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It has been reported that Prince Harry is furious after Catherine, Princess of Wales upstaged him at the ESPY Awards in Los Angeles last month. While Harry was in town to receive the Pat Tillman Award for Service at the annual sports awards show, Catherine was also making headlines for attending the men's final at Wimbledon just a day earlier.
Sources say Harry is upset that all the media attention in the days surrounding the ESPYs seemed to focus on Catherine's appearance at Wimbledon rather than his award. As the future Queen, Catherine received copious coverage for showing her support of the sporting event as she presented the trophy to the winner. Photographs of her sitting with her children Charlotte and George in the Royal Box spread across news sites and social media.
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Meanwhile, Harry's award reception received comparatively little fanfare. Part of the issue, according to insiders, is the unfortunate timing of the two high profile appearances so close together. With Catherine fulfilling her royal duties at Wimbledon, her public outing couldn't help but overshadow Harry receiving an honor for his work with veterans. Some have even suggested the dates of the Wimbledon final and ESPYs were intentionally scheduled this way to upstage the Sussexes.
"Harry is absolutely fuming that Catherine managed to steal his thunder just by showing up to a tennis match," revealed one Palace aide. "As a Prince, he's not used to being upstaged like this. But Catherine has that royal star power he can never achieve now that he's stepped back from duties. No matter what awards he gets, she'll always command more interest simply by virtue of her position and likability."
It's worth noting that when Catherine attended Wimbledon, she received a spontaneous three minute standing ovation from the crowd. In contrast, when Harry spoke at the ESPYs to accept his award, reports say he got a polite but muted response. Some of this likely has to do with the political divisions in America that don't exist to the same degree in the UK.
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However, there is no denying Catherine's effortless popularity and ability to connect with people. Her relaxed manner, down-to-earth style, and devotion to duty as a working royal have truly endeared her to the British public and many worldwide. Megan, on the other hand, has never quite succeeded in winning over crowds in the same organic, low-key way.
Another blow to Harry's ego is seeing photos comparing how each royal was seated at their respective events. While Catherine was given pride of place with the other royals in the front row at Wimbledon, Harry was reportedly seated in the middle sections at the ESPYs among other celebrity guests. Some have called this a clear “snub” of his lowered status since leaving Britain for America.
Adding insult to injury, many news reports pointed out how Catherine was spending time with her family providing a sense of normalcy and optimism, directly contrasting with Harry lamenting about his security concerns in the US. The mental health advocate seemed hypocritically distressed in comparison to the picture of poise, duty, and happiness the Princess of Wales portrays.
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Not only did Catherine easily steal focus at a public event that should have been all about Harry, but her calm leadership in the face of adversity makes the Sussexes constant displays of grievance and victimhood look petty and self-indulgent by comparison. It’s clear who has truly embraced their role as public figures and who is still struggling to carve out a purpose and image in their semi-private lives across the pond.
Sources say the whole experience has been a wake-up call for Harry. He knows deep down that no matter what awards or honors come his way, he will never command the same love and admiration as a senior royal like Catherine. Trying to compete for attention against a beloved Princess was always a losing battle. After flouncing out of the family to pursue fame and fortune in America, he has now realized how much he has given up in prestige and goodwill.
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While Catherine seems to effortlessly shine in her role with every public outing, boosting the monarchy's reputation, Harry is stuck playing second fiddle even on occasions meant to acknowledge his own work. His popularity continues sinking as long as he sabotages his side of the family to chase superficial rewards. If he hopes to rebuild some pride and relevance, it may be time for Harry to humbly learn from Catherine's example of quiet dignity, service, and leadership through challenging times rather than endless criticisms from across the pond. Only then will he reclaim even a fraction of the respect and praise that naturally gravitate towards the future Queen.
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