Harry’s army career
Sir: I believe Jan Moir has misread the situation over Harry and Meghan (‘By royal disappointment’, 24 August). Shortly after Prince Harry left school he was filmed leading drill as a cadet. He was grinning ear to ear, clearly enjoying himself. Harry flourished in the army, which made his leaving it in 2015 such a surprise. In an interview at the time, he related the struggles of ‘trying to get the balance right’ between royal and military life.
Prince Harry’s army career was a tremendous boon to the monarchy, and I never understood why the royal family gave that asset up. All of the Duke of Sussex’s ‘woke’ entanglements have been a search for a new sense of purpose after his vocation was denied him. Even if the prince has ruffled some political feathers, he is clearly seeking to achieve Jan Moir’s ‘standards of public service’ and do good for the royal family and the British people. If anything, that should make him more deserving of our sympathy, understanding and encouragement.
Robert Frazer
Salford, Greater Manchester
Royal travels
Sir: Charles Moore is quite wrong in believing that we are not a civilised enough people to be trusted to leave the royals alone if they travel on public transport (The Spectator’s Notes, 24 August). Here in north Norfolk we are extremely civilised about it. The Queen comes on a regular scheduled public train from London to King’s Lynn every December. The Cambridges travel on the same line, with children and dog, plus just one policeman. The latter shop locally, as a family or individually, again with a security officer only. I was in a toy shop with them last year. The Duchess of Cornwall does her Christmas shopping in a small market town near my home every year.
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