Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan are fielding criticism over their recent decision to “step back” from their roles as senior members of the British royal family, but a former British Army soldier is reminding the public of Harry’s character, describing how the 35-year-old protected him from homophobic abuse.
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James Wharton, who previously made headlines as the first openly gay serviceman to cover Soldier magazine, told Forces News that the Duke of Sussex helped him ward off bullies while serving as Wharton’s tank commander in 2008.
“I’d got myself into a bit of a situation with some soldiers from another regiment, and, essentially, they didn’t like the fact I was gay,” Wharton recalled. “They were sort-of chest poking me and making me feel quite uncomfortable. I got into my tank where Prince Harry was doing something, and he could see that I was clearly affected by something, and he asked me what the problem was. I told him that there were a couple of soldiers outside who weren’t very happy with the fact I was gay.”
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He continued:
“Quite offended that his gunner was being picked on by these people, Prince Harry went out and saw these soldiers and spoke to them, and the problem went away. He told them off, and they left me alone.”
Wharton added that Harry is a “very smart, intelligent man” who was a “good,” “well-liked” officer. “He knew how to do his job, he was skilled, he took the time to know his people, he wasn’t afraid to get himself involved with things that were going on,” he explained.
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He also believes Harry will thrive away from the British monarchy. “He’s got a family to look after,” he said. “I know that he’s protective of people he cares about, so I think he will be OK. I have no doubt that whatever he goes off to do, whether it be or public or private, he will be successful.”
cubcmh
We love Harry.
Bob LaBlah
Harry is NOT Prince Charles son and as I always knew he would tire one day of being nothing else but a tourist attraction like the rest of those useless freeloading royals.
MikeM
He IS Charles’s son. Get a grip. If you look at baby pictures of them both, they are undeniably father and son. How presumptuous to think you would be privy to information otherwise. Did you read that on the interwebs?
Bob LaBlah
Sadly you must have mistaken the pics of Harry and Archie for Harry and Charles. It happens when one can’t face reality. Fake pics.
MikeM
Sadly, I didn’t.
RichNYC
People like you are the problem. Do you read Star a lot? Or is it the National Enquirer? Get out of gossip which is just another way of hating.
MaxH
As a British person who, aside from the Queen (aka grandmother to the nation), doesn’t really care about royalty, they are not freeloaders. They are patrons of multiple charities and help raise some serious £££ for them, they increase tourism (just look at all of the tourists outside Buckingham palace at a given moment), and the majority of their costs are covered by grants from lands they own, with some of it even going to the state. Plus some of their properties are open to tours of the house and or gardens (which can make a lovely day out).
Cam
@MaxH
You said…”MaxH
“them, they increase tourism (just look at all of the tourists outside Buckingham palace at a given moment),”
_______
I know that’s the line that the Palace P.R. has fed, but if royals increase tourism, then why does France and Versailles get more tourists than Britain? No royals, yet massive tourism.
MikeM
The tourism surrounding just the royals generates 1.8 billion dollars in revenue. That just the royal family. Other sites in England generate even more. But other sites are indelibly touched by royal history, so the impact is immense. @Cam: you tried the same mierda in instagram. Didn’t work there, either.
MaxH
@ Cam, It is because France is within easy driving distance of Spain, Portugal, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Luxembourg, Belgium, the UK, and the Netherlands. A lot of those “tourists” are day-trippers, some just go there to do their grocery shopping, some cross the border to work. Spain and Italy get the most tourists when you eliminate the day-trippers.
Also, other countries receiving more tourists has nothing to do with the royal family’s ability to draw tourists. It is precisely like saying Versailles doesn’t draw tourists to France because the Egyptian pyramids are more visited.
Cam
@MikeM
Sweetie, I’ve posted nothing on instagram about the royals. The fact you have to lie about it pretty much negates your point.
i.e. France and Versailles get more tourists than the British royal areas.
MikeM
@Cam sweetie… own it. How did the same exact comment end up on Instagram as well, with no deviation?