Prince Harry Needs To ‘Repair’ The Damage Of Last Summer’s ‘Hostile Headlines’

Prince Harry’s upcoming trip to South Africa is more than just a royal tour with his wife and son.

According to a royal expert, the engagement is the perfect opportunity for the Duke of Sussex to redeem himself after the criticisms that were thrown at him and Meghan Markle last summer.

In an article he wrote for The Telegraph, Princess Diana’s former press secretary, Patrick Jephson, said that Prince Harry also needs to make a tough decision on whether he wants to be regarded as a celebrity or as a royal as he treads through the minefield of public life.

“Harry, as we know, has inherited his mother’s gift for spontaneous charm. He’ll need every ounce of it during the Africa tour which he is about to lead, as it’s probably the greatest diplomatic test of his royal career to date. It’s also a test of his ability to repair the damage of a summer of hostile headlines,” he said.

Meanwhile, Jephson also likened Prince Harry to his late mom, Princess Diana. Years ago, the Princess of Wales also traveled to South Africa for her royal tour. While there, she was photographed walking on the landmines that are now being occupied by stores.

“More than two decades will separate the two images of familiar royal figures trussed up in visor and body armor, but beyond this similarity lie differences of royal style that tell us quite a lot about how Prince Harry is following in his mother’s careful footsteps – and how he is charting his own very different path through the minefield of public life,” Jephson said.

When Princess Diana was still alive, she also faced hostility and criticisms for involving herself in anti-mines work. The move was seen by critics as Princess Diana’s way of staying on the political territory.

“It was the first sub-Saharan tour that I had organized and although it had its fair share of challenges, it left the Princess – and me, for that matter – fascinated by that great continent,” Jephson said.

Prince Harry and Markle will arrive in Cape Town on Sept. 23. Their tour will wrap up on Oct. 2.