Prince Harry risks angering Queen by saying Commonwealth 'must acknowledge past wrongs' even if it's 'uncomfortable' in apparent criticism of British Empire during call with Meghan to young leaders
Prince Harry today faced criticism after he appeared to take a swipe at the British Empire by saying the history of the Commonwealth 'must be acknowledged', even if it's 'uncomfortable'.
The Duke of Sussex, 35, made the comment as he joined wife Meghan Markle, 38, for a video call with young leaders from the Queen's Commonwealth Trust last week that was made public today.
As part of the discussion on 'justice and equal rights', Harry said the Commonwealth needs to follow others who have 'acknowledged the past' and are 'trying to right their wrongs', and also admitted to having his own 'unconscious bias'.
Meanwhile Meghan said it is also a time of 'reckoning' when individuals should be putting their hands up to 'own' their past wrongdoings.
Speaking from his Los Angeles home, Harry said: 'When you look across the Commonwealth, there is no way that we can move forward unless we acknowledge the past. So many people have done such an incredible job of acknowledging the past and trying to right those wrongs, but I think we all acknowledge there is so much more still to do.'
The statement appears to be a swipe at the British Empire, which was ruled over by his ancestors and led to the creation of the Commonwealth, and goes against protocol of royals not wading into politics.
The intervention was criticised by Tory MP Andrew Rosindell, who told MailOnline Prince Harry's comments were 'disappointing' and would not 'please' the Queen.
Prince Harry risked upsetting the royal family by insisting the Commonwealth 'must acknowledge the past' in a video call with Meghan Markle and young leaders from across the Commonwealth. Pictured, Chrisann Jarrett (UK) (top left), Mike Omoniyi (UK), (top right), Alicia Wallace (Bahamas) (bottom left) and Abdullahi Alim (Australia) (bottom right
The Duke of Sussex, 35, made the comment as he joined wife Meghan Markle, 38, for a video call with young leaders from the Queen's Commonwealth Trust last week
Mr Rosindell said: 'I understand that Harry and Meghan have taken a step out from being members of the Royal Family.
'Therefore I'm surprised that he would be making comments like that. I don't agree with what he is saying. We should look forward not back. As someone who has stepped out of the Royal Family he should focus on his own life and not get involved in politics.
'That is not the appropriate thing to do. I'm not sure his grandmother would be too pleased either.'
It is the latest in a series of public steps taken by Harry and Meghan as they shift the focus of their royal work towards racial equality and social justice.
Harry, 35, last week publicly apologised for 'endemic' institutionalised racism, saying he is 'sorry' the world isn't in the place where young people 'deserve it to be'. The statement sparked calls for Harry to apologise for his own mistakes relating to racism.In the most recent call Harry turned his attention to the Commonwealth, which emerged out of the decolonisation of the British Empire in the first half of the 20th century. Almost all of the 54 Commonwealth territories were once part of the Empire.
The Queen remains head of the Commonwealth and in 2018 Harry's father Prince Charles was announced as her successor.
However Harry insisted it will only be possible for the organisation to continue if more is done to 'acknowledge' the past.
Harry told the group of young people, which included young leaders from Australia, the Bahamas and the UK: 'When you look across the Commonwealth, there is no way that we can move forward unless we acknowledge the past.
'So many people have done such an incredible job of acknowledging the past and trying to right those wrongs, but I think we all acknowledge there is so much more still to do.
'It's not going to be easy and in some cases it's not going to be comfortable, but it needs to be done, because, guess what, everybody benefits.'
Speaking from his Los Angeles home, Harry said: 'When you look across the Commonwealth, there is no way that we can move forward unless we acknowledge the past
In response to the growing Black Lives Matter movement, QCT has been running a weekly discussion with young people looking at various forms of injustice on the experiences of young people today. Pictured, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
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