Prince Harry faces backlash over his “All I can see is phones” comment at the Wanderlust Reader Travel Awards. The event was held at London’s Old Royal Naval College on Thursday, November 5. For the uninitiated, it is an annual celebration of global travel hosted by Wanderlust, the UK’s longest-running independent travel publication.
Why Prince Harry’s London awards-show comment drew criticism
Prince Harry has become the target of fresh ridicule after playfully asking a crowd to put their phones down while giving a surprise keynote address. The Duke of Sussex seemed irritated by the number of devices aimed at the stage. Harry attended the Wanderlust Reader Travel Awards as a representative of Travalyst. It is an international, independent non-profit promoting sustainable travel, established in 2019 by the non-working royal.
Noticing people filming his arrival, the 42-year-old addressed them by saying, “All I can see is phones.” The room burst into laughter, making it clear the crowd took it as a joke, not a scolding. Then, nodding to the speaker before him, Harry added, “You guys, literally he just talked about it.”
However, offering their take on Harry’s comment, an insider shared with RadarOnline.com, “The irony of Harry’s filming remark wasn’t lost on anyone. Harry turns up to give a surprise speech and then starts commenting on people filming him. He’s a famous royal making a public appearance, so it’s hardly surprising people wanted photographs. Some saw that as rather diva-like behavior.”
They noted, “Harry appeared to be joking, and people laughed along, but the exchange was interpreted as another example of his uneasy relationship with public attention. He wants people to listen to his message, but he cannot control how they react to seeing him.”
The source went on to say, “There’s something rather contradictory about a prince who has spent his entire life in the spotlight appearing uncomfortable when people take out their phones. It’s the kind of reaction that risks making him look entitled, even when he’s trying to be funny.”
