in the US he promised not to bring the Royal Family into disrepute.
‘He knows that his grandmother, our monarch, must remain above politics.
‘He knows too when his father, The Prince of Wales, and brother, William, Duke of Cambridge make public addresses that they must remain non partisan, thus avoiding embarrassing the Queen and the institution of monarchy.
‘Harry chose to speak about political issues at the UN. He knew it would cause controversy. He knew it would lead to criticism.
‘It is his right now as a private citizen to make speeches – good luck to him.
‘But had he not been a famous prince, from the privileged House of Windsor I mount very much he would not have been asked to make such an address.’
Republican politicians were also quick to condemn the comments made by the Duke of Sussex during his keynote speech.
US Rep Buddy Carter said: ‘The U.S. is protecting the lives of unborn children. Russia is killing innocent Ukrainians.
‘We are not the same and comparing the two is sick and perverse. I would remind Prince Harry that spreading disinformation is incredibly damaging to the ‘democracy and freedom’ he is so concerned about.’
Rep. Lisa McClain added: ‘Yet again, the Duke and Duchess are sticking their nose into American politics by attacking the U.S. rule of law.
‘I think it’s time we buy them a history book on the Revolutionary War to remind them that our government stopped caring about the ‘royals’ opinion back in 1776.’