Pictures of William and Harry

[grandduchessella]

I think the photos that may cause controversy are the ones of him grinding on equally naked young ladies. As I said, I don't regard it as anything heinous but that may not be how it plays out in the press. The timing, coming after the Jubilee and Olympics, is just unfortunate. I do feel that more care could have been taken to prevent the photos from being taken in the first place. I think that's the bigger lapse in judgment than the naked cavorting. It seems to be rather unescapable though in this age of cell phone cameras. More than one teenager or young adult has gotten burned by modern technology.

[Kalafrana]

I have some sympathy with Harry on this one. A person should be able to go to a private party and not have pictures of his silly behaviour splashed all over the internet! However, this is an unfortunate feature of modern life, particularly if anyone is at all prominent, so he needs to exercise a bit of judgement and self-restraint. Going swimming with Ryan Lochte, no problem. Stripping down to nothing at a party, potentially problematical.

Harry is a serving army officer. If I were his Commanding Officer, I would call him in for some advice, and if it happened again it would be an interview without coffee.

Ann

[Robert_Hall]

Las Vegas' official slogan is "What goes on in Vegas, stays in Vegas" Someone broke the rules.  I still do not think any harm was done. But, Ann, I had not considered his military position By the same token, he was out of uniform [literally] and on his own time so who's business is it ?

[CHRISinUSA]

I agree - I checked out the 2 published photos as well, and frankly there's nothing about them that was horrible.  It is clear from those pics that this was a party, with a group of young individuals present (not merely the prince and young lady), that it was  fun and games.  I suspect  public reaction would be entirely different if the pics showed something decidedly more racy going on - either at the same moment or later in the evening.

That said, only two photos were published, and I suspect there may be others we have not yet seen.  Reaching far back into my youth I can recall a similar strip game during an admittedly wild party in my university days (although strip billiards is new to me, very clever!), so I can report that it is nearly impossible to remove all of one's clothing and continue the game, especially after copious amounts of alcohol, without exposing the "crown jewels" at some point.  

So it is entirely possible that our unknown photographer may have other pics on that phone that he/she were either too afraid to sell yet, or are being withholding for a better financial deal.  For Harry's sake, I hope I'm wrong.

[Grace]

Honestly *rolls eyes*, I think some of you are too good to be true!  It seems that Harry can do anything at all without censure from his adoring fans!  If someone like Prince Andrew did the same thing, he would be savaged by the media and public alike but because it's knock-about Harry, it's all okay?  What does he have to do for people to say he's crossed the line?!!

You know what I'm waiting for?  The sex tape...probably just around the corner, folks.  Again, just my opinion. -_-

[Kalafrana]

'By the same token, he was out of uniform [literally] and on his own time so who's business is it?'

Robert

Military law applies to serving members of the regular forces (and officers of the reserve forces) at all times. What we're talking about here is not so much a breach of military law as such but about what is improper behaviour for a serving officer (sorry I sound a bit like Colonel Blimp!) Officers and NCOs are expected to set an example in their behaviour and not to act in a way which could embarrass their services. Silly beggars in the Officers Mess (and I have seen quite a lot over the years) is not really a problem because there is a strong tradition that what happens in the mess stays in the mess. Getting pie-eyed 'outside' among civilians whom you don't know very well and who are liable to take compromising pictures and post them on the internet is something different and any sensible Commanding Officer would, in my view, have something to say to the young officer concerned. I don't know whether you have noticed it, but there is a strong anti-officer streak in British society and much of the press (soldiers are all right, but all officers are at best chinless wonders with no common sense). With being an officer goes a responsibility to be sensible. To take a very simple example, if I'm travelling back from a training weekend in uniform, as I sometimes do, and needed to stop for a meal, I would try to avoid going into a pub, and if there was no alternative I would certainly not drink anything stronger than lemonade. Much better to stop at the motorway services! A couple of months ago, I stopped for some petrol on my way to my cadet force training night, and, having filled up, realised I'd left my wallet at home. Embarrassing enough, but far worse because I was in uniform! Fortunately, it was only about 300 yards from home, so I was able to leave the car where it was and walk home for my wallet.

If I were Harry's CO, I would give Harry a good talking-to and a long spell of Orderly Officer - which has the effect of confining the foolish young officer to camp for as long as his term of duty lasts, wearing uniform and forbidden to drink, and having to perform slightly tiresome functions such as visiting the cookhouse at every mealtime!

Ann

[CHRISinUSA]

I won't deny that this is a great example of our societal double standards, Grace.  There are a large share of the populace that view this kind of thing as  "boys will be boys, harmless good fun", while others will view it as "crossing the line."  It just depends on your perspective, I suppose.  I admit I sit on the "boys will be boys" side in this case.

If he were cheating (married or dating someone right now), or if the young lady in question appeared to be a minor (or overtly intoxicated, or a "professional"), or if he were partying when he were supposed to be doing official duties, I'd view it differently.  But a fun-loving 27 year old bachelor on private holiday in a private hotel room?  If you can't enjoy a game of strip billiards under those circumstances, than when I ask?

I do realize that the Queen and her advisors will not probably share my live-and-let-live attitude here.  But I can almost picture the Duke of Edinburgh pretending to shake his head in disgust, while at the same time privately smirking a bit.

I absolutely do agree with Kalafrana's point - as an army officer Harry violated "conduct unbecomming" rules, and if he has to clean latrines for six months as punishment, well, he earned it.  But I bet he'll be whistling while he works.....

[grandduchessella]

Honestly *rolls eyes*, I think some of you are too good to be true!  It seems that Harry can do anything at all without censure from his adoring fans!  If someone like Prince Andrew did the same thing, he would be savaged by the media and public alike but because it's knock-about Harry, it's all okay?  What does he have to do for people to say he's crossed the line?!!

You know what I'm waiting for?  The sex tape...probably just around the corner, folks.  Again, just my opinion. -_-

Well, I'm no adoring fan and I think he's getting a bit old for such antics but I think we can all agree that no one wants to see Prince Andrew in the all-together.

I think a more valid comparison would be Beatrice or Eugenie--can you imagine the outcry if it had been one of the princesses rather than the randy Prince?

[Robert_Hall]

Randy Andy was not alone on his romp through the woods and Fergie is not what I would "modest". But, IMO,  anything goes before one turns 30. Then it is time to grow up. As I see it,  this issue is more of an "item" here, in the US than it is anywhere else.  The media is making a big deal of it. And, it will fade away quickly.  I also think think that most men are more comfortable about being "en flagrante" as it starts in school, then the military and in  sports. Of course I do not know about women's experience.
 I am no big fan either, but I can understand having a good time at that age. I did not, though, I was wearing a collar at that age [in training, BTW] but I saw enough in the military alone and thought nothing of it.
 Ann, you are right, I had no clue about officers being looked at as imbeciles. The only ones I knew in the UK were only in their position because of patronage.  I do not think it is much the same here but, perhaps it is.

[Suzanne]

The royal family has experienced worse scandals than Harry in Las Vegas. The 1820 trial of Queen Caroline undermined the monarchy and was the first big tabloid royal scandal in Britain

http://www.royalhistorian.com/the-trial-of-queen-caroline-in-1820-and-the-birth-of-british-tabloid-coverage-of-royalty/

[darius]

This whole episode is nonsense.  While I do think Harry´s judgement is rather lacking - he should never have carried on like that in a place like Las Vegas (or even gone on a holiday of this extent while his grandmother´s subjects are in the throes of economic woe), the issue is really a private one.  It was done behind closed doors ie. in private.  Harry was on leave from the forces and how he wishes to spend his free time should be his business and his alone - let´s remember, there was nothing illegal going on here.  The problem was his slack "minders" who should never have allowed these photos to be taken - it has of course also been hyped up by a hysterical and irresponsible media whose only aim is to sell, sell, sell irregardless of the tarnishing of reputations and damage this may do.  Let´s move on.  The story here is that there is no story.  It is a sad indictment of how shallow and decadent our world when this ridiculous story takes preeminence over Iran´s nuclear programme, Greek austerity, Syrian chemical weapons etc.  One word of warning to Harry for the sake of his heritage: - YOU ARE NOT A CELEBRITY - STOP ACTING LIKE A FOOTBALLER.  When the light get´s in and the smoke and mirrors vanish, you can do nothing but harm to the institution you represent.

[grandduchessella]

Randy Andy was not alone on his romp through the woods and Fergie is not what I would "modest". But, IMO,  anything goes before one turns 30. Then it is time to grow up. As I see it,  this issue is more of an "item" here, in the US than it is anywhere else.  The media is making a big deal of it. And, it will fade away quickly.  I also think think that most men are more comfortable about being "en flagrante" as it starts in school, then the military and in  sports. Of course I do not know about women's experience.
 I am no big fan either, but I can understand having a good time at that age. I did not, though, I was wearing a collar at that age [in training, BTW] but I saw enough in the military alone and thought nothing of it.
 Ann, you are right, I had no clue about officers being looked at as imbeciles. The only ones I knew in the UK were only in their position because of patronage.  I do not think it is much the same here but, perhaps it is.

It might not be much of a story in the UK because of the embargo that the media has put on it. The Daily Mail has even resorted to doing a really bad 're-enactment' of the photos on its front page.

[Jen_94]

I have some sympathy with Harry on this one. A person should be able to go to a private party and not have pictures of his silly behaviour splashed all over the internet! However, this is an unfortunate feature of modern life, particularly if anyone is at all prominent, so he needs to exercise a bit of judgement and self-restraint. Going swimming with Ryan Lochte, no problem. Stripping down to nothing at a party, potentially problematical.

Harry is a serving army officer. If I were his Commanding Officer, I would call him in for some advice, and if it happened again it would be an interview without coffee.

Ann

I agree with this, absolutley. These photos should have been kept private and not splashed out for the entire world to see. To make matters worse, even though the palace are trying to prevent these photos being spread, a British newspaper is publishing thse photos in tomorrow's edition of their paper. In my opinion, that is totally wrong.

[IvanVII]

While the behavior may not be entirely appropriate of a young prince, I think in today's day and age it gives a "there not much different from us" face to the royal family which can in reality be a positive thing overall for their popularity. Of course it doesn't hurt that he's a fit young man who I'm sure many a female subject of her majesty wouldn't mind blushing over.

[Grace]

The justifications for the behaviour of this juvenile, self-indulgent buffoon get more and more bizarre by the day - even here!  Now it might even be a positive thing for the overall popularity of the monarchy?  Apart from Grandduchessella, I am obviously very out of touch with popular opinion in matters such as this. 

I think Harry has brought dishonour to the monarchy and particularly to his grandmother Queen Elizabeth, especially in this year of her Diamond Jubilee.  I think he should issue a public apology.  This won't happen though.  He will be sent back to the army or the orphans of Lesotho will suddenly need a visit in the next few weeks, can't you see it?