February 2023 nONCONFORMIST of the Month – Prince Harry

No matter what your opinion is of the Royal Family, they probably the most famous family in the world and the favorite target of the media.  In fact, the paparazzi are often so overzealous in getting photos of them that they put themselves and members of the Royal Family in danger.  This in fact is what led to the death of Princess Diana in Paris in 1997.

The whole world mourned as they watched her funeral and our hearts went out to her two young sons, William and Harry.  Seeing them marching stoically behind her casket toward Westminster Abbey made our hearts go out to those boys.  Not only had they grown up in the public eye, they dealt with their parents’ unstable marriage and ultimate divorce under scrutiny of the press.  Now they were again a target of the press on what would be a private event for an ordinary family.  Instead, they had to bear their grief in front of the entire world.

Last month Prince Harry published his autobiography and pulled back the veil of mystery that has always protected the inner operations of the Royal Family.  He wanted to shed light on what led to his departure from royal life which was a controversial decision to say the least.  I won’t go into detail about his reasons, as that is what his book is for.  I will point out that he did not take his decision lightly as he had a lot at stake even though those stakes became less high as he moved further down the channel of succession to the throne.    

There was intense scrutiny by the press due to his involvement with Meghan which escalated after they were married.  Harry mentioned his fear of “history repeating itself” when more than once Meghan was put in danger by overzealous paparazzi seeking a photo.  He became afraid that his wife might meet the fate of his mother.  Once they started a family, his fear increased, which is understandable.

This was not the only factor at play.  There were overblown or false stories circulating in the press and petty scrutiny over outdated protocols and societal expectations.  Having been raised in an environment that valued compliance and unquestioning loyalty, Harry started to question the very things he wasn’t supposed to question.  He began to see that blind compliance and the amount of sacrifice he had to make for the sake of public image were not worth putting his wife and children in danger.

Attempts to compromise by decreasing time in the public and increasing privacy while still fulfilling some royal duties were not considered an option.  Putting the needs of the Royal Family ahead of his own and those of his wife and children became too much to ask, so Harry and Meghan relinquished their royal statuses and struck out on their own.  They now live in California where they air a docu-series and run several non-profit charities.

To me it is admirable to stand up for yourself and those you care about in spite of what is at stake.  Harry had a lot at stake, but the risk of having his wife and children harassed and possibly injured or killed for the sake of an outdated monarchy made his decision clear. 

This is why I chose Prince Harry as this month’s nONCONFORMIST of the month.