22 February, 2024

Delivered in association with Sean Coughlan Welcome to Royal Watch. The Prince of Wales entered one of the most diplomatically sensitive arenas this week, making headlines with his comments about ending the loss of life and providing humanitarian aid in the Israel-Gaza war. Also this week, if Prince Harry did seek US citizenship, what would it mean for his titles? Plus, a new survey revealed some surprising results about attitudes towards the monarchy among state-educated and private-school children. William speaks out on Israel-Gaza Prince William made a significant symbolic intervention in the Israel-Gaza conflict this week, issuing a statement calling for an end to the fighting as soon as possible when visiting the British Red Cross in London. It was a heartfelt plea about the “sheer scale of human suffering” and an issue that he clearly feels strongly about, revealing he was “deeply moved as a father”. The statement was carefully balanced, referencing the desperate need for humanitarian assistance in Gaza alongside the urgent need to release hostages. Prince William listens to the senior crisis manager at the International Committee of the Red Cross. Credit: PA Wire. In the same way his own father was often accused of “meddling” when he was Prince of Wales, William has also faced questions about whether he was straying into politics. But the reality is that such strong comments from the Prince of Wales about such a sensitive subject would have been briefed to the government in advance. Royal sources confirmed this was the case. Kensington Palace also said the prince would be visiting a synagogue to hear about tackling antisemitism in the coming weeks. Criticism notwithstanding, these are the types of big issues that Prince William will be facing as he increasingly steps up to help his father. It’s also a reminder of the sudden gear changes of his life now. On Sunday night he was at the Bafta film awards, and then a couple of days later he was hearing about Gaza, all while his wife and father recover from significant medical treatment. Such is the life of a senior royal. From the red carpet to the Red Cross. Prince William alongside King Charles and Catherine, Princess of Wales, at the Honours of Scotland ceremony last year. Credit: PA • Prince William: Too many killed in Middle East violence King restarts official duties King Charles and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak met on Wednesday at Buckingham Palace, marking the first time the monarch was seen on official duties since revealing his cancer diagnosis. As Mr Sunak was filmed arriving, the King told him that he had been very moved by all the cards and good wishes sent to him, saying messages of support “reduced me to tears”. King Charles sitting with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in the Audience Room at Buckingham Palace. Credit: Reuters. • King 'reduced to tears' by kind messages after cancer diagnosis Mr Sussex and the royal children? Prince Harry has considered applying for US citizenship, according to his recent TV interview with Good Morning America. But if he did that and still wanted to keep his title, he might face a decade-long battle in the courts, Californian lawyer Alphonse Provinziano told the BBC. The process of becoming a US citizen usually requires renouncing any titles and “positions of nobility in a foreign state”. Prince Harry and Meghan visited the training camp for the 2025 Invictus Games in Vancouver, Canada. Credit: Reuters But Mr Provinziano, a Los Angeles family law specialist, said this is an “unsettled area of the law” and there could be grounds for a legal challenge. That wouldn’t be quick and if it was referred upwards all the way to the US Supreme Court it could take five to 10 years before it was decided, said the lawyer. However, it would be a different story for Harry’s children, who are already US citizens and could remain as prince and princess. Harry and Meghan with their son, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, in 2019. Image: PA “Nothing prevents this and we’ve seen it with Princess Grace of Monaco and approximately 70 other individuals in history who have kept their foreign titles,” says Mr Provinziano. So could it be Mr Sussex and his children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. • Recap: Why did Harry and Meghan leave the Royal Family? Private intentions There have been reports and speculation in the press about which secondary school Prince William and Catherine’s son Prince George will go to, but all the suggestions are private schools. None of the speculation seems to even consider state schools. Will the public mind that? William and Catherine walking their children to school in 2022. Image: PA Maybe the royals didn’t see an interesting survey from King’s College London which found that children in private schools were less likely to support the monarchy than pupils at state school.