Look, I like Harry- who doesn't? He seems lovable, warm, good at what he does (what he's supposed to do, that is!). But he put himself into a position that makes him look like an insensitive jerk who only gives a damn about his own wants and needs. Just because he can have whatever he wants doesn't mean he should have it. No respect for anyone...
I´m starting to feel sorry for Harry in advance if there is a video. But again, it is his fault who he parties with and how. First the party in Necker, then Vegas, how long? 4,5 days? How does one keep up with it? I suspect how.
And he should get rid of some toxic friends. I doubt that Skippy guy pays for the trip and luxury hotel, he´s there because he has a famous "friend". And the one that took a picture of him laying in the sand in Necker and published it on facebook. Those are not friends.
All this this much more distressing because it´s Harry. The guy exudes charm and goodness and I cannot imagine how embarrassed he should be. He doesn´t deserve this, but again he shares the fault.
He appears to be quite charming in public, and I've read several accounts of his private charm in superficial settings - which reminds me very much of the charisma his late mother had - it wasn't until much later that we learned of the very different private life she was leading. I am not suggesting this will be the case w/ Harry (indeed, I hope not,) but I am just recalling how very taken I was w/ the illusion (fairytale) I saw back then - of course I was much younger and more naive then. Similarly, I've read that the public was captivated by Edward VIII, yet his private life was far from exemplary. I simply can't judge Harry's character positively or negatively based on his public persona.
In regards to the 'friends,' the saying "with friends like that, who needs enemies?" comes to mind.
I think you're right on the money here. In some ways she satisfied the public's curiosity with a very tame story. She could have said much worse, she could have made up much worse. I would think the palace is sighing with relief.
It occurred to me as I read the varying reactions to the whole thing, that people judge behavior through the lens of their own culture. Someone living in a culture where Burqas are the norm will judge this incident more harshly than someone who grew up watching Monty Python.
Setting aside my own cultural bias, and looking to Harry's milieu it seems, based on poll results referenced in the press, the British public judge Harry's behavior as being w/in accepted norms. Moreover, his fellow soldiers appear to feel Harry's privacy was grossly intruded upon and are sympathetic to him - judging from the whole nude salute movement.
Even though conduct may be appropriate in one's own country, it is not acceptable to ignore cultural norms in countries one is visiting, IMO. I believe, based on my own visits and the billboards and those disgusting strip club adverts they thrust at you w/ nude/mostly nude women's pictures when you try to walk down the street in Vegas, and based on shows on offer in Vegas such as Zumanity, that playing nude billards in a private suite is certainly w/in accepted norms in
Las Vegas. If this incident had occurred in US flyover land my conclusion would be different.
My conclusion, therefore, is that in both milieux, Harry's conduct was acceptable.
He is not the heir to the throne, thus the expectations regarding him are different than the pressures placed on his brother. Even assuming arguendo that his behavior should be judged in the same light as William's is judged, sometimes the role which a person is forced to assume by fate causes the person to rise to the challenge, remember Kings Edward VII and George VI, neither seemed particularly promising before they ascended the throne.
This 'scandal' broke 2 weeks ago and the very best of the dirt diggers have been digging for every piece of malfeasance they can find and publish w/out being sued for libel and all they can come up with is one lengthy kiss followed by an amicable parting? And unsubstantiated claims that 'some people were high on 'mrooms' when they got to the party, some people had smoked dope and some people used cocaine at the party, but Prince Harry did none of this. Indeed, there's not even a claim that one of his group did any of this or that any of them saw any of this conduct occurring.
Time for the press vultures to move on in search of fresh blood, IMO.