Silence on Question Time as audience is asked to defend Prince Harry

‘Come on, there must be someone who wants to put in a good word for Harry?’: Awkward silence on Question Time as crowd is asked to defend Duke after audience member was cheered for attacking his ‘hypocritical privilege’

• The Duke of Sussex was blasted on Question Time for publishing his memoir 
• Audience members raged against ‘hypocritical’ Prince Harry last night 
• Host Fiona Bruce then asked if anyone wanted to defend the royal 
• She was met with an awkward silence before one person spoke out 

This is the awkward moment the BBC Question Time audience fell silent as they were asked to defend Prince Harry following the fallout from his bitter and controversial tell-all Spare. 

Panellists on the BBC current affairs programme blasted the Duke of Sussex for making a slew of allegations about the Royal Family, including incendiary claims that his estranged brother William attacked him in a bust-up over Meghan, in his media blitz to promote his memoir.

One furious audience member accused the prince of ‘hypocritical privilege’ to rapturous applause, before host Fiona Bruce asked if anyone from the crowd wanted to defend Harry.

‘There must be somebody!’, she exclaimed, before a single person came to the Duke’s defence. The young woman monologued about racism in Britain, which was met with stony-faced silence.

This is the awkward moment the BBC Question Time audience fell silent as they were asked to defend Prince Harry following the fallout from his bitter and controversial tell-all Spare

One furious audience member accused the prince of ‘hypocritical privilege’ to rapturous applause, before host Fiona Bruce asked if anyone from the crowd wanted to defend Harry

Prince Harry leaving The Late Show With Stephen Colbert in New York City 

It came after the Prince and Princess of Wales were urged to ‘keep going’ in the face of Harry’s ‘truth bombs’ as they undertook their first public engagements since the publication of his explosive memoir.

William and Kate were mobbed in Merseyside days after coming under fire in the Duke of Sussex’s book.

But on a visit to the Royal Liverpool University Hospital yesterday, patient Sylvia Staniford, 81, gripped Prince William’s hand tightly and said: ‘Keep going, keep going. Scousers love you.’ William smiled at her warmly and replied: ‘Yes, I will.’

Mrs Staniford said afterwards: ‘Of course that was a reference to Harry. He knew what I was talking about.’

In gusty conditions the couple apparently failed to hear a journalist shout: ‘Were you hurt by the comments in Harry’s book, sir?’ as they got out of their car on arrival.

William and Kate were not the only members of the Royal Family determined to shrug off the drama of the past few days, which has seen Harry lay bare intimate details of run-ins with the couple – including a physical fight with his brother and a spat between Kate and Meghan over Princess Charlotte’s bridesmaid dress. King Charles, who is understood to have been deeply hurt by his son’s actions, was out and about in Scotland where he received an equally warm welcome.

William and Kate met frontline and back-room staff at the hospital, and thanked them for their hard work over the winter period.

They were greeted by huge cheers from hundreds of staff and patients who crowded into the atrium and on balconies.

The Prince and Princess of Wales visiting the Royal Liverpool University Hospital in Liverpool

William and Kate were all smiles yesterday as the Royals reel from Harry’s ‘truth bombs’

King Charles visiting Aboyne and Mid Deeside Community Shed in Aberdeenshire yesterday

Late Queen’s ex-press secretary Dickie Arbiter demands public apology from Prince Harry

Healthcare assistant Anna O’Hara got both William and Kate to pose with her and said afterwards: ‘They are so kind.’

As they left, the couple joked with one well-wisher about wearing matching outfits – the princess in a £290 Cefinn wool dress under a tartan Holland Cooper coat, with her husband echoing the blue and green hues.

Later the princess told a group of young people that ‘talking therapies don’t work for some people’ during a visit to a mental health project on Merseyside – an interesting take on an issue that Harry has been keen to promote.

The couple were visiting the Open Door Charity, which focuses on supporting young adults across Merseyside with their mental health, using culture, creativity and alternative therapies as the ‘catalyst for change’. 

Kate chatted to a group of teenagers who have been using music to help with their individual issues, with one of the boys saying: ‘For me, having that music as a tool is good for me to express my emotions through something I can enjoy. Producing music and letting out what you’re feeling is better than saying it in a clinical atmosphere. I can put it into words.’

The princess nodded, replying: ‘Talking therapies don’t work for some people, they’re not for everybody. It’s so important to have a range of therapies.’

Speaking after the visit, one of the teenagers said: ‘I feel privileged that after everything going on for them, they came to see us, for the first visit after the book has been released. It shows that nothing can stop them.’

In Scotland, the King was met by Sandra Charles, 64, from Brisbane, Australia, who is on holiday in the area. She said: ‘I had to come and show my support for what he is going through. It’s a tough time for Charles and the whole Royal Family. It [the book] is horrible. Charles has my full support.’

Charles, 74, wearing a kilt, looked relaxed at the Aboyne and District Men’s Shed – which boasts a workshop and community space – just 20 minutes from Balmoral.

The King, who has weathered the book storm while staying at Birkhall, his Highland home, with the Queen Consort this week, also announced he was donating a fridge to a local food bank.

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