The thing about the Prince Harry situation that is so distressing is that his situation is essentially the human situation. We are each born to a high destiny, though not the highest: we are intended to be part of the royal family under the high king, our elder brother.
If we had our heads screwed on straight we would recognize that each of us has a crucial and honorable part to play in carrying forward this project of imperial and royal rule.
But humans characteristically a) get resentful that they are not the high king b) decide to do their best to break solidarity with that family and c) chuck it all and move to California, trading that honorable project for hedonism and celebrity-based clout.
Sorry to be Youth Pastor Voice about this but I'm telling it like it is.
Obviously the British royal family is a deeply imperfect mirror of the actual cosmic royal family: in the cosmic royal family there is not any bad behavior by parents,
Obviously the British royal family is a deeply imperfect mirror of the actual cosmic royal family: in the cosmic royal family there is not any bad behavior by parents,
and each of us genuinely does have a distinct job to do, and there is no cause to feel ambiguity about power and privilege: they are given, not earned, but they have not been by any possible stretch of the imagination accumulated unjustly or at the expense of others.
But the whole process of rejecting something beautiful & good & old & honorable that you've inherited, dipping out on your baptismal obligations, placing yourself under a different authority because you think you'll get a better shake from them, and get it on your own termsβ
That is just so familiar.
It's also fascinating to think about the media and "the people" being the alternate source of power that Diana looked to when Charles was not protecting her, was betraying her:
It's also fascinating to think about the media and "the people" being the alternate source of power that Diana looked to when Charles was not protecting her, was betraying her:
Harry looked to that same populist media-based power source, as something like an alternative father/power/source of approval. And as with any idol, you become like what you worship: born a prince, he has become a celebrity.
This is really very Jacob and Esau. He sold his birthright for, probably, a Netflix series to be made out of his book, and for however many Instagram followers he has.
I cannot think of someone who more desperately needed to read the Book of Proverbs when he was young.
I cannot think of someone who more desperately needed to read the Book of Proverbs when he was young.
Loading suggestions...