Royal biographer Tom Bower has launched a scathing attack on Prince Harry's recent visit to Angola, dismissing it as a "desperate" publicity stunt.
Speaking on GB News, Bower claimed the Duke of Sussex's trip to retrace his mother Princess Diana's famous 1997 landmine walk was a calculated move driven by fear and desperation.
"It's a stunt. Harry is desperate," Bower said during his television appearance.
"He is desperate to get back to England and distance himself with the bitter feud of his wife."
GB NEWS / PA
|Tom Bower said Prince Harry is 'desperate'
The royal commentator suggested that whilst Harry would never leave California because of his children, he was struggling to establish his own identity.
Bower went further, claiming the prince was motivated by concerns about his future relationship with the monarchy.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
- Queen receives no gift from Meghan as Duchess's friends share update
- Senior legal figure in Prince Harry's court case steps down amid potential conflict of interest
- King opens speech with 'Assalamu Alaikum' during visit to Islamic centre
"What he really fears is, when the King, God forbid, dies, his brother is going to banish himself from Britain. So in some ways, he is trying to ingratiate himself," he explained.
Prince Harry visited Angola on Wednesday to support landmine clearance efforts, following in the footsteps of his late mother who made the same journey 28 years ago.
The Halo Trust | The Halo Trust has cleared 120,000 landmines in Angola.The Duke of Sussex, patron of the Halo Trust charity, met families in the remote village of Cuito Cuanavale and taught children mine safety phrases in Portuguese.
"Stop, go back and tell your elders," he instructed them, aiming to prevent accidental detonations.
Wearing protective gear including a visor and bulletproof vest, Harry walked through cleared minefields and participated in a controlled detonation exercise.
His visit echoed Princess Diana's iconic 1997 trip to Huambo, where she famously walked through a minefield just months before her death in a Paris car crash.
GB NEWS
|Tom Bower joined Nigel Farage on GB News
"Children should never have to live in fear of playing outside or walking to school. Here in Angola, over three decades later, the remnants of war still threaten lives every day," Harry said.
The prince also met Angolan President Joao Lourenco on Tuesday to discuss ongoing demining efforts in the country, which hosts Africa's largest minefield.
Bower also criticised the advisers surrounding the Duke of Sussex, suggesting they fundamentally misunderstood British culture and sentiment.
"He's advised by Californians who don't understand Britain. They think it's clever to let him recreate something Diana did but it's all falling flat," the biographer stated.
The Halo Trust | The Halo Trust has cleared 120,000 landmines in Angola.The timing of Harry's Angola visit comes amid reports of potential reconciliation efforts between the prince and King Charles.
According to recent reports, aides from both camps have held meetings to discuss avoiding media and calendar clashes.
The Duke hasn't seen his father in approximately 18 months, following his and Meghan's decision to step back as working royals and the publication of his memoir, Spare.
Harry is expected to return to the UK in September for a WellChild event, sparking speculation about a possible meeting with the King.
The Angola trip marked Harry's second visit to the country's minefields, having previously retraced his mother's steps in Huambo in September 2019.