Prince Harry’s naked photo scandal has led to calls for him to be stripped of his royal title — something experts claim Harry himself would dearly love.
Harry, 27, has always been something of a royal rebel, but seemed to have finally grown up in recent months.
He was a picture of composure at the royal wedding, completed a wildly successful tour of the Caribbean in March and was a constant fixture at the recent London Olympic Games.
Related: Prince William ‘not impressed’ with Harry’s naked photos
Harry was even granted the great honour of representing the royal family at the closing ceremony, something that displayed the Queen’s confidence in him to the world.
But just days later, Harry was photographed naked in a Las Vegas hotel room, undoing all the reputation rehab his minders have been working hard on for the past two years.
The embarrassing images have led many to call for Harry’s royal title to be stripped.
It sounds extreme, but royal watchers say Harry himself would jump at the chance to be a “normal” citizen.
Without his royal title Harry would be free to behave as he pleases, and liberated from an endless list of boring official events.
He could party to his heart’s content, take up with any number of women and drink as much alcohol as he likes and it wouldn’t be a story (because he is third in line to throne, anything he does now is).
Relinquishing his title would also allow Harry to fulfil one of his dearest ambitions — to return to Afghanistan to serve on the front line.
Harry served in the war-torn country in 2007, but had to be evacuated early when the media blackout on reporting his location was breached by an Australian magazine.
Harry was devastated his service was cut short and has repeatedly spoken of his desire to return to active duty in the years since.
Unfortunately for him, his royal status makes that dream extremely unlikely.
Harry’s behaviour is also a strain on his grandmother, who has devoted 60 years of her life to her country.
She has never behaved inappropriately, and such brazenly scandalous behaviour from her grandson is sure to hurt her deeply.
Guardian journalist Emma G Keller says stripping Harry of his royal title would be the best thing for him, and the Queen.
“Being royal is nothing but a pain for him and it’s nothing but a pain for the rest of the family, either,” Keller writes.
“Imagine being the Queen today. It’s your Diamond Jubilee year and you’ve clocked dozens of hours celebrating round the country, standing in the freezing rain on a Thames barge and pretending to parachute into the Olympic stadium.
“From a PR point of view this has been one of your best years ever. Until now. You were back on top. And now this. It’s tiresome and embarrassing and has nothing to do with all the work you’ve done. But it’s become the story and you have to deal with it. And you know it’ll happen again — and again and again.”
Keller thinks Harry should follow in the footsteps of his mother Princess Diana and retire from public life.
This would endear him to the public and give him the freedom to live his life however he sees fit.
Related: How the queen will punish naughty naked Harry
“Remember when Princess Diana announced she was retiring from public life?” Keller writes. “She knew what she was doing. Everyone loved her for it.
“Prince Harry should follow in his mother’s not his father’s footsteps. Strip off his crown. Retire from royalty. Leave the firm and join the crowd. Then we’d leave him alone.”
Your say: Do you think Harry should give up his royal title?
Video: Harry’s nude photo scandal
Newsletter conversion description. Get the latest in your inbox.
