They just can't stay out of trouble can they!

I gather Harry has apologised for being printed on the front of The Sun wearing a Nazi fancy dress outfit, complete with swastika armband.

How is it that one family can get it so wrong? Surely it can't be that difficult?!

I don't have a problem with the Royal Family really, but I do think they forget their jobs and how people look to them. They seem to forget who they are half the time!

Any thoughts?

Arent his relatives German though

Don't think that excuses him for such a poor taste in costume though?

definately not- I was going to say maybe he doesnt realise with his relatives being German- but given hes had an absolute fortune spent on his education its no excuse :(

I have german relatives and no it is definately NOT an excuse or reason to behave as he has.  However, for behaviour such as this, arrogance and ignorance would be some kind of explanation :( :( 

I see people with poor taste in costume in town all the time! Particularly tubby girls in hipsters and crop-tops! ;) Thank heavens it's winter and they cover up a bit more (though they'll still freeze to death without a vest!).

Huh! Not here they don't ...a fat blue midriff is *such* an attractive sight ...

NOT

:p :p :p

He has apologized fully...he can do no more than that. I would question why the *papers* felt it necessary to chase after a kid (because that is all he is) and try to bring him down. I would also question why his advisors didn't stop him and I would finally question why there are shops out there that are hiring Nazi costumes out

Yep, agree with you on all those points Mel! He`s still a young kid & what kid doesn`t make a mistake at his age?

Christine, Spain.

Lots do - but I would think he is old enough to know better.

I would also doubt it was the papers chasing him - more like one of his "friends" selling the picture.

At 18 or 19 whatever he is, he is still a kid though :) Having had boys go through that age I know this :rolleyes: The papers have been chasing Harry since the day Diana said she had been having an affair Chloe ....probably because he looks so unlike any other member of the royal family, plus the *papers* know that people will buy anything that has a picture of a young royal on the front cover.

I feel  ashamed that he was allowed to choose that outfit but even more ashamed that one of our largest circulation papers could find nothing better to put on their front page than a young man making a bad choice

JMHO as usual :D

Very true...I also agree about them chasing him and hounding him specifically.

I have a lot of respect for he and William, and yes, you are right, they are still only young. I like them both and the position they are in must be difficult - I think they handle themselves far better than the older Royals. It was just an unfortunate choice and he has apologised - which at least puts him head and shoulders above the rest!

he should know better,but made a mistake. wills was there too,wonder if he tryed to talk harry out of it or not?
i like harry alot
i think hes just going through a rebelious stage!!!!

I think Harry does have a tendency for going off the rails but I would guess this has a lot to do with losing his mum before he reached his teens.  Granted, his 'advisers' should have stepped in on this occasion but, generally speaking, no-one has your best interests at heart as much as your parents do.  Prince Charles does his best but he's probably not around very much.

Unfortunately, for many people that isn't enough - judging by the outbursts on the radio it seems they won't be satisfied until he publicly slits a vein.

If we're honest, if Martin Jones from High Wycombe (apologies if such a person exists!) had gone to a fancy-dress party dressed as a Nazi, how much fuss would there have been? Or do the Royals have to live by a different code to the rest of us?

I think they have to JG - they are, at the end of the day, publicists and representatives of the country IMO - they should have certain standards.

Remember when Zara made the front pages through her tongue piercing? I have no problem with that, but that costume was in bad taste and offensive to many. And when you have people watching your every move Harry should have advisors that keep him out of trouble like this!

My feeling is that, yes Nazis were offensive. So are many other images. A good way to defuse their influence by mocking them, like Basil Fawlty's Hitler impression, or 'allo 'allo's Herr Flick of the Gestapo. Or by classifying their uniform in the same league as Humpty Dumpty or Superman and having it as a dressing-up costume.
:)

What I feel sad is that he obviously had a friend who he thought was trustworthy but obviously they think that a quick buck from the Sun is better than friendship!   Harry will end up wondering WHO he can trust.

We're all representatives and publicists for our country. Which is why we're all tarred as lager louts, football hooligans and people who demand fish and chips on foreign holidays! :rolleyes: I don't think the Royals can be blamed for any of that ...
:)

>We're all representatives and publicists for our country<

Yes we are, but we are not all living such a privilaged lifesyle courtesy of the taxpayer. We are their employers, we have every right to expect them to conduct themselves in an appropriate manner.

I would be very surprised if someone else who was joining the army would be allowed 'to holiday' and pospone their start date just because they had a 'bad leg'.  But of course he will not be joining as 'anyone else' and roughing it or fighting in dangerous situations.

I think that's a bit much - after all he didn't ask to be born a Royal. Try telling any twenty year old that they must behave differently to any other lad because of an 'accident of birth'. Yes - he is privileged - but why should he also be naturally angelic as well :)

As for 'roughing it' - don't forget that Prince Andrew was flying helicopters in the Falklands war - he wasn't given any favours there.

Daisy

They don't have money from the taxpayer! All their father's income is from the farms and businesses that he owns - not the Government! No Civil List income.

And yes, other people have their intake to Sandhurst deferred if they're unfit at the time. He will be joining as 'anyone else', just as King Hussein of Jordan did (and many other royals of various nations), and got exactly the same treatment. As for not 'roughing it' - tell that to Prince Andrew who flew a helicopter as a missile decoy in the Falklands!

Its a bit daft of him I know but when you consider that many other 20 year olds are binge drinking and bottling each other in city centres maybe it isn't so bad.  I wonder too if the Nazis seem a bit remote to this youngest generation a bit like us knowing that Atilla the Hun was a dreadful person but we wouldn't worry too much about someone dressing up like him.  Its shame he can't attend a private party though without the press throwing money at people for pictures and its a shame that people patronise this section of the press.

Well said Isabel.

So their family residence is not paid for from taxpayers money?   Sorry, I thought we paid for the upkeep of Royal residences.  How did they get the Dutchy of Cornwall income in the first place.  The property must have either been bought by taxpayers money or it was taken off of the people back in history.  However you look at it, it cost us to keep the Royal Family and I see no reason in this day and age why we should.  We have a government who runs the country and like them or hate them they are democratically elected.

Why should he go to Sandhurst?  He should start as another normal person in the bottom ranks of the army, if he is good enough to work his way through the ranks then great, he will have respect then from the others.   I do not believe they are put in the same situations as other soldiers once in.  The privileged lifestyle continues.

I hardly think Prince Andrew spent the same amount of time in active service as others in the Navy, why, because he is a royal.

Why should he go to Sandhurst?

Why shouldn't he?

I think you should maybe live in republic .....unfortunately for you , England isn't one

I am not singularising him out regarding not going to Sandhurst.  I think normal soldiers that have shown outstanding talent and sense of responsibility should then be promoted to officers, I have no problem with Sandhurst being a training ground for that. 

What I do not like the 'elite' having special privileges in any workplace. 

Yes I would like to see us as a republic, I don't believe we should have a royal family,  but that is my personal opinion and we are all entitled to having one.

I didn't knock your opinion, I voiced my own ...which, as you say, we are ALL entitled to have :)

I know you didn't Mel, it is good to have a healthy debate, looks like I am on my own on this one though ;)

I'll think that you'll find that Prince Andrew spent most of his life in the Navy and he certainly was 'in the line of fire' in the Falklands war - can't you remember ?? As far as I know, Prince Harry is going to Sandhurst on the same basis that any other man who has got similar qualifications would do. So you would rather have President Bush  - have you any idea how much HE costs the United States - I'll think that you will find that he costs far more than the Royal family.

Daisy

>Prince Harry is going to Sandhurst on the same basis that any other man who has got similar qualifications<

I stand to be corrected Daisy, but I don't think if your next door neighbour had a handful of A levels it would qualify him for Sandhurst. ;)

Actually, a BTech can get you into Sandhurst Sandrah :)

http://www.cvqo.co.uk/news.php?step=1&newsid=6

80% of Officer cadets have a degree which is the same for Army and Naval Officers too.

Edit: Link won't work, you will have to cut and paste

I had never even heard of a BTech.........there you go I stand corrected.  :)  Still think whatever his qualifications he would have got there.  Seem to remember a bit of a dispute about his A levels at the time.........but I won't go there.  Just call me an old cynic ;)

I don't think that you are a cynic, just mis-informed ;)

Daisy

Why not ??? Although most recruits at officer level have degrees, by no means all have and as Prince Harry has experience of the Cadet Corp he can be accepted with A levels. Why should he be treated any different ?

Daisy

I think that personality actually counts a lot more than anything else - determination and leadership being the most important qualities.

Absolutely Chloe and those skills will come through from the ranks.  If you are leading a team into dangerous situations then that team must trust and respect you.  Harry's behaviour will have to improve for him to show those qualities.  From an outsider looking in I think William has far more leadership qualities then Harry.

There are a percentage of ranked soldiers that make officer level. I think you need a bit of both. IME (army wifey 10 years) the Sandhurst Officers have to work hard to gain respect - its not just handed to them :)

19 year old boys are 19 year old boys no matter what their upbringing ;) Maturing happens during training for all whether they are in Officer training or other ranks ...

The skills to be an Officer are taught to the cadets as they go through ....wherever they come from

Melody (married to ex RAF Officer ;) )

I would have thought he ought to have been aware of what the Nazis & their symbols stand for he is related by marriage to the daughter of a ranked Nazi

I think ANYONE wearing any Nazi stuff for fun should be made to watch the footage they(the Nazis) shot during their war on innocent men women & children in the concentration camps

Not just because he is a Royal as I feel sorry for them being brought up in an outmoded way by their parent & his mistress & their parent's family, but the wearing of Nazi stuff is totally abhorrent to me & his mother would have been horrified

In the words of David Ben-Gurion "forgive but never forget"

Quote ' for he is related by marriage to the daughter of a ranked Nazi '

Princess Michael of Kents father was cleared of any sinister role in Hitler's SS.

His rank was only honorary and he was simply a 'nominal' member of the Nazi party

Article

Any one who was involved with the Nazi's being nominal or not is never innocent I have friends whose parents were imprisoned for refusing to co operate in the way that PMOK father did & join the Nazi party,their parents were subjected to horrific treatment akin to the disabled, gypsies etc & they died for refusing in some cases Much easier to be nominal & "innocent"that suffer for ones beliefs in freedom

Oskar Schindler was a member of the Nazi Party & when he realized what they were really about vindicated himself with his actions, he was no saint nor innocent however is quite rightly a honoured person in Israel. "He who saves one life saves the world"

This is Prince Harry's grandmother's, cousin's wife - I know that 'the sins of the father .......' - but don't you think that you are taking this a bit far ??

Daisy

Where did I mention him being blamed for his G mother's relative by marriage  "mistake"?

What I said & I quote was<I would have thought he ought to have been aware of what the Nazis & their symbols stand for he is related by marriage to the daughter of a ranked Nazi>

IE he ought to know what the symbols of the party formed by Adolf Hitler's signify to some members of the public

Sorry I forgot we should both forgive & forget that nazis ever existed-that will probably be slightly easier for 99.99 % of the people on this board, I lost my mother due to what happened to her in one of the "work"camps at the hands of one of the "soldiers"who was only  following orders

Sorry I forgot we should both forgive & forget that nazis ever existed-that will probably be slightly easier for 99.99 % of the people on this board

You have no idea what other members of the board have gone through. As usual MM you are assuming the worst of anyone who offers a different opinion to yours. The thread was heated but none confrontational ..until now, typical :rolleyes:

And my husband lost his father due to what he suffered at the hands of the Nazis (my father was in Burma fighting the Japanese). But my husband and his mother both think this is a ridiculous outcry at a silly error of judgement.

<And my husband lost his father due to what he suffered at the hands of the Nazis (my father was in Burma fighting the Japanese). But my husband and his mother both think this is a ridiculous outcry at a silly error of judgement>

Then you should know that someone who lost their whole family at the hands of them might just find it very objectionable & I do know how people feel about losing family members at the hands of the Nazis & the Japanese(who were of course NOT Nazis but Allies of the same)

You also said "Nazis were offensive"Sorry they are still around & are slightly more than offensive, they are behind  a lot of racist trouble in every country in the world because of their believes

Has it come down to a competition as to who lost more relatives during the War? :rolleyes:

Yes, I can understand people would object - but this is just so OTT as to make many people switch off - playing right into the hands of the current batch of racists.

J/G, so was my B in Law, he was taken pow of the Japanese.

Christine, Spain.

Prince Harry is a 20 year old. While I do not condone what he has done - had he been any other youngster in this country, no-one would have thought anything of it. I doubt whether anyone of his age equates wearing a costume to a fancy dress party, to actually having Nazi sympathies etc etc . Youngsters of that age do not have the benefit of our 'wisdom'

Daisy