Prince Harry defends Ukraine visit as criticism mounts over comments and travel

0:00 Ah calorogus Shark Media. Hello and welcome to Palace Intrigue. I am your host, Mark Francis. In The Express, Chris Riches was critical of Harry's Ukraine appearances. Riches rites, a true diplomat knows never to humiliate or enrage a capricious leader. You gently coax, maybe flatter, use their own ego to transform their solution into yours. So Prince Harry cropping up in Ukraine to declare the world is craving some American leadership could instead light a fire under US President Donald Trump that benefits no one. Provoking Trump's is certainly not going to win Harry friends when he jets back to California, as the President is already not his biggest fan. Once again, the Duke of Sussex's desperate craving for relevance and importance away from the respected royal family has highlighted his naivety on the world stage. Harry's obsession with placing himself from the heart of tragic events is getting beyond a joke.

1:02 Only last week, he and Megan Markle jetted into Australia and met survivors of the December twenty twenty five Bondai Beach terror shooting. Before that, they went to Jordan to meet conflict refugees and humanitarian aid workers. Next thing will probably pop up in Israel and then Gaza laden with Began's raspberry jam and organic honey to impart their wisdom. So what exactly did forty one year old Harry say in Ukraine? Well, firstly he urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to be nice. As a former kg B officer, that should do the trick. Then he switched to Trump. Failed assurances and failed leadership. If there is one thing Trump lives to exemplify as the alpha male, the big dog, the silverback, not a leader, I bet Trump is seeing.

1:45 I think it was actually brave of Harry to say that, considering he lives under Trump, and some Republicans wanted Harry deported. In The Independent, Samuel fish Witch writes, Prince Harry really wants you to remember Ukraine and Prince Harry. Prince Harry's reputation as a peacemaker has been on the skids since he rather famously fell out with his own brother, but a two days surprise visit to Ukraine will surely change all that. Following a pleasant working holiday in Australia as sort of the bouncy accessory to his wife Megan. The Duke of Sussex has turned his mind to the serious business of securing world peace, and so he has turned up in Kiev to sort everything out. These days we do need certain things explained. Why exactly is Harry here?

2:25 He had been invited, he said, to remind people back home and around the world what Ukraine is up against. This does perhaps suggest that he thinks everyone else back home and in fact around the world has forgotten about Ukraine completely apart from Harry. Maybe that's being unfair or indeed brutally honest. Harry, of course, has actually gone out of his way to point out that he was not speaking for the UK much in the same way that Australia was not a royal visit and he is not a politician. It is a knotty list of knots when you are a non working royal training to make your way in the world. Prince Harry has said he will always be part of the royal family, even as he continues to operate independently on the global stage. Speaking to ITV's Royal editor christ Ship at the end of the two day visit to Ukraine, Harry appeared more willing to speak openly on international issues. He said, I am here working doing the things that I was born to do, and I enjoyed doing it. From my perspective, we need to feel in power to speak truth to power. It's really that simple. What would worry me if we live in a world where anyone in my position, or anybody anyway can't speak about the very things and the realities that we are seeing. I fundamentally disagree with that. Asked whether his remarks would complicate King Charles's visit to the United States, Harry said no, I don't think so, not at all. Some are criticizing Harry's eco warrior persona. According to a report in The Express Prince, Harry has logged nearly forty thousand miles of air travel in just two months, prompting renewed scrutiny given his long standing advocacy on climate issues.

3:54 The Duke's travel schedule, spanning late February through April, included multiple long haul journeys across several continents. The itinerary began with a trip from his home in California to Jordan, alongside Megan Margle, where they attended meetings in Aman and visited Thestari refugee camp at the invitation of the World Health Organization. That round trip alone accounted for roughly sixteen thousand, four hundred miles. In mid April, the couple traveled to Australia for a four day visit covering Melbourne, Camber and Sydney, adding approximately seventy five hundred miles. From there, Harry continued on to Eastern Europe, flying from Sydney to Poland around ninety seven hundred miles before completing the final four hundred thirty mile leg into Kiev by train. Return flight to California was estimated at another sixty three hundred miles. Taken together, the flight's total roughly thirty nine thousand, nine hundred miles over a sixty day period, roughly the equivalent of circling the Earth more than one and a half times. The report notes that Harry has frequently spoken about environmental responsibility and founded the sustainable travel initiative Travelist in twenty nineteen to promote more responsible too and practices. He has previously said I spend nineteen nine percent of my life traveling the world by commercial occasionally there needs to be an opportunity based on a unique circumstance to ensure that my family is safe, more palasy. Just a moment. Meghan has been sending out candles for Mother's Day, so we know.

5:19 Williams shared a moment on social media revealing a package that included chocolates two candles from Markle's lifestyle brand as Ever. In a handwritten note that she showed the contents, Williams joked, I debotched it. She added, Meghan is like so classy and I'm just like, look at this. This is nuts. She went on to say the chocolate was beautiful, it was delicious. I don't like chocolate, but I've been killing them. The note included a more personal touch. Mirkal explained that the candles carried symbolic meaning, writing that they were tied to the memorable moments of motherhood, with each one named after the birth dates of her children, Prince Archie and Princess Liliban. Megan may have made a subtle adjustment to her lifestyle brand's latest product descriptions. The as Ever line introduced two candles priced at ninety dollars each inspired by her children with Prince Harry, Prince Argie and Princess Lilibert.

6:08 Early press materials for the Mother's Day Candle collection explicitly used the children's royal titles. One product was described as having a light floral scent inspired by Princess Lilabert of Sussex birth date, adding a sense of brightness and openness to the home, with the release adding this candle is inspired by Meghan's daughter, Princess Lilibert. However, since the products officially went on sale, those references have been removed from the website. The updated descriptions now take a more neutral tone. One candle is listed as crafted and curated by our founder inspired by her son Archie's birth date of May sixth. On the other states, it was crafted and curated by our founder to on her daughter Lilibert's birth date of June fourth. Meghan's truffles are not being well received by some.

6:52 The collection includes chocolates and two candles inspired by the birthdays of the children, along bundled sets such as the Sweetest Mum Set and Mother's Day Edit. Priced items a box of chocolates retailing at about fifty eight dollars. The chocolates are part of what the brand described as a limited edition collaboration with Los Angeles based Chocolate tear Compartes, created just in time for Mother's Day. The product description adds soft and decad and caramel scenters a layered with flower sprinkles, adding a beautiful layer to the rich dark chocolate. Made for gifting or keeping close, They're easy to return to one piece at a time until I will treat for yourself with someone you love. Online reaction has been critical in some quarters. When user wrote, so let's look at what you get in the new box of chocolates for Mother's Day. It's a six ounce box of ten small caramel filled dark chocolates with cepflower petals for fifty eight dollars. That's ten dollars per ounds. Folks, others everywhere deserves so much better. Another commented, I'd rather spend fifty eight quid on Reese's peanut buttered cubs and knock myself sick.

7:52 And there you have it. If you'd like to email us or addresses the Palace Intrigue at gmail dot com, please for us on Spotify, Apple or the app of your choice by my Francis, my thanks to John McDermott. This is palace intrigue in good times. M