Prince Harry's surprise visit to Ukraine - how does that make sense?

0:03 Calorougus Shark Media. Hello and welcome to Palasentry. I'm your host, Mark Francis. Piers Morgan tweets so hypocrite Harry flies straight from a British court where he is suing for more protection in the UK because it's too dangerous for him, and then to a war zone in Ukraine. He really is as dumb as a rock. Peer's editorializing a sign. Prince Harry has added his name to the long list of international figures who have traveled to Ukraine since the start of the war. The Duke of Sussex made an unannounced visit on Thursday to the city of Viv where he toured the Superhuman's Center, a rehabilitation facility that provides free care to civilians and soldiers injured in the conflict with Russia. Royal commentator Richard Palmer observed the reaction has been uniform. People are saying, hang on, he's come over because he needs police protection because he's not safe in the UK. But then he's gone to a war zone in Ukraine. I'm sure it will not go down with some of the Trump camp. It's a public show of support for Zelenski and Ukraine. So that may make life a little less comfortable for him in the US when he gets back. Harry has also wiped King Charles and Queen Camilla off some of the front pages, which is unfortunate.

1:22 While the city is not on the front line, it is getting regular bombardments, so it is quite a dangerous place to go. The visit, confirmed only after his departure for security reasons, saw the Prince speaking with patients, including a wounded child and men who had lost limbs, as well as meeting Ukraine's Minister of Veteran Affairs, Natalia kama Kova. The clinic specializes in reconstructive surgery, prosthetics and psychological support, and Harry was joined by a delegation from the Invictors Games Foundation. Fitting given his long standing dedication to the well being of war veterans. He was invited by Olga Radneva, the clinic's chief executive, and described the ex experiences deeply moving. It is, of course, a cause close to the Prince's heart, not only through his own military service, but as the founder of the Invictor's Games. The timing of the visit, however, has prompted murmurs in some royal circles came during a four day state visit to Italy by King Charles and Queen Camilla, an engagement that included a surprise audience with Pope Francis, who was recovering from a severe illness. Royal protocol traditionally discourages competing engagements that might eclipse the monarch's presence abroad. Buckingham Palace declined to comment on the overlap. Nevertheless, the King's own visit drew attention for all the right reasons.

2:36 His address to the Italian Parliament was warmly received, laced with Italian phrases and a touch of humor. It was the Romans who gave Britains the idea of putting a king's head on coins, so I am especially grateful to them, he said to laughter in the chamber. Royal expert Robert jobs And reminds us there are no accidents on the royal calendars and thinks the timing of Megan's podcast overlapping with Harry's court date visit was no cou win incidents. Jobs And told the son could be coincidence. But I don't think there are very many coincidences coming out of Montecito. I think they know that they have got a media strategist around. They know that when they're going to be in the spotlight or Harry's going to be in the spotlight, you can probably get more publicity from Megan. And so they're not daft. They know the score, you know the way the media works, and they probably go in. It may be coincidental, but it could easily just as well be planned. Well. Add that it coincided with the King's visit to Italy, which had been on the calendar for quite some time. In New York Magazine, Margaret Hartman explains, Megan Markles as Ever is selling an identity crisis. Hartman explains, well before Meghan Markles as Ever products launched, it was clear that the confusion was at the heart of her brand.

3:46 Shouldn't her jams and teas have gone on zale when her Netflix show launched a month ago? Why is the show called with Love Megan while the home goods line is named after a different sign off phrase, shouldn't that name be styled as ever or A? And who exactly is Meghan an expert homemaker graciously sharing her recipe for homemade dog biscuits or a novice eager to learn from her celebrity friends, real life fairy tale princess Okay duchess or chill yet stylish California girl espousing the joys of Jack in the Box. As a self described latchkey kid whose parents were divorced, Meghan loved to pick up fast food check in the box, Curly fries were a favorite, and go home to watch back to back cooking shows on the Food Network. Or I'd go to Graham Martinette's after school. She said she made the best after school snack, Kraft grilled cheese on white wonder bread. Meghan recalled dreamily all that butter yep the aze. Her website suggests that after a long school day, children should be greeted with freshly made crepes. Maybe this is all for Prince Harry's benefit.

4:47 The Times reports it when he's out, Meghan's kids are mainly eating food handcrafted by the good folks at Tyson and or Ryder. She is clearly bothered by accusations that she is unrelatable and out of touch. She may be living a fairy tale, but not all that long ago. She was a not very famous actress on a medium popular TV series. She was divorced in her mid thirties and unsure where her next job or home would be. Perhaps it's not fair to expect Meghan Markel to have a consistent brand identity. Some days I eat fresh baked muffins with fancy jams, but most mornings I cook my breakfast in a microwave. Royal experts remind us meganis is playing another role. Duncan Larcom tells Fox News Digital. What this represents is Megan effectively cashing in on her fhe even using her children to try and boost her presence online and sell units of her products. This is exactly what the Royals feared would happen, but it'll take a few weeks before we really know whether she hit the jackpot.

5:41 She isn't popular here in the UK, and I can't imagine that having a range of products like this is going to make any difference. British broadcaster Helena Chard adds the product prices are not astronomical. They are affordable for her fans wishing to buy into the Megan effect. But the products priced competitively enough, are they tasty enough to keep continuous sales. Meghan is not a trained chef or even a professional foodie. She is playing a role. Royal author Phil Zampier told The Son Queen Elizabeth I saw the dangers of commercializing the Royal family, combining a sort of hybrid model of doing royal jobs and cashing in with commercial stuff, and that's exactly the sort of thing that she was trying to avoid. That's exactly the thing that she told them not to do. Prince Harry is said to be less than thrilled with how wife Meghan Markle has begun featuring their children in content connected to her new lifestyle venture. As Ever, according to the Son's Royal editor Matt Wilkinson, the polo player and fruit spread Cellar are not fully alarmed when it comes to how publicly their children should be seen. Wilkinson told a Right Royal podcast. My understanding of this is that up to a certain stage, Harry would much rather his children were not seen. He doesn't want them to be photographed. He's got this idea that if he takes them outside of Montecito, that there is a horde of us out there trying to take photos of his kids. She doesn't want to hide them away. She once said she would like to have a more California style lifestyle. Take them down to the beach, go out and do stuff. While Megan has avoided chewing Archie and Lilibet's faces directly, she has recently

7:15 included them in promotional posts tied to as Ever. A Valentine's Day video featured the children helping with desserts, and in March she shared a photo of Harry and Lilibert relaxing on a boat. Another shot promoting the brand highlighted the children's distinctive red hair as they posed in the garden. Wilkinson adds it's about brand positioning, claiming Meghan is presenting herself as a mother and homemaker. Harry is probably not overly happy. More Palace in just a moment. Hey want to enjoy Palace intrigue without those pesky ad brakes and commercials. Caloroga Plus gives you uninterrupted access to all your royal gossip and insights. Plus you'll get over twenty other premium shows completely add free, including our exciting new series Signal Lost, where two his secrets land on the wrong phone. Sound Familiar White Smoke takes you inside the Vatican walls and the election of a new Pope and page of protocols, a thriller about explosive devices in the wrong hands. Get started today. Apple users, just tap uninterrupted listening up there at the top of your page in your podcast app.

8:21 Everyone else, just visit Caloroga dot com slash plus. No more interruptions, just pure royal drama. The link is in the show notes, and we thank you very much for your support. A new book on royal life below Stairs offers a vivid portrayal of the culture class reportedly followed Meghan Markle's entry into the Royal family, with Palis staff claiming that the Duchess of Sussex thought she knew better than an institution that has been in business for one thousand years. According to Yes Ma'am, The Secret Life of Royal Servants by author Tom Quinn, several former aides recall a striking confidence from Megan in her early days at Kensington Palace, one that, by their account, boarded on over confidence. She was so confident that you could see she wanted to run the meeting rather than learn about the Royal family through the meeting. One said she was a great believer in grabbing the bull by the horns. Except the Royal family is not really a bull. Another added, Meghan thought she knew better than an institution that had been in business for one thousand years and more. There are allegations that Megan's ambitious nature and desire to modernize clashed with palace expectations. One former aid suggested she had a Messiah complex, focused on becoming the best known and most loved member of the royal family. That ambition, according to one of Queen Elizabeth the Second's former courtiers, was incompatible with the monarchy's traditional patient protocol. You don't do as you please, you do as you're told, the aid said.

9:42 One courtier claimed Meghan was bewildered by Harry's deference to household staff, allegedly disliking the way he asked them politely if they would mind tidying something up. This disconnect was apparently the root of a rift. Some staff dubbed the couple Monica and Chandler, a reference to the Americans Become Friends, in which Monica is portrayed as controlling and Chandler as affable but indecisive, and they have it. I'd like to email us and addresses the Palace Intrigue at gmail and dot com. Please follow us on Spotify, Apple, or the Apple of your choice, and leave us a nice review if you're enjoying the show five stars there on Apple I Mark Francis My thanks to John McDermott, This Palace Intrigue and good terms