The Standard View: There's little appetite for a comeback prince

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Hereditary royals need not worry about re-election, but that is not to say public support is irrelevant. Today, the Duke of Sussex’s sharp fall in popularity has been laid bare by a new poll, which suggests he is getting the lion’s share of the blame for the present royal rift.

After the King temporarily stepped back from public duties following his cancer diagnosis, there was some speculation that Prince Harry could return (albeit on a temporary basis) to help lighten the workload. But the poll found little public appetite for such a move, with two out of five Britons opposed to Harry coming back to take on official duties.

Such is the apparent rift between brothers that, though Harry and William are to make a rare joint appearance at the Diana Legacy Award event at the Science Museum, neither will be in the room at the same time — even virtually.

The duke’s decision in January 2020 to quit as a working royal and leave for California was one for him and his immediate family. The British public can respect that. What it finds more difficult is the concept of being half in and half out of royal engagements — and duties.

Labour’s artistic move

The last time there was such a groundswell of support for the Labour Party it was the arts that, if not drove it, then beat the drum. In government, Sir Tony Blair co-opted culture, with Cool Britannia and the idea that this was once again a young country full of confidence.

It is not the same in 2024. Sir Keir Starmer likes his football, but his passion for the arts has been rather more hidden. So, his address to the Labour Creatives event was a welcome opportunity to hear the Labour leader not only pay tribute to the importance of creatives to our economy, but also set out plans to address the challenges the sector faces.

Proposals included a Growth and Skills Levy, similar to that for apprenticeships, as well as a new national body, Skills England, to grant opportunities to young people regardless of background or location. The proof will, of course, be in the pudding.

But one thing is clear: if children from all walks of life cannot enjoy the arts, that is not only deeply unjust on an individual level, but it also deprives our economy and culture of all the extraordinary talent at its disposal.

Concorde rises again

Somewhat slower than its theoretical top speed, the retired Concorde jet floated along the Hudson River in New York yesterday, as it returned to the city’s Intrepid Museum following its restoration. Almost exactly 55 years on from its maiden voyage, Concorde’s swept wings and fierce capabilities still capture the imagination.

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