Prince Harry Wears Nazi Uniform to Party

Every family has a black sheep, but in the case of the British Royal Clan, it is rather hard to tell who. Or rather, it was up until the media arrival of Prince Harry in recent years. He has become the one most associated with the favored past-times of Britain’s idle rich – “huntin’, drinkin’ and fallin’ over.” Already a public relations problem thanks to his under-age substance abuse hijinks, he recently attend a “colonials and natives” party dressed like a member of Der Afrika Korps. He’s proved himself to be an insensitive and rather stupid fellow, but unlike Paris Hilton and that ilk, he never chose his celebrity. All the same, that doesn’t excuse him.

To begin with, one must remember that HRH is a 20-year-old who has never had to work, and who never will have to work. And unless big brother William proves to be a complete disaster or have a health problem, Harry will never get the top job in the family firm. In other words, unlike 99.99% of humanity, he will never have to struggle to keep body and soul together, nor will the easy path to a purposeful life open to him by way of work. In this regard, he is much like Usama bin Laden. Unlike UBL, HRH hasn’t shown any signs of being a mass murderer.

Enter the infamous Nazi uniform at the party photo. The truly hysterical gave into the worst fears that that uniform creates – a Nazi prince. Well, Britain once had a Nazi King, but Edward VIII was maneuvered off the throne in a masterful political coup. And this occurred before the world understood what the Nazis really were. This, however, would suggest that Prince Harry had opted for a political ideology, which in itself requires some sort of intellectual effort, which doesn’t really go down well among the Royals – note how the press and public greet his father’s rather half-baked ideas on architecture and organic food.

No, what is really troubling is that a 20-year-old Briton who has had access to the best the nation’s educational system has to offer could bungle so badly. According to the Independent one of his pals has said, "He is not a bright chap. You have to be seriously academically challenged to come away from Eton with one A-level." Going to a “colonial and natives” party is only slightly more tasteful than a attending a Nazi Party party. Be that as it may, the Nazis never fit into the colonial and natives theme. Winston Churchill in a pith helmet, yes – the Austrian paperhanger and a peaked cap, no. But dressing up like a colonial pushes the reveler into racism. Prince William, according to rather ambiguous reports in the press, attended as a Zulu, wearing a black leotard underneath a “lion-leopard” costume with big “furry paws.” One wonders if he bothered with blackface.

The Young Turks in the House of Windsor don’t have a monopoly on youthful foolishness, and indeed, it would be difficult for them to rival some of the silliness certain writers of internet journals have undertaken in days gone by. But this isn’t even about the monarchy, about the role that Harry must play due to his birth. This is about being a decent human being, in spite of his background. The bad news is that he isn’t even close. The good news is that at 20, it isn’t too late for him.

And after a brief review of recent issues, the Kensington Review is placing a moratorium on all commentary about the Windsors until summer. Frankly, they are tiresome.

© Copyright 2005 by The Kensington Review, J. Myhre, Editor. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent.

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