Prince Harry backs move to ban Swing Low, Sweet Chariot: Duke of Sussex signals his support for review of England rugby anthem linked to slavery despite huge backlash from fans

  • Prince Harry signalled support for Rugby Football Union's review into the song
  • He became patron of the Rugby Football League in 2016 when the Queen stepped back 
  • Swing Low, Sweet Chariot was written by a black slave in the American South in the nineteenth century
Prince Harry has backed the moves to ban Swing Low, Sweet Chariot from rugby games due to its association with slavery. 
He has sung the rugby anthem many times since childhood and he is a fan and patron of the Rugby Football Union (RFU). 
Prince Harry has signalled support for the RFU's review into the song, written by Wallace Willis, a freed Oklahoma slave, in light of the Black Lives Matter movement, The Sunday Times reported
Prince Harry has backed the moves to ban Swing Low, Sweet Chariot from rugby games due to its association with slavery. Pictured at the Six Nations match between England and France in 2019
Prince Harry has backed the moves to ban Swing Low, Sweet Chariot from rugby games due to its association with slavery. Pictured at the Six Nations match between England and France in 2019
The anthem rings around the stands at Twickenham and is being reviewed by the RFU which has launched a wide-ranging probe into racism.  
Written by a black slave in the American South during the nineteenth century, the song was first belted out by supporters when two black wingers - Martin Offiah and Chris Oti - became sporting heroes on the pitch at the end of the 1980s. 
Prince Harry follows Meghan Markle's lead as a close friend said that her instinct to leave the UK and move to California makes sense to her now. 
The anthem rings around the stands at Twickenham and is being reviewed by the RFU which has launched a wide-ranging probe into racism
The anthem rings around the stands at Twickenham and is being reviewed by the RFU which has launched a wide-ranging probe into racism
She believes she was 'destined' to help fight against racism and feels her 'gnawing urgency to uproot from England' was fate so she could be at the 'forefront' of the movement. 
The close friend added: 'Meghan said her work as a leader is more important than ever right now and that she's been speaking with Oprah and other community leaders on how she can be part of the solution. 
'Meghan feels like her mission goes far beyond acting. She said she wants to use her voice for change and hasn't ruled out a career in politics.' 
Boris Johnson waded into the Swing Low Sweet Chariot race row yesterday, declaring it should not be banned 'because no-one knows the words'. 
Instead he he wanted people to stop focusing on ‘symbols of discrimination’ and look at the wider picture of racial equality.
He said: ‘Nobody as far as I understand it seems to know the words. Before we start complaining about Swing Low Sweet Chariot I’d like to know what the rest of the words are… ‘’Swing Low, Sweet Chariot, coming for to carry me home’’, then it all dies out. 
‘How does it go on? I certainly don’t think there should be any sort of prohibition on singing that.’ 
Martin Offiah has insisted he does not want to see 'Swing Low, Sweet Chariot' banned from being sung at the rugby.
Offiah told BBC Radio 5Live's Breakfast: 'It is a very emotive song and stirs up feelings. 
Prince Harry follows Meghan Markle's lead as a close friend said that her instinct to leave the UK and move to California makes sense to her now
Prince Harry follows Meghan Markle's lead as a close friend said that her instinct to leave the UK and move to California makes sense to her now
Boris Johnson called for Swing Low to still be sung because no-one really knew the words. He is pictured at Twickenham Stadium with his partner Carrie Symonds in March this year
Boris Johnson called for Swing Low to still be sung because no-one really knew the words. He is pictured at Twickenham Stadium with his partner Carrie Symonds in March this year
'That is probably something to do with its history and that history is probably not that well known by a lot of people in the UK. 
Trevor Phillips, 66, condemned the RFU for reviewing the popular sporting song
Trevor Phillips, 66, condemned the RFU for reviewing the popular sporting song
'I know the RFU are planning to review this song and I champion reviewing it, but I wouldn't support the banning of such a song. When you do try to ban things like that it makes the song more divisive.'  
Former head of the Commission for Racial Equality Trevor Phillips, 66, condemned the RFU for reviewing the popular sporting song. 
He slammed plans to ban Swing Low, Sweet Chariot and described it as 'Black people's own culture being cancelled'.  
He pointed out the last people to try and ban it were Hitler and the Nazis back in 1939.  
Prince Harry became patron of the Rugby Football League in 2016 when the Queen stepped back after decades in the role. 
He continued in the role after he and Meghan stepped back from their position as senior royals. 
In his first major engagement after the announcement, he returned to Buckingham Palace to host the draw for the Rugby League World Cup. 
Martin Offiah stops Bret Dallas from scoring in a match against Australia in October 1995
Martin Offiah stops Bret Dallas from scoring in a match against Australia in October 1995

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