If Buckingham Palace officials had much hair — they tend to be follicly challenged — by now it would be lying in great clumps on the floor. Not only at the Palace, but at the British government’s Foreign Office.
The reason for the angst? Prince Harry. This week, he flew to Heathrow, changed flights and went to Johannesburg.
From there, the Prince journeyed to Mozambique, where he stayed three days, and to Rwanda. Up popped a picture on the Twitter account of Rwanda’s President, Paul Kagame, of the beaming leader alongside the Royal.
For those involved in protecting and enhancing the reputation of Britain’s foremost family, and those immersed in the nuance and craft of international diplomacy, this is nerve-jangling stuff.
Proclaimed the tweet: “President Kagame received Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, who visited Rwanda as part of his work as president of African Parks.
“The government of Rwanda has agreements with African Parks to manage Akagera and Nyungwe national parks.”
Harry later went on to visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial, with the organisation sharing several pictures of him on Twitter and declaring he “paid his respects to victims of the genocide against the Tutsi.”
All straightforward and harmless. Except none of us know what else was said, who was present apart from Mr Kagame.
In Britain, Rwanda is at the centre of controversy over the government’s plan to transport illegal immigrants there for processing and resettling. Here was the prince standing side by side with its president.
Before any official visit by members of the royal family or government, there are briefings. They are told what to say, what not to say. The itinerary is pored over microscopically, every detail and every possible connotation, is explored. Afterwards, there are reviews and assessments.
Not with Harry. As someone technically outside the royal enclosure, he is free to do as he pleases. Except that is not how he is viewed overseas. In anywhere but the highest reaches of the British establishment, he is regarded very much still as HRH.
Foreign governments, NGOs, charities, commercial corporations, celebrities, the public at large — none of them pay heed to the official protocol. As far as they are concerned, he is Harry, the second son of Prince Charles and Princess Diana, and he always will be, and as such, he is to be courted and feted.
For the palace and their colleagues in the Foreign Office, who like everything to be tightly controlled and managed, this is a chronic headache. They have no say over the causes he supports, they cannot determine his diary, they have no influence over his sources of income. He is beyond their reach, yet he is popularly seen as “a royal”.
To make matters worse, Harry is intent on publishing his memoir. Due shortly, the advance publicity is suggesting it is a no-holds barred, warts-and-all, account of his life.
Even allowing for the likelihood that some of the advance claims are hyped, its ability to provoke embarrassment and hurt, and yes, anger, cannot be underestimated. This, to put it mildly, is a very “un-royal” thing to do.
But, of course, Harry is not one of them. He does not belong any more; he is free to do as he chooses.
Meghan%20podcast
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Coming so soon on the back of the CBS interview with Oprah Winfrey and publication of Finding Freedom, ostensibly an “unofficial” biography of Harry and his wife, Meghan, but co-authored by her friend Omid Scobie and bearing traces of her imprimatur, this is bound to be yet another hammer blow for the House of Windsor.
Harry’s current position and his behaviour carry strong echoes of his mother; how, when Diana separated from Charles and she became detached from the royal family and its infrastructure, the princess was both her own boss and a loose cannon.
Diana was also, irritatingly for the Palace, universally popular — as Harry, despite some negative press coverage and comment, is proving to be.
There is a sense, too, that Harry very much sees himself as replicating Diana’s role. Recently, he spoke at the UN on Nelson Mandela Day (he is close to Mozambique's former First Lady Graca Machel, who is also the widow of Mandela).
Harry referenced Diana, as he frequently does: “Since I first visited Africa at 13 years old, I have always found hope on the continent. In fact, for most of my life, it has been my lifeline … It is where I have felt closest to my mother and sought solace after she died …”
While the retinue of courtiers struggle with how to deal with Harry, and while there is a distinct froideur between Harry and his brother, William, at least one member of the family is intent on keeping him within the fold.
Harry and Meghan are due in Britain early next month for the first time since the platinum jubilee to attend several charity events, including the One Young World Summit in Manchester. They will then head to Germany for an Invictus event (the sporting charity for disabled serving and former military personnel is another of Harry's passions), before returning to the UK for a charity awards presentation.
It is thought they will use their trip to see Queen Elizabeth II — although she may be busy because their arrival is in the same week that the monarch will receive the new prime minister. She is said to be keen to see them and has extended an invitation to join her at Balmoral.
It is typically canny of the Queen, possibly going against the advice of some who would see the meeting as further blurring the status of the Duke and Duchess. Are they in or out? If they are somewhere in between, how are they to be treated?
Progress towards a better rapprochement and understanding might be made if the government restored Harry’s taxpayer-funded protection. He is suing the Home Office over its decision to remove his guards, which he says makes it unsafe for him, Meghan and their two children, Archie and Lilibet, to come to Britain.
While, technically, he is no longer entitled, and there would be some criticism if it was returned, those responsible should reconsider.
Not only does the lack of cover give him an excuse to cavil, and further aggravate the wound, but it should be remembered (as if Harry would forget) what happened to Diana when she was without her official security.
As the beaming Mr Kagame illustrates, to many people in the world, Harry remains a royal. The officials should swallow hard, and, difficult as it is, be more positive and inclusive.
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
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Places to go for free coffee
- Cherish Cafe Dubai, Dubai Investment Park, are giving away free coffees all day.
- La Terrace, Four Points by Sheraton Bur Dubai, are serving their first 50 guests one coffee and four bite-sized cakes
- Wild & The Moon will be giving away a free espresso with every purchase on International Coffee Day
- Orange Wheels welcome parents are to sit, relax and enjoy goodies at ‘Café O’ along with a free coffee
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
MATCH INFO
New Zealand 176-8 (20 ovs)
England 155 (19.5 ovs)
New Zealand win by 21 runs
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
Famous left-handers
- Marie Curie
- Jimi Hendrix
- Leonardo Di Vinci
- David Bowie
- Paul McCartney
- Albert Einstein
- Jack the Ripper
- Barack Obama
- Helen Keller
- Joan of Arc
Key recommendations
- Fewer criminals put behind bars and more to serve sentences in the community, with short sentences scrapped and many inmates released earlier.
- Greater use of curfews and exclusion zones to deliver tougher supervision than ever on criminals.
- Explore wider powers for judges to punish offenders by blocking them from attending football matches, banning them from driving or travelling abroad through an expansion of ‘ancillary orders’.
- More Intensive Supervision Courts to tackle the root causes of crime such as alcohol and drug abuse – forcing repeat offenders to take part in tough treatment programmes or face prison.
Company profile
Name: Steppi
Founders: Joe Franklin and Milos Savic
Launched: February 2020
Size: 10,000 users by the end of July and a goal of 200,000 users by the end of the year
Employees: Five
Based: Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai
Financing stage: Two seed rounds – the first sourced from angel investors and the founders' personal savings
Second round raised Dh720,000 from silent investors in June this year
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Fighting with My Family
Director: Stephen Merchant
Stars: Dwayne Johnson, Nick Frost, Lena Headey, Florence Pugh, Thomas Whilley, Tori Ellen Ross, Jack Lowden, Olivia Bernstone, Elroy Powell
Four stars
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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Norway
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Canada
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Singapore
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Match info
Australia 580
Pakistan 240 and 335
Result: Australia win by an innings and five runs
Six pitfalls to avoid when trading company stocks
Following fashion
Investing is cyclical, buying last year's winners often means holding this year's losers.
Losing your balance
You end up with too much exposure to an individual company or sector that has taken your fancy.
Being over active
If you chop and change your portfolio too often, dealing charges will eat up your gains.
Running your losers
Investors hate admitting mistakes and hold onto bad stocks hoping they will come good.
Selling in a panic
If you sell up when the market drops, you have locked yourself out of the recovery.
Timing the market
Even the best investor in the world cannot consistently call market movements.
Company profile
Date started: January, 2014
Founders: Mike Dawson, Varuna Singh, and Benita Rowe
Based: Dubai
Sector: Education technology
Size: Five employees
Investment: $100,000 from the ExpoLive Innovation Grant programme in 2018 and an initial $30,000 pre-seed investment from the Turn8 Accelerator in 2014. Most of the projects are government funded.
Partners/incubators: Turn8 Accelerator; In5 Innovation Centre; Expo Live Innovation Impact Grant Programme; Dubai Future Accelerators; FHI 360; VSO and Consult and Coach for a Cause (C3)
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
How Filipinos in the UAE invest
A recent survey of 10,000 Filipino expatriates in the UAE found that 82 per cent have plans to invest, primarily in property. This is significantly higher than the 2014 poll showing only two out of 10 Filipinos planned to invest.
Fifty-five percent said they plan to invest in property, according to the poll conducted by the New Perspective Media Group, organiser of the Philippine Property and Investment Exhibition. Acquiring a franchised business or starting up a small business was preferred by 25 per cent and 15 per cent said they will invest in mutual funds. The rest said they are keen to invest in insurance (3 per cent) and gold (2 per cent).
Of the 5,500 respondents who preferred property as their primary investment, 54 per cent said they plan to make the purchase within the next year. Manila was the top location, preferred by 53 per cent.
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Teaching in coronavirus times
Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
How The Debt Panel's advice helped readers in 2019
December 11: 'My husband died, so what happens to the Dh240,000 he owes in the UAE?'
JL, a housewife from India, wrote to us about her husband, who died earlier this month. He left behind an outstanding loan of Dh240,000 and she was hoping to pay it off with an insurance policy he had taken out. She also wanted to recover some of her husband’s end-of-service liabilities to help support her and her son.
“I have no words to thank you for helping me out,” she wrote to The Debt Panel after receiving the panellists' comments. “The advice has given me an idea of the present status of the loan and how to take it up further. I will draft a letter and send it to the email ID on the bank’s website along with the death certificate. I hope and pray to find a way out of this.”
November 26: ‘I owe Dh100,000 because my employer has not paid me for a year’
SL, a financial services employee from India, left the UAE in June after quitting his job because his employer had not paid him since November 2018. He owes Dh103,800 on four debts and was told by the panellists he may be able to use the insolvency law to solve his issue.
SL thanked the panellists for their efforts. "Indeed, I have some clarity on the consequence of the case and the next steps to take regarding my situation," he says. "Hopefully, I will be able to provide a positive testimony soon."
October 15: 'I lost my job and left the UAE owing Dh71,000. Can I return?'
MS, an energy sector employee from South Africa, left the UAE in August after losing his Dh12,000 job. He was struggling to meet the repayments while securing a new position in the UAE and feared he would be detained if he returned. He has now secured a new job and will return to the Emirates this month.
“The insolvency law is indeed a relief to hear,” he says. "I will not apply for insolvency at this stage. I have been able to pay something towards my loan and credit card. As it stands, I only have a one-month deficit, which I will be able to recover by the end of December."
Tips for newlyweds to better manage finances
All couples are unique and have to create a financial blueprint that is most suitable for their relationship, says Vijay Valecha, chief investment officer at Century Financial. He offers his top five tips for couples to better manage their finances.
Discuss your assets and debts: When married, it’s important to understand each other’s personal financial situation. It’s necessary to know upfront what each party brings to the table, as debts and assets affect spending habits and joint loan qualifications. Discussing all aspects of their finances as a couple prevents anyone from being blindsided later.
Decide on the financial/saving goals: Spouses should independently list their top goals and share their lists with one another to shape a joint plan. Writing down clear goals will help them determine how much to save each month, how much to put aside for short-term goals, and how they will reach their long-term financial goals.
Set a budget: A budget can keep the couple be mindful of their income and expenses. With a monthly budget, couples will know exactly how much they can spend in a category each month, how much they have to work with and what spending areas need to be evaluated.
Decide who manages what: When it comes to handling finances, it’s a good idea to decide who manages what. For example, one person might take on the day-to-day bills, while the other tackles long-term investments and retirement plans.
Money date nights: Talking about money should be a healthy, ongoing conversation and couples should not wait for something to go wrong. They should set time aside every month to talk about future financial decisions and see the progress they’ve made together towards accomplishing their goals.
Meghan%20podcast
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