Prince Harry could learn from the Japanese royals

Plain old Harry Windsor, as he is now, is in Japan for the International Sports Promotion Summit and a few low-key engagements before moving on to Singapore for a polo tournament fundraising for AIDS. The relaxed and happy looking former prince was welcomed with enthusiasm and characteristic courtesy by well-wishers as he arrived alone, wearing an Archewell branded cap, at Tokyo’s Haneda airport. Winningly, Harry flew commercial and didn’t use the VIP pathway to navigate the airport. ‘It’s good to see you again’ he said to reporters and added he’d be ‘happy to live here if you’d have me’ and actually looked as though he meant it.

This is Harry’s first overseas outing as an ex-royal. But whatever his official designation, Harry Windsor is very much still seen as a royal in Japan. Princess Diana was idolised here ever since making an enormous impression when she visited with Prince Charles in 1986 and the Japanese press refer to prince William as ‘Diana’s first born’.