Having grown up in Blighty with its regular news-feeds on the doings of Monarchy, I am well versed on the personalities of its family members, be it from an abundance of books or direct sources.
I can tell you this: It was no accident that the Princess Royal (Anne, the new King’s kid sister and the toughest, gnarliest royal of all) literally blindsided her nephew at the coronation. (Little wonder she was chosen to be her brother’s official bodyguard as part of the pomp.)
Anne is said to take after her father, the late Duke of Edinburgh, who was renowned for gruff outspokenness. She is the royal who decades ago took on reporters and press photographers, infamously telling them to “naff off,” earning the nickname “Her Royal Rudeness.”
Princess Anne knew precisely where she would sit in Westminster Abbey during the Coronation of King Charles III. And little doubt she knew that her wayward nephew Harry was placed directly behind herself. (Maybe he was sat there on purpose.)
And thus, Anne conjured up a plan that would severely humiliate Harry and convey to the world exactly how she felt about the numerous swipes and gripes Harry made about their family to a global audience in his tell-all book and television interviews.
As head of the royal horse guards, Anne’s hat features a gargantuan red plume that not only obstructed Harry’s view of the ceremony but obliterated him from photographs taken of royal spectators in the first few rows. Her revenge was masterful.
I suspect that if Harry had objected, Anne would have bitten his head off. And I’m certain Harry knew this himself and kept quiet to avoid further embarrassment.
“Red Feather” may well become Harry’s new nickname.